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HISTORY 


OF 


YATES  COUNTY,  N.  Y 


WITH    ILLUSTRATIONS  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES  OF  SOME 
OF  THE  PROMINENT  MEN  AND  PIONEERS. 


Edited  by  LEWIS  CASS  ALDRICH. 


SYRACUSE,   N.  Y.  ; 
D.    MASON  &  CO..   PUBLISHERS, 
1892, 


INTRODUCTION. 


IN  attempting  the  production  of  a  History  of  Yates  County,  the  pub- 
lishers have  not  underestimated  the  difficulties  and  the  magnitude  of 
their  task.  Although  Yates  County  is  not  a  very  old  one,  counting 
from  its  separate  organization,  it  has,  nevertheless  seen  more  than  a 
century  of  civilized  occupation;  and  in  this  new  world,  as  it  is  called, 
the  settlement  and  growth  of  towns  and  villages,  and  the  occurrence  of 
important  events  in  their  progress,  have  advanced  with  almost  marvel- 
ous rapidity,  while  the  materials  for  history  have  accumulated  in  a  cor- 
responding ratio.  In  making  a  history  of  this  county  the  publishers 
entered  upon  the  task  with  a  determination  to  leave  nothing  undone^ 
to  spare  no  labor  or  expense  that  could  in  any  manner  contribute  to 
the  successful  and  creditable  accomplishment  of  the  work.  Whether  or 
not  they  have  succeeded  is  a  question  left  to  the  judgment  of  the 
readers. 

It  is  believed  that  the  general  history  of  the  county  will  give  entire 
satisfaction  to  all  who  may  peruse  it,  but  in  some  degree  the  subjects 
therein  treated  are  in  more  condensed  form  than  in  works  published 
earlier  than  this;  still  it  is  thought  that  nothing  is  omitted  from  the 
present  volume  that  is  necessary  to  be  preserved  as  a  part  of  the  record 
of  Yates  County,  whether  of  general  or  town  history.  It  is  not  claimed 
by  the  editor  or  by  the  publishers  that  this  work  is  free  from   error,  for 


lo  •  INTRODUCTION. 

it  would  be  a  thing  unprecedented  should  there  be  found  within  its 
covers  not  a  single  inaccuracy  ;  nevertheless  great  care  has  been  exer- 
cised to  insure  correctness  in  general  and  in  detail. 

The  publishers  are  under  many  obligations  of  gratitude  to  the  people 
of  the  county  for  tlieir  generous  support  in  making  this  work  a  success, 
but  there  are  persons  whose  services  in  the  preparation  of  chapters  have 
been  so  specially  valuable  as  to  entitle  them  to  more  than  passing  notice. 
In  this  connection  may  be  mentioned  the  names  of  Hon.  George  R. 
Cornwell,  from  whose  pen  the  county  has  the  benefit  of  an  elaborate 
chapter  on  Education  ;  John  N.  Macomb,  jr.,  who  contributed  the  chap- 
ter on  Free- Masonry  ;  Hon.  William  S.  Briggs,  for  iiis  recollections  of 
the  "  old  bar"  of  the  county  ;  Steven  B.  Ayres,  for  the  chapter  on  the 
Press;  Walter  VVolcott,  for  the  Military  chapter;  George  C.  Snow,  esq., 
for  the  chapter  on  the  Vineyards  and  their  Products  ;  James  Miller,  for 
the  chapter  on  Agriculture;  Charles  H.  Martin,  esq.,  for  the  history  of 
Starkej' ;   D.  B.  Cornell,  for  the  history  of  Harrington. 

With  the  expression  of  these  obligations  the  Memorial  Historj-  of 
Yates  County  is  placed  before  the  public  by  the  editor  and  the 
publishers. 


CONTENTS, 


CHAPTER  I. 


The  Subject — Yates  County  Erected  —  The  older  Counties  — The  Terra  Incog- 
nita —  Formation  of  Alljany  County  —Of  Tryon  County  —  Of  Montgomery 
County  —  Of  Ontario  County  —  Of  Steuben  County  — Vates  formed  from  On- 
tario and  Steuben  Counties — A  general  Topographical  view  of  Yates  Coiintv 

—  Its  elevated  Lands  —  The  lakes  of  the  County 17 

CHAPTER    II. 

Doubtful  Claims  to  Prehistoric  Occupancy  —  The  Indian  Occupation  —Its  Nature 
and  Extent  —  Ancient  Indian  Traditions  —  The  Iroquois  Confederacy  — Sene- 
cas  occupy  the  region  of  Y'ates  County  —  Sites  of  Indian  villages  in  this  Locality 

—  Their  principal  Trails —  Remains  of  old  Fortresses  —  The  Seneca  Tradition 

—  The  League  of  the  Iroijuois  —  Conquests  by  Confederates  23 

CHAPTER    III. 

Early  Explorations  and  Discoveries — The  French  in  Canada — The  Puritans  in 
New  England  —  The  English  in  Virginia  —  The  Dutch  in  New  York  — Found- 
ing of  New  France  —  Champlain  incurs  the  enmity  of  the  Iroquois  —  Its  after 
Effects  —  Adventures  of  De  Nonville  and  La  Salle  —  Neutrality  of  the  Iro- 
quois during  the  early  French  Wars  —  Tlie  French  make  friends  with  the 
Senecas  —  Joncaire's  Influence  —  French  forts  built  in  the  Seneca  County — 
Discomfiture  of  the  English — The  Final  Wars —  Extinction  of  French  power 
in  America 39 

CHAPTER    IV. 

The  Enghsh  Dominion  —  A  brief  rfsurri''  of  Events — English  conquest  of  the 
Dutch  Settlements  —  Condition  of  the  Indians  —  Still  friendly  to  the  French  — 


CONTENTS. 

Pontiac's  League  —  The  Senecas  involved  with  Poiitiac — Devil's  Hole  and 
Black  Rock  —  Sir  William  Johnson  makes  friends  with  the  Senecas  —  The 
Revolutionary  War  —  Attitude  of  the  Iroquois  —  Wyoming  and  Cherrj'  Val  • 
ley  —  Sullivan's  Campaign  —  Destruction  of  Indian  Villages  - —  Cashong,  in 
Yates  County,  Devastated  —  'The  Indians  retire  to  Fort  Niagara  —  Their  treat- 
ment by  the  British  —  Close  of  the  Revolution  —  Overthrow  of  British  Rule 
—  The  United  Stales  of  America 48 


CHAPTER   V. 

Situation  of  the  Indians  at  the  close  of  the  Revolution  —  They  are  recognized  as 
rightful  owners  of  the  Territory  —  Treaties  for  the  purchase  of  Indian  Titles  — 

—  The  Grand  Council  at  Fort  Stanwix  —  Red  Jacket  opposes  the  Sale  —  A 
brief  sketch  of  the  famous  Chief  —  The  Medal  —  The  subject  Resumed  —  Con- 
flicting claims  by  New  York  and  Massachusetts  —  Their  Settlement  —  Massa- 
chusetts o\ms  the  Genesee  Country  — Yates  County  a  part  of  it  —  The  New 
York  Genesee  Land  Company  '- —  The  Niagara  Genesee  Land  Company  —  They 
Lease  from  the  Six  Nations  —  Looking  to  the  formation  of  a  new  State  —  Im- 
itating the  action  of  Vermont  —  The  attempt  fails — Prompt  action  of  Gov- 
ernor Clinton  — The  Compromise  and  its  Reward Wi 

CHAPTER    VI. 

The  land  Titles  —  The  Phelps  and  Gorliam  Purchase —  Its  extent  and   Boundaries 

—  Troubles  created  by  the  Lessee  Companies  —  How  Settled  —  Consolidation 
of  Interests — Extinguishment  of  Indian  Titles  —  The  old  Pre-emption  Line  — 
Fraud  Practiced  —  Town  Surveys  Sale  to  Robert  Morris  —  The  latter  sells  to 
English  capitalists  —  Surveying  the  new  Pre-emption  Line  —  The  fraud  Dis- 
covered —  New  complications  Arise  —  How  Settled  — Occupants  of  the  "  Gore" 

—  How  Compensated  —  Settlement  with  Charles  Williamson,  agent  of  the 
Poultnev  Association i;f; 


CHAPTER    Vn. 

Jemima  Wilidnsou,  the  Public  Universal  Friend  —  First  Emissary  of  the  Friends' 
Society  sent  to  explore  the  Genesee  Country  —  His  unfavorable  Report  —  A 
Committee  of  Investigation  Chosen  —  The  life  of  The  Friend  —  Her  sickness, 
recovery,  an<l  singular  Transformation  —  Her  Teachings  —  Friend's  Society 
Formed  —  Her  travels  in  New  England  and  Pennsylvania  —  The  Friends  the 
pioneers  in  Yates  County  —  Founding  the  New  Jerusalem  —  Their  Trials  and 
Hardships —  First  wheat  Sown  —  The  first  Mill  — The  coming  of  The  Friend 
—  Her  home  and  Meeting-hoiise —  A.  dissension  m  the  Society  — Some  prom- 


CONTENTS.  13 

inent  members  Withdraw  —  The  purchase  of  Jerusalem  Township  —  The 
Friend's  Purchase  —  Her  removal  to  Jerusalem  —  Death  of  Sarah  Richards  — 
Troubles  following  her  Decease  —  A  serious  Litigation  —  Ultimate  success  of 
the  Friend's  Cause  —  Death  of  The  Friend  —  Her  last  Will  and  Testamment  — 
False  prophets  enter  the  Society  —  Its  decline  and  Downfall  —  Memliere  of 
the  Society ...  71; 

CHAPTER    VIII. 

Early  efforts  at  Colonization  and  settlement  —  Extent  of  Ontario  County  —  Steu- 
ben County  set  Off  —  Towns  of  Ontario  and  Steuben  which  were  erected  into 
Yates  County  —  How  first  organized  and  their  Extent  —  The  District  of  Jeru- 
salem—  Benton  and  Milo  set  oft' —  Italy  formerly  part  of  Middletown — Mid- 
dlesex originally  part  of  Augusta  —  Barrington  and  Starkey  come  from  Steuben 
Count}'  —  Torrey  taken  from  Benton  and  Milo — A  Urief  allusiDn  in  tln'  Wnr 
1812-15 —  Public  sentiment  in  this  Locality. . .  96 

CHAPTER     IX. 

Organization  of  Yates  County  —  The  Acts  of  the  Legislature  regarding  it  —  Glimpses 
at  the  inside  History  —  Naming  the  County  —  Governor  Yates  its  Godfather 

—  The  first  Court- House  pnd  Jail  destroyed  by  Fire  —  The  new  Court-House 

—  The  second  Jail  Burned  —  The  present  Jail — The  Clerk's  and  Surrogate's 
Offices  —  The  County  Farm  and  Property  —  The  civil  List —  Federal  Officers  — 
State  Officers  —  County  Officers  — County  Societies  and  Organizations 105 

CHAPTER    X. 

GEOLOGY  OF  YATES  COUNTY  119 

CHAPTER    XI. 
YATES  COUNTY  IX  THE  WAR  OK  18G1-G5..  ..    128 

CHAPTER    XII. 
THE  BENCH  AND  BAR  OF  YATES  COUNTY  IG.'! 

CHAPTER   XIII. 
THE  MEDICAL  PROFESSION  OF  Y.\TES  COUNTY  liM 


14  CONTENTS.    ' 

CHAPTER    XIV. 

THE  PRESS  OF  YATES  COUNTY 207 

CHAPTER    XV. 

ORIGIN,  GROWTH  AND  DE\*ELOPMENT  OF  THE  EDUCATIONAL  IN- 
TERESTS OF   YATES  COUNTY 212 

CHAPTER    XVI. 
THE  VINEYARDS  AND  THEIR  PRODUCTS   237 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

AGRICULTURE  IN  YATES  COUNTY 246 

CHAPTER    XVIII. 

FREEMASONRY  IN  YATES  COUNTY 251 

CHAPTER    XIX. 

LAKE  KEUKA  AND  ITS  NAVIGATION 266 

CHAPTER    XX. 

HISTORY  OF   THE   TOWN  OF    MILO.  AND   OF   THE   INCORPORATED 

VILLAGE  OF   PENN  YAN   .  .270 

CHAPTER    XXI. 

HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN  OF  BENTON 350 

CHAPTER   XXII. 

HISTORY  I  »F  THE  TOWN  OF   STARKEY 369 

CHAPTER   XXIII. 

HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN  OF  JERUSALE.Nt 410 


CONTEXTS.  15 

CHAPTER    XXIV. 

HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN  OF  TORRBY 431 

CHAPTER    XXV. 

HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN  OF  HARRINGTON 443 

CHAPTER   XXVI. 

HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN  OF  POTTER 456 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 

HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN  OF  MIDDLESEX    4C!) 

CHAPTER    XXVIII. 

HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN  OF  ITALY .479 

CHAPTER    XXIX. 

BIOGRAPHICAL 487 

CHAPTER    XXX. 

FAMILY  SKETCHES o2a 


HISTORY 


OF 


YATES  COUNTY,  N.  Y. 


CHAPTER  I. 

The  Subject — Vates  County  Erecteil —  I  he  nlder  Couiuics  —  1  ne  Ten  a  In- 
cognita —  Foimation  of  Albany  County  —  Of  Tryon  County  —  Of  Montgomery  County 
— Of  Ontario  County —  Of  Steuben  County  —  Yates  formed  from  Ontario  and  Steuben 
Counties  —  A  general  Topographical  view  of  Yates  County  —  Its  elevated  Lands  — 
The  lakes  of  the  County. 

rHE  county  of  Vates,  brought  into  existence  by  tlie  legislative 
enactment  passed  by  tlie  two  branches  of  the  State  legislature 
and  approved  by  the  governor  on  the  5th  of  February,  1823,  was 
given  the  name  of  "Yates"  in  conipiinient  to  the  then  chief  executive 
of  the  Conmionwealth.  Under  all  ordinary  circumstances  a  work  which 
purports  to  be  the  separate  history  of  a  county  would  naturally  com- 
mence with  its  separate  organization,  but  should  sucli  a  plan  be  deemed 
advisable  much  of  the  early  history  made  by  the  presence  and  deeds  of 
men  and  families,  and  the  occurrence  of  events  within  its  territorial  lim- 
its, would  of  necessity  be  omitted.  And  it  is  a  fact  well  known  that  the 
specially  interesting  events  of  early  history  in  Yates  County  transpired 
prior  to  its  erection  and  separate  organization.  Even  as  far  back  as  ti)e 
time  when  this  region  formed  a  part  of  the  old  county  of  Albany,  or- 
ganized November  i,  1683,  during  the  possession  and  dominion  of  the 
famous  Iroquois  Confederacj',  this  locality  was  making  history  through 
3 


1 8  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUXTY. 

its  aboriginal  occupants.  And  stili  earlier  than  that  time,  in  1638,  dur- 
ing the  Dutch  dominion  in  the  New  Netherlands,  there  appears  to  have 
been  an  indefinite  and  immature  knowledge  and  organization  in  the 
region  of  Western  New  York,  as  afterward  known,  and  to  it  was  applied 
the  name  of  Terra  Incognita,  from  the  Latin,  meaning  "an  unknown 
county."  But  the  Dutcli  were  not  adventurous  explorers,  and  there  is 
nothing  of  record  to  show  that  they  ever  made  any  extensive  journeys 
into  this  then  remote  region  ;  and  whatever  of  jurisdictional  autiiority 
they  exercised  over  the  country  at  all  was  confined  to  the  locality  of 
the  Netherlands  and  New  Amsterdam. 

Under  recognized  authority,  with  due  formality,  Albany  County  was 
the  first  organized  jurisdiction  that  embraced  the  lands  now  included 
within  Yates  County.  It  so  remained  until  the  j'ear  1772,  when  all 
that  part  of  the  province  of  New  York  lying  west  of  a  north  and  south 
line  drawn  through  the  center  of  Schoharie  County,  as  now  established, 
was  erected  into  a  new  county  and  named  in  honor  of  the  then  chief 
executive,  William  Tryon,  his  surname  being  the  name  of  the  new 
erection.  But  Governor  Tryon,  being  an  officer  and  an  appointee  of 
the  Crown,  for  New  York  was  then  a  royal  province,  was  not  highly 
popular  with  the  successful  American  colonists  who  overthrew  the 
power  of  Great  Britain  ;  wherefore  immediately  upon  the  close  of  the 
Revolution  the  name  of  Tryon  was  changed  to  Montgomery.  In  1788 
all  the  region  of  the  State  west  from  Utica  was  included  in  the  town- 
ship of  Whitestown.  On  the  27th  of  January,  1789,  Ontario  County 
was  created  out  of  a  part  of  Montgomery,  and  was  named  from  the  lake 
which  in  part  formed  its  northern  boundary.  At  that  time  all  that  is 
now  Yates  County  was  a  part  of  Ontario,  but  seven  years  later,  March 
18,  1796,  Steuben  was  erected  and  within  it  was  a  portion  of  that  which  is 
now  Yates,  being  the  townships  of  Starkey  and  Barrington  and  a  part 
at  least  of  Jerusalem.  However  in  18 14  the  part  of  land  in  the  "fork" 
of  Keuka  or  Crooked  Lake  was  re-annexed  to  Ontario  County.  No 
further  material  change  affecting  this  immediate  localitj'  was  made  un- 
til the  year  1823,  when  Yates  County  was  erected  out  of  Ontario.  The 
towns  of  Starkey  and  Barrington  were  added  to  the  new  formation  in 
1824.  But  before  advancing  thorough!)'  into  the  history  of  the  dis- 
trict prior  to  its  distinct  organization  it  is  proper  that  there  be  given  a 


TOPOGRAPHICAL.  19 

general  topographical  view  of  the  county  and  of  the  towns  which  form 
the  same  ;  and  as  the  configuration  of  the  surface  has  not  nieteri.illy 
changed  during  the  last  hundred  years  this  description  may  be  given 
in  the  present  tense. 

The  county  of  Yates  is  situate  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  rich  Genesee 
country,  so  called,  and,  while  not  central  therein,  is  no  less  productive  in 
all  that  the  earth  yields  than  can  be  said  of  any  other  portion  of  that 
extensive  region.  Generally  the  surface  is  level,  but  the  succession  of 
undulations  frees  the  county  from  marsh  lands  and  affords  a  most  ex- 
cellent natural  drainage  system.  Being  bounded  on  the  east  and  west 
sides  by  the  lakes — Seneca  and  Canandaigua  respectively — the  course 
of  nature's  dispensation  has  been  entirely  favorable,  as  the  higher  eleva- 
tions are  usually  found  about  midway  between  these  waters.  But  nature 
has  made  a  still  further  favorable  provision  for  this  region,  as  the  lake 
commonly  called  Keuka  happens  to  occupy  the  middle  portion  of  the 
county  and  is  not  so  wide  as  to  cover  an\'  considerable  extent  of  land 
surface  m  that  direction.  Keuka  Lake,  too,  is  regarded  as  distinctively  a 
part  of  Yates  County,  for  the  greater  portion  of  its  waters  are  within  the 
limits  of  the  county.  To  this  body  of  water,  from  its  peculiar  shore 
outlines,  there  has  been  applied  the  name  Crooked  Lake,  an  entirely 
appropriate  designation,  for  the  like  formation  is  not  to  be  found  in  this 
State.  In  extreme  length  the  lake  measures  twenty-two  miles,  while 
its  average  width  is  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile.  The  pecuiiaritj'  of 
formation  consists  in  what  is  commonly  called  the  west  branch  of  the 
lake,  being  an  arm  or  offshoot  of  the  principal  body  antl  of  about  the 
same  average  width,  and  extending  therefrom  north  by  west  a  dis- 
tance of  about  four  miles.  From  this  singular  dispensation  of  nature 
the  pioneers  gave  to  this  body  of  water  the  name  Crooked  Lake. 
To  the  Seneca  Indians,  and  to  the  people  of  the  Iroquois  Confederacy 
in  general,  the  lake  was  known  as  0-go-yo-ga,  but  of  the  meaning  of 
that  name  we  have  no  definite  interpretation.  The  same  sheet  of  water 
is  also  known  as  Keuka  Lake,  which  is  also  an  Indian  appellation,  like- 
wise of  uncertain  meaning.  In  this  same  connection  it  may  also  be 
stated  that  the  Iroquois  name  of  Seneca  Lake  was  Ga  nun-da-sa-ga 
Te-car-ue  o-di.  while  the  name  applied  to  Canandaigua  Lake  by  the 
Confederacy     was     Ga-itun-da-gwa     Tc-car-itc  o-di,    the    letter    a    in 


20  HISTORY  Of  YATES  COUNTY. 

the  first  and  third  syllables  being  sounded  as  in  "far."  The  present 
name  of  Canandaigua  is  the  fair  English  pronunciation  of  the  Indian 
apellation,  but  the  pioneers  of  Western  New  York  preferred  to  call 
Ganundasaga  Lake  after  the  occupants  of  the  region  on  its  west  side — 
tiie  Senecas. 

According  to  a  map  and  survey  of  the  township  of  Milo  and  village 
of  Penn  Yan,  said  to  be  entirely  reliable,  made  by  J.  H.  French  in  1857, 
we  maj'  note  some  comparative  altitudes,  using  Keuka  or  Crooked  Lake 
as  a  base.  From  the  surveys  and  measurements  made  at  that  time  it 
is  learned  that  Keuka  Lake  is  50  feet  higher  in  elevation  than  Canandai- 
gua Lake;  153  feet  higher  than  Lake  Erie;  271  feet  higher  then  Sen- 
eca Lake ;  331  feet  higiier  than  Cayuga  Lake;  343  feet  higher  than 
Oneida  Lake  ;  348  feet  higher  than  Cross  Lake;  398  feet  higher  than 
Onondaga  Lake  ;  487  feet  higher  than  Lake  Ontario  ;  625  feet  higher 
than  Lake  Champlain  ;  718  feet  higher  than  the  ocean  level;  52  feet 
lower  than  Owasco  Lake;  122  feet  lower  than  Skaneateies  Lake;  182 
feet  lower  than  Cazenovia  Lake;  475  feet  lower  than  Otsego  Lake  ; 
573  feet  lower  than  Chautauqua  Lake.  As  compared  with  land  elevation 
in  this  immediate  vicinity  it  is  found  that  Crooked  Lake  is  236  feet  lower 
than  the  village  of  Dundee  ;  42  feet  lower  than  the  hamlet  of  Himrods  ; 
153  feet  lower  than  Milo  Center;  880  feet  lower  than  Barrington  Sum- 
mit' ;  372  feet  lower  than  Bath  ;  707  feet  lower  than  Blufif  Point ;  "j-jt 
feet  lower  than  Prattsburgh  ;  1,324  feet  lower  than  Italy  Summit;  572 
feet  lower  than  Rose  Hill  in  Jerusalem. 

.\gain,  as  showing  comparative  altitudes  within  the  county,  to  point 
out  to  the  reader  the  various  heights  of  land,  we  quote  from  the  pub- 
lished computations  and  estimates  made  by  Israel  H.  Arnold  in  1870 
and  referring  ]iarticularly  lo  ])oints  west  of  Jerusalem  township,  and  for 
tiie  purpose  of  determining  the  greatest  elevations  in  Italy  townshijj, 
which  is  generally  conceded  to  be  the  most  hilly  and  mountainous  sub- 
division of  Yates  Count\'.  For  this  investigation  Mr.  Arnold  fixed  his 
theodolite  on  tlie  |jremises  of  Peter  Pnlver  in  the  township  of  Ital}'. 
]~rom  the  conclusions  thus  made  we  learn  the  heigiits  of  tiic  following 
points : 

'  Dr.  Wright  gives  the  Barrington  elevation  as  625  feet  above  the  lake. 


AL  TI  TUBES  AND  ELE I A  T/ONS.  2 1 

Italy  Summit  above  Canandaigua  Lake,  sixteen  miles  clue  north  1 ,525  feet 

Bristol  Hills,  fourteen  miles  distant  northwest,  above  Pulver  Cpim-ieiy,         .  43  "' 

Bristol  Hills  below  Italy  Summit.     ........  7  ■• 

Krisiol  Hills  above  Canandaigua  Lake,           .....                 .  1,518  '• 

It.ilv  Summit  above  Seneca  Lake,  si.\teen  miles  distant.   ....  1.597  " 

Italy  Summit  above  Keuka  Lake,  distant  six  miles, 1,324  " 

Italy  Summit  above  Yates  County  poor-house,  690  " 

County  poor-house  above  Keuka  Lake,          .         .                                   .         .  f'34  •• 

Keuka  Lake  above  Seneca  Lake, 273  " 

Italy  Summit  above  Ansley's  Stone  House,  three  miles  distant,  on  lot  14 
(Beddoe  Tract),  1,918  teet  or  about  120  rods  east  of  the  White  School- 
House  Corners  on  Branchport  and  Italy  Hill  road, 507  " 

Ansley's  above  William  P.  Hibbard's  house,  distant  660  feet,  30  " 

Hibbard's  above  top  of  ridge,  100  rods  east,         ......  ":  " 

Top  of  ridge  above  Shull's  northeast  corner,  seventy-six  rods  east.  '  j  • 

Shull's  above  Keuka  Lake,  distant  three  miles,  ......  655  " 

Shull's  above  Nathaniel  G.  Hibbard's  carriage-house,  distant  176  rods,        .  i6o  " 
N.  G.  Hibbard's   above  base   of   Keuka   Hotel,  Branchport,  distance  400 

rods  (one  and  one-quarter  miles),        .         .         .  4^^;  •■ 

Keuka  Hotel  above  Keuka  Lake,  distance  forty  rods  ji,  ■■ 

Keuka  Lake  above  tide- water 740  " 

From  what  has  just  been  stated  the  fact  clearly  appears  that  the  town 
of  Italy  can  justh'  lay  claim  to  the  highest  lands  in  the  count)-,  while 
following  it  in  this  respect  are  the  somewhat  rough  and  hilly  towns  of 
Middlesex,  Potter,  and  Jerusalem.  But  in  Italy  as  well  as  in  the  other 
towns  named  there  is  an  abundance  of  fertile  and  ])roductive  land,  sus- 
ceptible of  high  cultivation,  and  j'ielding  fair  rewards  for  the  husband- 
man's efforts. 

The  more  level  lands  of  the  county  are  to  be  found  in  the  towns  of 
Benton,  Milo,  Torrey,  Starkey,  and  Harrington,  leading  almost  in  the 
order  of  their  naming.  Milo  is  bounded  on  both  its  east  and  west  sides 
by  the  lakes  respectively  Seneca  and  Keuka,  and  has  a  greater  water 
front  than  any  otiier  town  in  the  county  except  Jeriisalein.  In  Milo  as 
in  the  other  lake  towns  the  slope  from  the  shores  back  toward  the  in- 
terior is  generally  gradual,  but  in  places  the  ascent  is  somewhat  precipi- 
tous, making  remunerative  cultivation  by  ordinary  farmers  quite  uncer- 
tain ;  but  when  these  conditions  arise  the  husbandman  has  but  to  turn 
the  farm  into  a  vineyard  and  the  results  are  substantial  and  profitable. 
In  Jerusalem  in  the  locality  commonly  known  as  Bluff  Point,  where  a  con- 
siderable elevation  above  the  lake  is  noticeable  and  the  ascent  of  land  is 


2  2  HIS  TORY  OF  YA  TES  CO  UN  T  ] '. 

strong,  agricultuial  pursuits  liave  been  largely  abandoned,  with  the  re- 
sult that  almost  the  entire  water  front  of  the  Bluff  is  set  with  vines  and 
produce  much  better  returns  to  the  vineyardist  than  could  be  expected  by 
the  farmer.  Thus  tiiere  is  but  little  waste  or  unproductive  land  in  Yates 
County.  And  what  has  been  said  concerning  the  region  of  Keuka  Lake 
front  is  also  true  of  the  eastern  boundary  of  the  county  on  Seneca  Lake, 
in  the  towns  of  Benton,  Torrey,  Milo,  and  Starkey,  although  the  latter 
region  is  not  quite  so  productive  in  grape  yield  as  on  the  Keuka  shore. 
Now  having  located  the  county  in  the  State,  and  having  described  its 
physical  features  in  a  general  way,  the  chapters  immediately  following 
may  properly  be  devoted  to  a  record  of  its  history  prior  to  its  civil  or- 
ganization ;  to  a  narrative  of  the  experiences  of  those  who  were  its  dis- 
coverers and  first  occupants,  and  who  by  their  performances  opened  the 
way  for  subsequent  pioneer  settlement  and  substantial  internal  develop- 
ment and  improvement.  To  sufficiently  narrate  these  early  events  it 
will  be  necessary  to  refer  at  some  length  to  the  entire  region  of  country 
of  which  Yates  County  forms  a  part,  for,as  stated  in  the  early  portion  of 
this  chapter,  many  of  the  more  interesting  occurrences  of  our  earlj'  his- 
tory took  place  before  its  separate  erection  was  made  or  even  contem- 
plated, and  as  far  back  even  as  the  colonial  period,  when  the  French,  the 
Dutch,  and  the  English  were  planting  their  first  settlements,  each  pro- 
gressing from  a  different  point  on  navigable  waters  and  drawing  toward 
a  common  center,  wliich  center  when  approached  resulted  in  a  contest 
for  supremacy,  ownership,  and  jurisdiction  over  the  soil  and  finally 
ended  in  warfare,  l^ctween  these  powers  the  strife  was  continued  for 
many  years,  but  the  final  culmination  was  the  overthrow  of  British  do- 
minion in  America  and  the  establishment  of  the  United  States  of 
America,  a  free  and  independent  government. 


CLAIMS  TO  PREHISTORIC  OCCUPANCY.  23 


CHAPTER    II. 

Doubtful  claims  to  Prehistoric  Occupancy — The  Indian  Occupation  —  Its  nature 
and  Extent — Ancient  Indian  Traditions — The  Iroquois  Confederacy — Senecas  oc- 
cupy the  region  of  Yates  County  —  Sites  of  Indian  villages  in  this  Locality  — Their 
principal  Trails  —  Remains  of  old  Fortresses  —  The  Seneca  Tradition  —  The  League 
of  the  Iroquois  —  Conquests  by  the  Confederates. 

THE  claim  has  been  made  on  the  part  of  some  prestmiably  well  in- 
formed persons  residing  in  Yates  County  that  there  have  been 
found  in  some  localities  evidences  of  a  prehistoric  occupancy  ;  that 
there  have  been  discovered  certain  relics  and  fossil  remains  and  iinple- 
ments  of  peculiar  manufacture,  the  like  of  which  are  now  unknown  ;  and 
that  they  must  have  been  left  by  a  race  of  people  different  from  the  red 
sons  of  the  forest,  the  period  of  whose  occupation  of  the  region  must 
have  long  antedated  the  coming  of  the  ancestors  of  the  famed  Iroquois. 
This  claim  is  undoubtedl)'  a  mistaken  one.  To  be  sure  there  have  been 
unearthed  tools  and  untensils  which  were  never  in  common  use  among 
the  Indians,  but  the  reader  must  remember  that  the  French  Jesuits  and 
their  followers  traversed  this  country  hundreds  of  years  before  anj'  white 
civilized  settlement  was  made  by  what  we  call  our  own  people  ;  and  it 
must  be  remembered,  too,  that  the  crude  and  to  us  unaccountable  im- 
plements were  then  in  the  hands  of  comparative  ancients,  and  were  the 
product  of  a  period  in  which  was  known  but  little  of  the  mechanical 
arts  as  we  see  and  understand  and  use  them  at  the  present  time.  Long 
years  before  the  Indians  of  this  locality  and  those  of  the  afterward-called 
Canadian  provinces  were  at  deadh-  enmity  and  v^■arfare  there  had  been 
made  European  discoveries  in  the  extreme  northeast  part  of  North 
America,  and  by  a  class  of  people  who  dwelt  in  a  state  of  comparative 
barbarism  ;  and  there  are  well  authenticated  records  b\'  which  it  is 
learned  that  this  ancient  people  made  visits  to  the  Atlantic  Coast  and 
traveled  or  voyaged  a  considerable  distance  to  the  southward,  even  as  far 
as  the  State  we  now  call  New  Jersey. 

And  it  may  have  been    possible   that  this  people  brought    and   left 
some  implements  and  relics  which  have  been  discovered  by  later  gen- 


24  HIS  TOR  V  OF  YA  TES  CO  UN  T 1  ■. 

erations  of  investigators,  and  b}'  such  discovery  may  have  been  pro- 
mulgated the  theory  of  a  prehistoric  occupancy.  The  Indians,  too,  and 
especially  the  first  of  them  that  visited  this  region,  are  recorded  as  hav- 
ing been  ready  and  apt  in  the  construction  of  their  weapons  and  tools, 
and  discovering  some  ancient  instrument  imitated  its  construction  for 
their  own  uses.  That  they  had  some  immature  and  indefinite  knowl- 
edge of  metals  and  their  value  there  is  no  possible  doubt,  but  with  the 
advent  of  civilized  European  settlement  in  the  fifteenth  century  and  fol- 
lowing, and  the  distribution  of  various  utensils  and  implements  among 
the  red  men,  the  necessity  of  their  crude  manufactures  was  obviated, 
and  their  tools  and  appliances  were  discarded  and  replaced  with  those 
which  were  better  and  more  substantial.  But  in  the  regions  bordering  on 
great  lakes,  and  particularly  in  the  locality  of  the  present  State  of  Ohio, 
there  have  been  made  discoveries  that  are  unmistakable  evidences  of  an 
ancient  occupancy,  far,  back  of  the  coming  of  the  Iroquois  ancestors  or 
of  their  old  antagonists,  the  Lenni  Lenapes.  Neither  of  these  Indian 
people  had  any  tradition  that  run  to  the  time  of  the  Mound  Builders; 
hut  the  discoveries  of  such  an  occupation  are  constantly  being  made  by 
the  present  generation  of  investigators.  And  there  have  been  made 
discoveries  in  the  region  of  Lakes  Ontario  and  Erie  in  this  Common- 
wealth that  tend  to  show  an  ancient  or  prehistoric  occupancy,  but  it 
can  hardly  be  asserted  that  there  have  been  found  in  the  immediate 
region  of  Yates  County  any  reliable  evidences  of  such  an  occupation. 
There  may  be  ill-defined  outline  possibilities  from  which  we  may  readily 
theorize  on  this  subject,  but  no  substantial  argument  concerning  their 
presence  is  to  be  advanced.  Such  an  occupancy  was  possible,  but  quite 
improbable.  It  is  extremely  doubtful  whether  any  ardent  student  of 
the  iincient  races  will  ever  discover  evidences  of  occupation  in  this  region 
of  eitlier  Aztecs,  Cliff  Builders,  Mound  Builders,  or  even  the  lost  tribes 
the  House  of  Israel. 

But  before  leaving  this  branch  of  the  subject  we  fee!  constrained  to 
give  place  to  the  observations  and  discoveries  of  Dr.  Samuel  Hart 
Wright,  which  assuredly  tend  to  show  a  prehistoric  occupation  of  some 
character.  Tiie  results  of  Dr.  Wright's  investigations,  as  taken  from  a 
recent  publication,  are  as  follows  : 

"  In  Torrey  and  in  Barrington  are  to  be  found  relics  of  those  earlier, 


EVIDENCES  OF  ABORIGINAL  OCCUPANCY.  it, 

mysterious  races  of  whom  but  little  but  tiicir  death  is  known.  Arch;L-oi- 
ogists  have  called  them  Mound  Builders,  from  the  remains  of  their 
ancient  life  that  lie  scattered  from  New  York  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and 
have  attributed  to  them  civilized  customs  and  fabulous  ancestry  ;  but 
later  investigations  show  that  they  were  races  similar  to  the  Indians. 
Whence  they  came  will  forever  be  unknown.  Their  arts  and  crafts  par- 
took of  a  modern  civilization.  Stone  and  copper  implements,  rough 
pottery,  and  coarse  cloth  evidence  their  progress  in  the  mechanical  arts. 
Their  remains  dot  the  southwestern  part  of  New  York.  Around  Lake 
Lamoka  and  on  the  boundaries  of  Harrington  their  mounds  appear, 
while  on  the  summit  of  Bluff  Point  they  built  an  earthwork  whose  coun- 
terpart is  unknown  within  the  limits  of  the  State.  It  is  located  in  lots 
five  and  si.v,  now  cut  by  a  public  higiiway,  and  is  seven  acres  in  e.\'- 
tent.  The  elements  have  nearly  obliterated  all  trace  of  it  and  the  plow 
has  completed  the  destructive  work.  What  was  the  purpose  of  this 
singular  construction  is  shrouded  in  mystery.  It  could  neither  have 
been  a  defensive  work  nor  a  place  of  burial.  From  the  spot  where  it 
stands  the  western  branch  of  Lake  Keuka  is  seen,  and  but  a  few  rods  dis- 
tant the  eastern  branch,  with  Penn  Yan  in  the  distance,  looms  in  view. 
No  more  sightly  position  could  have  been  selected. 

"The  construction  of  the  parallel  ridges  is  peculiar.  They  were 
raised  but  twelve  or  eighteen  inches  above  the  surface,  were  eight  feet 
in  width,  level  on  the  top,  and  faced  along  the  sides  with  flat  stones. 
The  only  conjecture  with  the  likelihood  of  truth  is  that  the  strange  erec- 
tion was  connected  with  the  religion  of  that  long  gone  race,  the  Mound 
Builders.  How  cannot  be  told.  Who  knows  what  god  they  wor- 
shiped or  can  tell  the  tenets  of  their  faith  !  Their  history  has  long 
departed.  Centuries  ago  it  vanished  from  the  earth.  All  things  are 
fleeting,  and  gods,  like  men,  soon  pass  away. 

"This  ancient  earthwork,  like  others  of  its  class,  was  as  ine.xplicable 
to  the  Senecas  as  to  us.  Their  traditions  ran  not  back  of  their  own  his- 
tory. In  winter  evenings,  when  gathered  around  the  lodge  fire,  youths 
and  warriors  listened  with  bated  breath  to  legends  and  myths  that  the 
ancients  told,  stories  of  wizards  and  fl>ing  heads, — for  the  Indians  were 
a  superstitious  race, — but  they  heard  nought  of  any  people  that  pre- 
ceded them.  In  their  opinion  thev  were  the  first  that  had  li\-ed  within 
4 


26  HISTOR  y  OF   J  'A  TES  CO  Ui\  T  J '. 

their  territories;  they  were  the  autociithones ;  at  Hare  Hill,  in  Middle- 
sex, they  came  out  of  tlie  ground  and  thence  spread  northward  and 
eastward  to  the  positions  where  the  French  first  found  them  ;  they  were 
Oiigwe  Honive,  the  real  men.  So  far  as  they  could  remember  no 
change  had  ever  occurred  in  their  social  and  political  institutions,  save 
only  their  adherence  to  the  League.  The  same  sachems  governed  them 
as  in  the  earliest  dawn  of  their  history,  and  their  language  and  religion 
saw  no  change." 

So  far  as  authentic  history  goes  to  show  the  first  and  original  occu- 
pants of  the  region  of  this  part  of  Western  New  York  were  the  North 
American  Indians.  When  the  first  Spanish  adventurers  set  foot  on  the 
soil  of  this  country  they  found  its  territory  to  be  inhabited  b)'  a  race  of 
people  who  called  themselves  Lenni  Lenapes,  meaning  "  original  peo- 
ple." They  occupied  the  region  of  country  that  bordered  on  the  coast 
and  along  the  valleys.of  the  great  rivers  in  the  States  now  known  as 
Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  Virginia,  New  Jersey,  and  others  even  to  tlie  ex- 
treme South.  They  styled  themselves  original  people  from  the  fact 
that  they  were  then  the  most  powerful  Indian  nation  in  this  broad  land; 
but  they  were  not  a  warlike  race  of  savages  and  were  content  to  dwell 
at  peace  among  themselves  and  with  others,  notwithstanding  the  claim 
that  they  had  a  grievance  against  the  people  who  were  originally  called 
the  Mengwe,  but  afterward  the  Five  Nations  of  Indians — the  all-pow- 
erful Iroquois  Confederacy. 

According  to  the  ancient  Indian  tradition,  and  it  is  a  story  so  often 
told  that  it  seems  to  be  an  assured  fact,  there  once  journeyed  from  the 
country  far  west  of  the  Mississippi  River  two  nations  of  Indians,  and 
that  they  by  mere  accident  met  one  another.  After  meeting  the\- 
joined  together  and  traveled  in  common.  On  approaching  the  Missis- 
sippi they  were  told  by  their  runners  that  the  banks  of  the  river  were 
in  possession  of  a  Avarlike  people,  and  from  whom  they  should  obtain 
permission  to  cross.  For  this  purpose  messengers  were  sent  forward 
with  the  request  that  the  pilgrim  tribes  be  allowed  to  pass  the  river  and 
settle  on  the  other  side.  Permission  was  given  to  cross  the  stream,  but 
the  travelers  were  ordered  not  to  take  up  their  abode  in  the  country  of 
the  Allegwi,  they  who  were  in  possession,  but  to  journe\'  to  the  far  East 
beyond  the  region  of  the   Mississippi.     Then   commenced   the  crossing 


AN  INDIAN   TRADITION.  27 

of  the  river,  which  required  much  time,  as  there  were  thousands  of  the 
emigrants.  When  a  portion  had  crossed  the  Allegwi,  fearing  treach- 
ery or  from  pure  wantonness,  fell  upon  those  who  were  on  the  east  side, 
slew  many  of  them,  and  scattered  the  others  in  the  boundless  forests. 
After  a  time  all  were  gathered  together,  a  council  was  held,  and  it  was 
determined  to  return  and  make  war  upon  the  cruel  and  merciless  Al- 
legwi. It  was  done  and  a  long  and  bloody  battle  followed,  with  the  re- 
sult that  the  Allegwi  were  beaten  and  driven  from  the  region  to  the  far 
South.  The  eastward  journe\'  was  again  resumed,  but  the  Lcnni  Le- 
napes  clamied  that  through  the  acts  of  tlieir  companions,  the  Mengwe, 
the  brunt  of  the  battle  fell  upon  them,  while  the  Mengwe  hung  in  the 
rear  and  fought  but  little.  Thereafter,  though  they  traveled  together, 
they  had  but  little  in  common.  And  when  the  pilgrimage  was  ended 
the  nations  parted,  the  Lenni  Lenapes  occupying  the  country  on  the 
coast  and  along  the  great  interior  rivers,  while  the  Mengwe  settled  in 
the  region  of  the  lakes  and  through  the  interior  of  New  York  State  (as 
it  afterward  became)  between  the  Hudson  River  and  the  western  part 
of  Lake  Erie.  The  seat  of  government  of  the  former  people  was  on 
the  Delaware  River,  from  which  fact  the  Lenape  in  after  years  became 
know  n  as  the  "  Delaware,"  but  the  numerous  tribe  branches  took 
names  suited  to  the  locality  in  wliich  they  severally  lived,  all,  however, 
paying  allegiance  to  the  same  parental  head.  Among  the  descendants 
of  the  Lenni  Lenapes  there  was  formed  a  crude  system  of  government, 
and  by  firmly  adhering  to  it  they  maintained  for  many  years  a  suprem- 
acy over  other  Indian  nations,  in  a  numerical  sense  at  least,  but  at 
length  the  so-called  Iroquois  Confederacy  became  of  such  strength  that 
they  waged  a  war  against  all  other  Indian  nations,  overcame  them,  and 
were  for  many  years  the  acknowledged  rulers  of  the  whole  country. 

As  early  as  the  year  1620  the  Jesuit  missionaries  first  visited  the 
region  of  Western  New  York.  They  came  to  instruct  the  Indians,  and 
if  possible  to  extend  the  power  and  influence  of  the  Romish  Church. 
They  found  the  e.xtreme  western  part  of  this  State,  bordering  on  Lake 
Erie,  to  be  in  possession  of  a  tribe  of  Indians  whom  they  called  the 
Neuter  Nation.  Their  Indian  name  has  been  given  by  some  writers  as 
Kaltquahs  and  by  others  as  Attiivoiuiaronk.  The  French  called  them 
the  Neuter  Nation  because  they  lived   at  peace  with  the   fierce   tribes 


28  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

which  dwelt  on  either  side  of  them.  They  were  reported  by  their  first 
European  visitors  to  number  12,000  souls,  but  that  was  beyond  doubt 
a  very  great  exaggeration,  as  the  Iroquois  in  the  days  of  their  greatest 
glory  did  not  number  so  many  souls  as  that.  However  the  Neuters 
were  undoubtedly  a  strong  people  and  were  scattered  over  a  consider- 
able region  of  country.  The  Eries  also  lived  along  the  lake  that  now 
bears  their  name. 

Northwest  of  the  Neuter  Nation  dwelt  the  Algonquins  or  Hurons, 
reaching  to  the  shores  of  the  great  lake  which  bears  their  name,  wiiile  to 
the  eastward  was  the  home  of  those  powerful  confederates  whose  fame  has 
extended  throughout  the  world,  whose  civil  policy  has  been  the  wonder 
of  sages,  whose  warlike  achievements  have  compelled  the  admiration 
of  soldiers,  whose  eloquence  has  thrilled  the  hearts  of  the  most  cultivated 
hearers, —  the  brave,  sagacious,  and  far- dreaded  Iroquois.  They  then 
consisted  of  but  five  nations,  and  their  "  Long  House,"  as  they  termed 
their  confederacy,  extended  from  east  to  west  through  all  the  rich  centra! 
portion  of  the  present  State  of  New  York.  The  Mohawks  were  in  the 
fertile  valley  of  the  Mohawk  River  ;  the  Oneidas,  the  most  peaceful  of  the 
Confederates,  were  beside  the  lake  that  still  bears  their  name;  the  Onon 
dagas  were  in  the  region  of  the  lake  so  called,  and  in  their  territory, 
near  the  site  of  the  present  city  of  Syracuse,  were  lighted  the  council 
fires  of  the  Confederacy ;  the  Cayugas  lived  in  and  guarded  the  region 
of  the  lake  called  Cayuga  ;  while  westward  from  Seneca  Lake  ranged  the 
fierce,  untamable  Sonnonthonans,  better  known  as  Senecas,  the  warriors 
par  excellence  of  the  Confederacy.  Their  villages  reached  westward  to 
within  thirty  or  forty  miles  of  the  Niagara,  or  to  the  vicinity  of  the  [)res- 
ent  village  of  B;itavia. 

From  what  has  alrcadj'  been  nanated,  and  from  what  has  otherwise 
been  conceded  as  an  established  fact,  the  territory  now  embraced  in  this 
county  was  a  part  of  the  lands  of  the  Senecas.  In  fact  here  was  their 
favorite  hunting  and  fishing  resorts,  but  not  within  the  region  of  the 
county  is  there  understood  to  have  been  any  extensive  villages.  To  be 
sure  during  General  Sullivan's  campaign  against  the  Senecas  a  detach- 
ment of  his  army  was  sent  to  destroy  the  village  near  the  mouth  of 
Kashong  Creek,  but  the  village  there  was  then  of  but  recent  establish- 
ment and  was  the  trading  post  of  Debartzch  and  Poudre.     These  ad- 


INDIAN  STRUCTURES.  29 

venturous  tradesmen  had  located  some  miles  away  from  Kanandesaga 
(Geneva),  where  their  operations  would  be  less  obstructed  and  where  they 
might  find  less  opposition.  At  the  time  of  its  destruction  the  village  at 
Kashong  was  small,  but  there  had  been  made  some  eftbrt  at  improve- 
ment, as  corn  and  vegetables  had  been  planted  about  the  place. 

It  has  been  said  that  the  Indians  never  built  breastworks,  and  that 
such  defences  were  beyond  their  patience  and  skill.  But  they  certainly 
did  build  palisades,  frequently  requiring  much  labor  and  ingenuity. 
When  the  French  first  visited  Montreal  they  discovered  an  Indian  town 
of  fifty  huts  which  was  encompassed  by  three  lines  of  palisades  some 
thirty  feet  high,  with  one  well  secured  entrance.  On  the  inside  was  a 
rampart  of  timber,  ascended  by  ladders,  and  supplied  with  heaps  of 
stones  ready  to  cast  at  an  enemy.  When  Chaniplain  with  his  allied 
Hurons,  or  Algonquins,  and  St.  Francis  Indians  attacked  the  principal 
village  of  the  Onondagas  in  October,  161 5,  he  found  it  defended  by 
four  rows  of  interlaced  palisades  so  strong  that,  notwithstanding  the 
number  of  his  force,  he  was  unable  to  overcome  the  resistance  of  the 
Onondagas,  and  was  compelled  to  retreat.  Also,  in  Genesee  County,  in 
the  town  of  Le  Roy,  was  one  of  the  largest  fortresses  in  Western  New 
York,  which  contained  when  first  discovered  great  piles  of  round  stones, 
evidently  intended  for  use  against  assailants,  and  showing  about  the 
same  progress  in  the  art  of  war  as  was  evinced  by  the  palisade  builders. 

There  are  evidences,  too,  of  fort  or  palisade  constructions  in  Yates 
County,  which  were  unquestionably  the  work  of  the  Senecas.  On  the 
farm  of  Lewis  Swarthout,  in  the  town  of  Milo,  on  a  slightly  elevated 
piece  of  ground,  there  has  been  discovered  the  remnants  of  an  old 
structure  of  some  sort,  but  of  what  particular  character  there  is  no  evi- 
dence to  determine.  Some  of  the  older  jieople  of  the  town  have  a 
distinct  recollection  of  hearing  some  talk  of  the  "  old  fort  "  at  or  near 
that  place,  but  all  traces  of  its  existence  have  long  since  disappeared. 
It  is  said  also  that  an  Indian  burial  ground  was  in  the  same  vicinity  ; 
and  Mr.  Swarthout,  the  present  owner  of  the  property,  says  that  in  ex- 
cavating for  his  barn  foundation  he  found  the  skeleton  of  a  buried  human 
being.  From  these  things  we  may  fairly  infer  that  there  was  probably 
an  Indian  fortification  of  some  sort  at  this  place,  but  to  inquire  concern- 
ing the  necessitv  of  such  a  structure  in  this  interior  land  of  the  Senecas 


30  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUXTY. 

would  be  putting  forth  a  question  unanswerable.  In  the  town  of  Jeru- 
salem, too,  there  is  said  to  have  been  an  ancient  Indian  structure  of 
some  sort,  but  ail  inquiries  concerning  its  true  character  have  produced 
no  substantial  or  satisfactory  results. 

The  land  of  the  Senecas  included  an  immense  area,  and  throughout 
its  whole  extent  they  traveled  and  dwelt  sometimes  in  one  locality  and 
again  in  another,  as  best  suited  the  Indian  fancy.  Their  principal  vil- 
lages in  this  locality  were  at  Ganundagwa  and  Kanandesaga  (Canan- 
daigua  and  Geneva),  the  one  at  the  foot  of  Canandaigua  and  the  other 
at  the  foot  of  Seneca  Lake.  Between  these  points  ran  the  principal 
trail  used  by  the  Iroquois  in  traversing  their  "  Long  House."  Up  and 
down  Seneca  Lake  on  both  sides  were  other  principal  trails,  while 
another  of  lesser  importance  led  from  Kanandesaga  to  the  foot  of 
Keuka  Lake,  known  to  the  Indians  as  Ogoyaga. 

Between  the  Iroqupis  and  the  Hurons  there  prevailed  a  deadly  en- 
mity, while  the  hostility  between  the  former  and  the  Eries  was  scarcely 
less  fervent.  Betwixt  these  contending  foemen  the  peaceful  Kahquahs 
long  maintained  their  neutrality,  and  the  warriors  of  the  East,  of  the 
Northwest,  and  of  the  Southwest  suppressed  their  hatred  for  the  time  as 
they  met  by  the  council  fires  of  these  aboriginal  peacemakers.  Down 
to  about  tiie  year  1641  the  Kahquahs  succeeded  in  maintaining  their 
neutrality  between  the  fierce  belligerants  on  either  side,  though  the 
Jesuit  missionaries  reported  them  as  being  more  friendly  to  the  Senecas 
of  the  Iroquois  than  to  the  Hurons.  What  cause  of  quarrel  arose  be- 
tween the  peaceful  possessors  of  the  lake  shore  and  their  whilom  friends, 
the  Confederates,  is  entirely  unknown,  but  some  time  during  the  next 
fifteen  years  the  Iroquois  fell  upon  both*the  Kahquahs  and  Eries  and  ex- 
terminated them  as  a  nation  from  the  face  of  the  earth.  The  precise 
years  in  which  these  events  occurred  are  uncertain,  nor  is  it  known 
which  of  the  tribes  first  felt  the  deadly  anger  of  the  Five  Nations. 
French  accounts  favor  the  view  that  the  Neuter  Nation  was  first  de- 
stroyed, while  according  to  Senaca  tradition  the  Kahquahs  still  dwelt 
on  their  land  when  the  Iroquois  annihilated  the  Eries. 

The  Senaca  tradition  just  referred  to  runs  somewhat  as  follows :  The 
Eries  had  been  jealous  of  the  Iroquois  from  the  time  the  latter  formed 
their  confederacy.      About  the  time  under  consideration  the  Eries  chal- 


s 


VICTORIES  OF  THE  IROQUOIS.  31 

lenged  their  rivals  to  a  grand  game  of  ball,  a  hundred  men  on  a  side, 
for  a  heavy  stake  of  furs  and  wampum.  After  two  years  the  challenge, 
being  thus  often  repeated,  was  accepted  with  result  in  the  Eries!  defeat. 
The  vanquished  then  proposed  a  foot-race  between  ten  of  the  fleetest 
young  men  on  each  side,  and  again  the  Iroquois  were  successful.  Still 
later,  at  the  home  of  the  Kahquahs,  the  Eries  proposed  a  wrestling 
match  between  ten  champions  on  each  side,  the  victor  in  each  match  to 
have  the  privilege  of  knocking  out  his  adversary's  brains  with  a  toma- 
hawk. In  the  first  bout  the  Iroquois  was  successful,  but  declined  lo 
play  the  part  of  executioner.  The  chief  of  the  Eries,  infuriated  by  his 
champion's  defeat,  himself  struck  the  unfortunate  wrestler  dead  as  he 
lay  supine  where  his  victor  had  flung  him.  Another  and  another  of 
the  Eries  was  in  the  same  way  conquered  by  the  Iroquois  and  in  the 
same  way  was  dispatched  by  his  wrathful  chief  The  jealousy  and  ha- 
tred of  the  Eries  was  still  more  inflamed  by  defeat,  and  they  soon  laid 
a  plan  to  surprise  and  if  possible  destroj'  the  Iroquois,  but  a  Seneca 
woman,  who  had  married  among  the  Eries  and  was  then  a  widow,  fled 
to  iier  own  people  and  gave  notice  of  the  attack.  At  once  the  men  of 
the  Confederacy  were  assembled  and  led  forth  to  meet  the  invaders. 
The  two  bodies  met  near  Honeoye  Lake,  half  way  between  Canandai- 
gua  and  the  Genesee.  After  a  terrible  conflict  the  Eries  were  totally 
routed,  the  flying  remnants  pursued  to  their  homes,  and  the  whole  nation 
almost  completely  destroyed.  It  was  five  months  before  the  Iroquois 
warriors  returned  from  their  deadly  pursuit.  Afterward  a  powerful 
party  of  the  descendants  of  the  Eries  came  from  the  far  West  to  attack 
the  Iroquois,  but  were  utterly  defeated  and  slain  to  a  man  Such  is  the 
tradition.  It  is  a  very  pretty  story — for  the  Iroquois.  According  to 
their  own  account  their  opponents  were  the  aggressors  throughout,  the 
young  men  of  the  Five  Nations  were  invariably  victorious  in  the  ath- 
letic games,  and  nothing  but  self-preservation  induced  them  to  destroy 
their  enemies. 

From  the  destruction  of  the  unfortunate  Kahquahs  and  Eries  down 
to  the  time  of  the  last  great  sale  of  land  by  the  Iroquois  those  Confed- 
erates were  the  actual  possessors  of  the  territory  that  now  includes 
Yates  County  and  as  well  the  major  portion  of  all  that  is  now  the  State 
of  New  York.      For  all  these  230  years  the   Iroquois  have  been  closely 


32  HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUNTY. 

identified  witli  the  history  of  tliis  county,  and  the  beginning  of  this  com- 
munity of  record  forms  a  proper  point  at  vvliich  to  introduce  an  account 
of  the  interior  structure  of  that  remarkable  Confederacy  at  which  we 
have  before  taken  but  an  outside  glance. 

It  should  be  said  here  that  the  name  "  Iroquois  "  was  never  applied  by 
the  Confederates  to  themselves.  It  was  first  used  by  the  French  and  its 
true  meaning  is  veiled  in  obscurity.  In  the  province  of  Ontario  an  old 
map  showed  a  tribe  of  Indians  called  "  Couis,"  living  near  the  site  of 
Kingston,  while  another  map  designated  the  territory  then  occupied  by 
the  Iroquois  as  belonging  to  the  "  Hiro  Couis."  Plainly  this  is  the  deri- 
vation of  Iroquois,  but  as  to  the  meaning  of  "Hiro"  or  "Couis"  there 
remains  great  doubt.  Tiie  men  of  the  Five  Nations  (afterward  th.e 
Si.x  Nations)  called  themselves  "  Medonosaunee,"  '  which  means  literally 
"  They  form  a  cabin,"  describing  in  this  expressive  manner  the  close 
union  e.xisting  among  them.  The  Indian  name  just  above  quoted  is 
more  liberally  and  commonh-  rendered  "  The  People  of  the  Long 
House,"  which  is  more  fully  descriptive  of  the  Confederacy,  though  not 
quite  so  accurate  a  translation. 

The  central  and  unique  characteristic  of  the  Iroquois  League  was  not 
the  mere  fact  of  five  separate  tribes  being  confederated  together,  for  such 
unions  have  been  frequent  among  civilized  and  half  civilized  peoples, 
though  little  known  among  the  savages  of  America.  The  feature  that 
distinguished  the  people  of  the  Long  House  from  all  other  confedera- 
cies, and  which  at  the  same  time  bound  together  all  these  ferocious  war- 
riors as  with  a  living  chain,  was  the  system  of  clans  extending  through 
all  the  different  tribes.  Although  this  clan  system  has  been  treated  of 
in  many  works  there  are  doubtless  thousands  of  readers  who  have  often 
heard  of  the  warlike  success  and  outward  greatness  of  the  Iroquois 
Confederacy,  but  are  unacquainted  with  the  inner  league,  which  was  its 
distinguishing  characteristic,  and  without  which  it  would  in  all  proba- 
bility have  met  at  an  early  day  with  the  fate  of  numerous  similar  alli- 
ances. The  word  clan  has  been  adopted  as  the  most  convenient  one  to 
designate  the  peculiar  artificial  families  about  to  be  described,  but  the 
Iroquois  clan  was  entirely  different  from  the  Scottish  one,  all  the  members 
of  which   owed  undivided  allegiance  to  a  single  chief,   for  whom  they 

'  Morgan's  map  of  the  Iroquois  country  gives  the  name  thus  :  Ho-de-no-iau-me-ga. 


LAWS  OF  THE  CONFEDERACY.  33 

were  ready  to  fight  against  all  the  world.  Yet  "clan  "  is  a  much  better 
word  than  "  tribe,"  which  is  sometimes  used,  since  that  is  a  designation 
ordinarily  applied  to  a  separate  Indian  nation. 

The  people  of  the  Iroquois  Confederacy  were  divided  into  eight 
clans,  the  names  of  which  were  as  follows  :  Wolf,  Bear.  Beaver,  Turtle, 
Ueer,  Snipe,  Heron,  and  Hawk.  Accounts  differ,  some  declaring  that 
every  clan  extended  through  all  the  tribes,  and  others  that  only  the  Wolf, 
Bear,  and  Turtle  clans  did  so,  the  rest  being  restricted  to  a  lesser  num- 
ber of  tribes.  It  is  certain,  however,  that  each  tribe,  Mohawks,  Oneidas, 
Onondagas.Cayugas,  or  Senecas,  contained  parts  of  the  tliree  clans  named 
and  of  several  of  the  others.  Each  clan  formed  a  large  artificial  famil)-, 
modeled  on  the  natural  family.  All  the  members  of  the  clan,  no  matter 
how  widely  separated  among  the  other  tribes,  were  considered  as 
brothers  and  sisters  to  each  other,  and  were  forbidden  to  intermarry. 
This  prohibition  was  strictly  enforced  by  public  opinion.  All  the  clans 
being  thus  taught  from  earliest  infancy  that  they  belonged  to  the  same 
family,  a  bond  of  the  strongest  kind  was  thus  created  throughout  the 
Confederacy.  The  Oneida  of  the  Wolf  clan  had  no  sooner  appeared 
among  the  Cayugas  than  those  of  the  same  clan  claimed  him  as  their 
special  guest,  and  admitted  him  to  the  most  confidential  intimacy.  The 
Senecas  of  the  Turtle  clan  might  wander  to  the  country  of  the  Mohawks, 
at  the  farthest  extremity  of  the  Long  House,  and  he  had  a  claim  upon 
his  brother  Turtle  which  they  did  not  dream  of  repudiating. 

Thus  the  whole  Confederacy  was  linked  together.  If  at  any  time 
there  appeared  a  tendency  toward  conflict  between  ti)e  different  tribes 
it  was  instantly  checked  by  the  thought  that  if  persisted  in  the  hand  of 
the  Heron  must  be  lifted  against  his  brother  Heron;  the  hatchet  of  the 
Bear  might  be  buried  in  the  brain  of  his  kinsman  Bear.  And  so  potent 
was  the  feeling  that  for  at  least  200  years,  and  until  the  power  of  the 
League  was  broken  by  overwhelming  outside  force,  there  was  no  serious 
dissension  between  the  tribes  of  the  Iroquois. 

Iroquois  tradition  ascribes  the  founding  of  the  league  to  an  Onondaga 
chieftain  named  Tadodahoh.  Such  traditions,  however,  are  of  very 
little  value.  A  person  of  that  name  may  or  may  not  have  founded  the 
Confederacy.  It  is  extremel)-  probable  that  the  League  began  with  the 
union  of  two  or  three  tribes,  being  subsequently  increased  by  the  addi 


34  HIS  TOR  \ '  OF  YA  TES  CO  UN  TV. 

tion  of  others.  Tliat  such  additions  niiyht  have  been  made  may  be 
seen  by  the  case  of  the  Tuscaroras,  whose  union  with  the  Confederacy 
in  17 12,  long  after  the  advent  of  the  Europeans,  changed  tlie  Five  Nations 
into  the  Six  Nations.  Whether  tiic  Iledonosaunee  were  originally  su- 
perior in  valor  and  eloquence  to  their  neighbors  cannot  now  be  ascer- 
tained. Probably  not ;  but  their  talent  for  practical  statesmanship  ga\e 
them  the  advantage  in  war  and  success  made  them  self-confident  and 
fearless.  The  business  of  the  League  was  necessarily  transacted  in  a  con- 
gress of  sachems,  and  this  fostered  oratorical  powers  until  at  length  the 
Iroquois  were  famous  among  a  hundred  rivals  for  wisdom,  courage,  and 
eloquence,  and  were  justly  denominated  by  Volney  the  "  Romans  of  the 
New  World." 

Aside  from  the  clan  system  just  described,  which  was  entirely  unique, 
the  Iroquois  League  had  some  resemblance  to  the  great  American  Union 
which  succeeded  and  overwhelmed  it.  The  central  authority  was 
supreme  on  questions  of  peace  and  war  and  on  all  others  relating  to  the 
general  welfare  of  the  Confederacy,  while  tribes,  like  the  States,  re- 
served to  themselves  the  management  of  their  ordinary  affairs.  In 
peace  all  power  was  confided  to  "sachems";  in  war  to  "chiefs."  The 
sachems  of  each  tribe  acted  as  its  rulers  in  the  few  matters  which  re- 
quired the  exercise  of  civil  authority.  The  same  rulers  also  met  in 
congress  to  direct  the  affairs  of  the  Confederacy.  There  were  fifty  in 
ail,  of  whom  the  Mohawks  had  nine,  the  Oneidas  nine,  the  Onondagas 
fourteen,  the  Cayugas  ten,  and  the  Senecas  eight.  These  numbers, 
ho\\ever,  did  not  give  the  proportionate  representation  in  the  congress 
of  the  League,  for  all  the  nations  were  equal  there. 

There  was  in  each  tribe  the  same  number  of  war  chiefs  as  sachems, 
and  these  had  absolute  authority  in  time  of  war.  When  a  council  as- 
sembled each  sachem  had  a  war  chief  standing  behind  him  to  execute 
his  orders.  But  in  a  war  party  the  war  chief  commanded  and  the  sachem 
took  his  place  in  the  ranks.  This  was  the  system  in  its  simplicity. 
Some  time  after  the  arrival  of  the  Europeans  they  seem  to  have  fallen 
into  the  habit  of  electing  chiefs  (not  war  chiefs)  as  counselors  to  the 
sachems,  who  in  time  acquired  equality  of  power  with  them  and  were 
considered  as  their  equals  by  the  whites  in  the  making  of  treaties. 

It  is  ditticult  tc;  learn  the  truth  regarding  a  political  and  social  system 


IROQUOIS  LA  WS  OF  DESCENT  AND  INHERITANCE.  35 

which  was  not  preserved  by  any  written  record.  As  near  as  can  be  as- 
certained the  Onondagas  had  a  certain  pre-eminence  in  the  councils  of 
tiie  League,  at  least  to  the  extent  of  always  furnishing  the  grand  sachem, 
whose  authority,  however,  was  of  a  very  shadowy  description.  It  is 
not  certain  that  he  ever  presided  in  the  congress  of  sachems.  That  con- 
gress, however,  always  met  at  the  council  fire  of  the  Onondagas.  This 
was  the  natural  result  of  their  central  position,  the  Mohawks  and 
Oneidas  being  east  of  them,  the  Cayugas  and  Senecas  to  the  west.  The 
Senecas  were  unquestionably  the  most  powerful  of  all  the  tribes,  and  as 
they  were  located  at  the  western  extremity  of  the  Confederacy  they 
had  to  bear  the  brunt  of  war  when  it  was  assailed  by  its  most  formida- 
ble foes  who  dwelt  in  that  quarter.  It  would  naturally  follow  that  the 
principal  war  chief  of  the  league  should  be  of  the  Seneca  nation,  and 
such  is  said  to  have  been  the  case,  though  over  this,  too,  hangs  a  shadow 
of  doubt. 

As  among  many  other  savage  tribes  the  right  of  heirship  was  in  the 
female  line.  A  man's  heirs  were  his  brothei' and  his  sister's  son  ;  never 
his  own  son  nor  his  brother's  son.  The  few  articles  which  constituted 
an  Indian's  personal  property,  even  his  bow  and  tomahawk,  never  de- 
scended to  the  son  of  him  who  had  wielded  them.  Titles,  so  far  as  they 
were  hereditary  at  all,  followed  the  same  law  of  descent.  The  child  also 
followed  the  clan  and  tribe  of  the  mother.  The  object  of  this  was  evi- 
dently to  secure  greater  certainty  that  tiie  heir  would  be  of  the  blood 
of  his  deceased  kinsman. 

The  result  of  the  application  of  this  rule  to  the  Iroquois  s\'steni  of 
clans  was  that  if  a  particular  sachemship  or  chieftiancy  was  once  estab- 
lished in  a  certain  clan  of  a  certain  tribe,  in  that  clan  and  tribe  it  was 
expected  to  remain  forever.  Exactly  how  it  was  filled  when  it  became 
vacant  is  a  matter  of  some  doubt,  but  as  near  as  can  be  learned  the  new 
official  was  elected  by  the  warriors  of  the  clan,  and  was  then  "  raised 
up,"  /.  c  ,  inaugurated  by  the  congress  of  sachems.  If,  for  instance, 
a  sachemship  belonging  to  the  Wolf  clan  of  the  Seneca  tribe  became 
vacant  it  could  only  be  filled  by  some  one  of  the  Wolf  clan  of  the  Seneca 
tribe.  A  clan  council  was  called,  and  as  a  general  rule  the  heir  of  the 
deceased  was  chosen  to  his  place,  to- wit.:  One  of  his  brothers,  reckon- 
ing only  on  the  mother's  side,  or  one  of  his  sister's  sons,  or  even  some 


36  HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUNTY. 

more  distant  male  relative  in  tlje  female  line.  But  there  was  no  positive 
law  and  the  warrors  might  discard  all  these  and  elect  some  one  entirely 
unconnected  with  the  deceased.  A  grand  council  of  the  Confederacy 
was  then  called,  at  which  the  new  sachem  was  formally  "  raised  up,"  or 
as  we  should  say  "  inaugurated  "  in  his  ofifice.  And  while  there  was  no 
unchangeable  custom  compelling  the  clan-council  to  select  one  of  the 
heirs  of  the  deceased  as  his  successor  the  tendency  was  so  strong  in 
that  direction  that  an  infant  was  frequentlj'  chosen,  a  guardian  being  ap- 
pointed to  perform  the  functions  of  the  ofifice  till  the  youth  should  reach 
the  proper  age  to  do  so.  All  ofifices  were  held  for  life  unless  the  incum- 
bent was  solemnl\-  deposed  by  a  council,  an  event  which  verj-  seldom 
occurred. 

Notwithstanding  the  modified  system  of  hereditary  power  in  vogue 
the  constitution  of  every  tribe  was  essentially  republican.  \\'arriors,  old 
men,  and  even  women  attended  the  various  councils  and  made  their  in- 
fluence felt.  Neither  in  the  government  of  the  Confederacy  nor  of  the 
tribes  was  there  any  such  thing  as  tyranny  over  the  people,  though 
there  was  a  great  deal  of  tyranny  by  the  League  over  conquered  nations. 
In  fact  there  was  very  little  government  of  any  kind  and  but  little 
need  of  any.  There  were  substantially  no  propert)'  interests  to  guard, 
all  land  being  in  common  and  each  man's  personal  property  being 
limited  to  a  bow,  arrows,  tomahawk,  and  a  few  deer  skins.  Liquor  had 
not  yet  lent  its  disturbing  influence  and  few  quarrels  were  to  be  traced 
to  the  influence  of  woman,  for  the  American  Indian  of  that  day  was 
singularly  free  from  the  warmer  passions.  His  principal  vice  was  an 
easily  aroused  and  unlimited  hatred,  but  the  tribes  were  so  small  and 
enemies  so  convenient  that  there  was  no  difficulty  in  gratifying  this  feel- 
ing outside  his  own  nation.  The  consequence  was  that,  although  the 
war  parties  of  the  Iroquois  were  continuallj-  shedding  the  blood  of  their 
foes,  there  was  very  little  quarreling  at  home.  They  do  not  appear  to 
have  any  class  especially  set  apart  for  religious  services,  and  their  re- 
ligious creed  was  limited  to  a  somewhat  vague  belief  in  a  "  Great  Spirit  " 
and  several  inferior  but  very  potent  evil  spirits.  They  had  a  few  simple 
ceremonies,  consisting  largely  of  dances,  one  called  the  "  green  corn 
dance,"  performed  at  the  time  indicated  by  its  name,  and  others  at  vari- 
ous seasons  of  the  year.      From  a  very  early  date  their  most  important 


CHARACTERISTICS  OF  THE  IROQUOIS.  37 

religious  ceremony  was  the  "  burning  of  the  white  dog,"  when  an  un- 
fortunate canine  of  the  requisite  color  was  sacrificed  by  one  of  the 
chiefs.     To  this  day  the  pagans  among  them  still  perform  this  rite. 

In  common  with  their  fellow  savages  on  this  continent  the  Iroquois 
have  been  termed  "  fast  friends  and  bitter  enemies."  They  were  a 
great  deal  stronger  enemies  than  friends.  Revenge  was  the  ruling  pas- 
sion of  their  nature  and  cruelty' was  their  abiding  characteristic.  Re- 
venge and  cruelt}-  are  the  worst  attributes  of  human  nature  and  it  is  idle 
to  talk  of  the  goodness  of  men  who  roasted  their  captives  at  the  stake. 
All  Indians  were  faithful  to  their  own  tribes  and  the  Iroquois  were  faithful 
to  their  Confederacy,  but  outside  of  these  limits  their  friendship  could  not 
be  counted  on  and  treachery  was  always  to  be  apprehended  in  dealing 
with  them.  In  their  family  relations  they  were  not  harsh  to  their  chil- 
dren and  not  wantonly  so  to  their  wives,  but  the  men  were  invariablj- 
indolent,  and  all  labor  was  contemptuously  abandoned  to  the  weaker 
sex.  They  were  not  an  amorous  race,  but  could  not  well  be  called  a 
moral  one.  In  that  respect  they  were  merely  apathetic.  Their  pas- 
sions rarely  led  them  into  adultery  and  mercenary  prostitution  was  en- 
tirely unknown,  but  they  were  not  sensitive  on  the  question  of  puritj- 
and  readily  permitted  their  maidens  to  form  the  most  fleeting  alliances 
with  distinguished  visitors.  Pol)'gamy,  too,  was  practiced,  though  in 
what  might  be  called  moderation.  Chiefs  and  eminent  warriors  usually 
had  two  or  three  wives,  but  rarely  more.  They  could  be  divorced  at 
will  by  their  lords,  but  the  latter  seldom  availed  themselves  of  their 
privileges. 

Such  was  the  character  of  the  Iroquois  Confederacy  and  such  were 
the  characteristics  of  its  tribes  and  people.  For  130  years  tliey  were 
undisputed  masters  and  for  upwards  of  two  centuries  they  were  in  pos- 
session of  the  territory  now  included  within  the  county  of  Yates. 

After  the  overthrow  of  the  Kahquahs  and  ICries  the  Iroquois  lords  of 
this  region  of  country  went  forth  conquering  and  to  conquer.  Stimu- 
lated, but  not  yet  crushed  by  contact  with  the  white  man,  tl)e\-  stayed 
the  progress  of  the  French  into  their  territories,  they  negotiated  on 
equal  terms  with  the  Dutch  and  English,  and  having  supplied  them- 
selves with  the  terrible  arms  of  the  pale- faces  they  smote  with  direst 
vengeance  whomsoever  of  their  own  race  were  so  unfortunate  as  to  pro- 


38  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

voke  their  wratli.  On  the  Susquehanna,  the  Allegheny,  the  Ohio,  even 
to  the  Mississippi  in  the  West  and  the  Savannah  in  the  South,  the  Iro- 
quois bore  their  conquering  arms,  filling  with  terror  the  dwellers  alike 
on  the  plains  of  Illinois  and  in  the  glades  of  the  Carolinas.  They  strode 
over  the  bones  of  the  slaughtered  Kahquahs  to  new  conquests  on  the 
Great  Lakes  beyond,  even  to  the  foaming  cascades  of  Michillimacinac 
and  the  shores  of  the  mighty  Superior.  They  inflicted  such  terrible  de- 
feat upon  the  Hurons,  despite  the  alliance  of  the  latter  with  the  French, 
that  many  of  the  conquered  nation  sought  safety  on  the  frozen  borders 
of  Hudson's  Bay.  In  short  they  triumphed  on  every  side  save  only 
where  the  white  man  came,  and  even  he  for  a  time  was  held  at  bay  by 
these  fierce  Confederates. 

The  foregoing  narrative  is  in  brief  an  outline  history  of  the  famous 
Iroquois  Confederacy  from  the  time  of  the  supposed  Indian  occupancy 
of  the  territory  by  their  ancestors  down  to  the  early  permanent  settle- 
ments by  the  whites.  From  what  has  already  been  stated  the  reader 
has  learned  that  the  Seneca  tribe,  who  occupied  the  immediate  terri- 
tory now  of  Yates  County,  were  the  possessors  and  dwellers  here- 
abouts, and  with  them  directly  and  with  the  Confederacy  generally 
were  had  the  negotiations  that  eventually  led  to  the  sale  of  their  lands 
to  the  Massachusetts  Company.  They  were  first  induced  to  dispose  of 
their  lands  to  the  obnoxious  lessee  company  through  the  means  of  a 
perpetual  lease,  but  that  disposition  was  held  by  the  power  of  the  State, 
to  be  invalid  and  the  lease  was  consequently  nullified. 

But  the  events  just  referred  to  occurred  at  a  much  later  period,  at  a 
time  when  the  power  of  the  Confederacy  had  become  substantially 
broken.  The  greatest  blow  against  the  strength  of  the  Senecas  was 
struck  by  General  Sullivan  in  his  memorable  campaign  against  them 
during  the  progress  of  the  Revolution.  At  this  time,  too,  another  corps 
of  leaders  was  in  the  field  in  command  of  the  local  occupants  of  the 
soil.  The  conquest  over  all  the  other  Indian  nations  by  the  Iroquois 
was  made  somewhere  between  the  years  1640  and  1655,  before  white 
settlement  had  made  any  substantial  progress  in  Western  New  York 
or  the  territory  afterward  so  called.  Therefore  it  will  be  observed  that 
the  negotiations  and  treaties  for  the  extinguishment  of  Indian  titles  oc- 
curred  more  than  a  century  after  the   Iroquois  made  their  conquering 


EARL  )  ■  DISCO  I  'ER/ES.  39 

tour,  and  that  none  of  the  red  warriors  wlio  participated  in  the  early 
struggle  could  have  been  living  when  the  more  peaceful  conquest  of 
their  territor)'  was  made  by  the  whites.  But  this  is  a  subject  that  will 
be  more  fully  discussed  in  another  chapter  of  the  present  volume. 


CHAPTER   III. 


Early  explorations  and  Discoveries  —  The  French  in  Canada  —  The  Puritans  in 
New  England  —  The  English  in  Virginia  —  The  Dutch  in  New  Yorl<  —  Founding  of 
New  France  —  Champlain  incurs  the  enmity  of  the  Iroquois  — ■  Its  after  Effects —  Ad- 
ventures of  De  Nonville  and  La  Salle  —  Neutrality  of  the  Iroquois  during  the  early 
French  Wars  —  The  French  make  friends  with  the  Senecas  —  Joncaire's  Influence  — 
French  forts  built  in  the  Seneca  Countrv —  Discomfiture  of  the  English — The  Final 
Wars  —  Extinction  of  French  power  in  .-Vmerica. 

rULL  four  hundred  years  ago  Christopher  Columbus  first  set  foot 
upon  North  American  soil.  He  was  sailing  in  the  interest  of  the 
government  of  Spain,  and  the  reports  of  his  voyage  soon  induced  other 
European  powers  to  fit  out  similar  exploring  expeditions  for  a  like  pur- 
pose, the  extension  of  their  influence  and  domain  in  the  New  World. 
Within  a  very  few  j-ears  after  the  discovery  of  America  by  Columbus  we 
find  the  French  government  sending  out  Jacques  Cartier  upon  an  errand 
similar  to  that  of  Spain,  but  the  latter  navigator  touched  the  northeast 
coast,  entered  the  St.  Lawrence  River,  and  gave  to  that  stream  the  name 
it  still  bears.  These  were  but  the  beginning  of  discoveries,  and  althougli 
an  occasional  visit  was  afterward  made  to  the  country  by  some  advent- 
urous navigators  it  was  more  than  100  years  later  before  any  explor- 
ers ventured  into  the  region  of  what  afterward  became  Western  New 
York.  In  1603  Samuel  de  Champlain  made  a  voyage  to  the  country, 
having  in  view  the  fur  trade,  but  the  result  of  which  was  the  establish- 
ment of  a  new  colony.  On  the  occasion  of  his  second  visit  in  1608  and 
1609  he  planted  the  settlement  and  explored  the  region  of  the  St.  Law- 
rence, though  but  to  a  limited  extent.  He,  during  the  latter  year,  voy- 
aged  up   Lake   Champlain,  which   he  so  called   in  allusion   to  his  own 


40  HIS  TORY  OF  YA  TES  CO  U.V  T 1 '. 

name;  he  also  discovered  and  named  Lake  St.  Sacrament,  but  now  Lake 
George.  Upon  the  occasion  of  this  voyage  Champlain  was  accompa- 
nied by  two  other  Frenchmen  and  a  party  of  Huron  and  Algonquin 
Indians,  and  while  on  his  part  the  voyage  was  one  of  discoverj'  and 
exploration  the  Indians  on  the  contrary  were  actuated  by  other  motives, 
for  they  hoped  to  bring  on  a  battle  with  the  Iroquois  in  the  belief  that 
with  their  European  allies  supplied  with  firearms  they  would  terrify  and 
conquer  their  antagonists,  which  proved  to  be  the  case,  as  the  parties 
met  in  battle  near  Lake  St.  Sacrament,  and  at  the  first  discharge  of  tlieir 
weapons  by  the  Frenchmen  two  Iroquois  chiefs  were  killed,  while  the 
others  were  so  amazed  at  the  noise  and  fatal  effect  of  the  guns  that  they 
fled  in  terror.  Commenting  upon  this  occurrence  in  particular,  and 
upon  the  progress  of  settlement  tiius  far,  Turner  says: 

"  This  was  the  first  battle  of  which  history  gives  us  any  account  in  a 
region  where  armies  .since  often  met.  And  it  marks  another  era,  the 
introduction  of  firearms  in  battle  to  the  natives  in  all  the  nortiiern  por- 
tion of  tiiis  continent.  They  had  now  been  made  acquainted  with  tiie 
two  elements  that  were  destined  to  work  out  principally  tiieir  decline 
and  gradual  extermination.  They  had  tasted  French  brandy  upon  the 
St.  Lawrence,  English  rum  upon  the  shores  of  the  Ciiesapeake,  and 
Dutch  gin  upon  the  banks  of  the  Hudson.  They  had  seen  the  mighty 
engines,  one  of  which  was  to  conquer  them  in  battle  and  the  other  was 
to  conquer  them  in  peace  councils  where  cessions  of  their  domain  were 
involved." 

From  the  time  of  his  first  voyage  to  the  St.  Lawrence  country  down 
to  the  )'ear  1627,  when  Cardinal  Richelieu  organized  the  Company  of 
New  France,  otherwise  known  as  the  Company  of  a  Hundred  Partners, 
the  Marquis  Champlain  was  a  frequent  visitor  to  the  region,  and  by  that 
time  a  considerable  number  of  Frenchmen  had  become  colonists  in 
America.  But  as  early  as  1615  an  association  of  French  merchants  had 
secured  a  charter  to  lands  in  America  indefinite  and  almost  unlimited 
in  e.Ktent,  and  to  the  entire  region  was  given  the  name  of  New  France. 
Although  there  appears  no  record  by  which  the  fact  can  be  demon- 
strated, yet  it  is  generally  conceded  that  the  French  claim  included  the 
whole  Genesee  country,  as  afterward  called,  and  therefore  included 
what  is  now  Yates  County.      And  although   at  that  time  explorations 


EARL  Y  COLON IZA  TION.  4 1 

had  not  extended  into  this  part  of  tiie  country  all  European  nations 
recognized  the  right  of  discovery  as  constituting  a  vahd  title  to  lands 
occupied  only  by  scattered  barbarians,  but  there  were  numerous  dis- 
putes as  to  application  and  especially  as  to  the  amount  of  surrounding 
country  which  each  discoverer  could  claim  on  behalf  of  his  sovereign. 
Hut  during  this  same  period  other  powers  than  PVance  and  Spain  were 
also  active  in  the  work  of  planting  colonies  in  the  new  country.  In 
1606  King  James  granted  to  the  Plymouth  Company  the  territory  of 
New  England,  but  it  was  not  until  the  year  1620  that  any  permanent 
settlement  was  made  under  that  grant.  On  the  9th  of  November  of  that 
year  the  Mayflower  with  its  Pilgrim  Fathers  landed  on  American  terri- 
tory and  afterward  founded  the  colony  at  Plymouth.  In  1  607  an  Eng- 
lish expedition  entered  Chesapeake  Bay  and  founded  the  colony  at 
Jamestown,  that  being  the  oldest  English  settlement  in  the  land.  In 
1609  the  doughty  English  navigator,  Henry  Hudson,  while  in  the  em- 
ploy of  the  Dutch  East  India  Company,  discovered  the  river  which 
bears  his  name,  and  soon  after  that  time  the  Hollanders  established  for- 
tified trading  posts  at  its  mouth  and  at  Albany  and  had  opened  com- 
merce in  furs.  They,  too,  made  an  indefinite  claim  of  territory  west- 
ward. Thus  at  the  end  of  1620  there  were  three  distinct  streams  of 
immigration  with  three  attendant  claims  of  sovereignty  converging  to 
ward  a  common  center.  Let  but  the  French  at  Montreal,  the  English 
in  New  England,  and  the  Dutch  on  the  Hudson  all  continue  the  work 
of  colonization,  following  the  natural  channels,  and  all  would  ultimately 
meet  in  the  Genesee  country.  In  the  work  of  advancing  settlements 
the  best  opportunities  lay  witli  the  French,  while  the  Dutch  were  sec- 
ond and  the  English  last. 

The  French  were  by  far  more  active  in  advancing  their  settlements  than 
were  either  the  Dutch  or  the  English.  The  Company  of  a  Hundred 
Partners  had  agreed  to  transport  to  the  Canadian  territory  a  colony  of 
6,000  emigrants,  and  to  furnish  them  with  an  ample  supply  both 
of  priests  and  artisans.  Champlain  was  made  governor  of  the  colony 
and  province,  but  his  experiences  for  a  few  years  were  unfortunate. 
England  and  France  were  at  war  and  a  British  fleet  sailed  up  the  St. 
Lawrence  and  captured  Quebec.  The  French,  too,  suffered  sorely  at 
the  hands  of  the  Iroquois,  whose  territory  Champlain  and  the  Huron- 


42  HIS  TORY  OF   YA  TES  CO  UN  T  ] '. 

Algonquiiis  had  invaded.  They,  the  Iroquois,  about  the  time  of  tlie 
capture  of  Quebec,  made  an  expedition  against  the  Canadian  residents, 
both  French  and  Indians,  with  disastrous  results  to  the  latter.  But  at 
length  a  peace  was  declared  between  the  contending  countries  and  the 
New  France  was  again  restored  to  its  discovers,  and  Champlain  resumed 
charge  of  its  governmental  affairs. 

With  this  restoration  of  peace  and  power  the  French  became  at  once 
active  in  extending  their  possessions  and  influence.  In  this  dut\'  the 
van  was  led  by  the  ever  zealous  Jesuit  priests  and  missionaries.  They 
first  made  firm  friends  witli  the  savages  throughout  the  Canadian  region 
of  country  and  gradually'  stretched  out  to  the  westward,  reaching  in  a 
few  years  as  far  as  the  western  shores  of  Lake  Huron.  But  as  energetic 
as  they  might  be  in  extending  their  possessions  in  that  direction  the 
Frenchmen  carefully  avoided  for  a  long  time  any  contact  with  the 
Senecas  of  the  Iroquois,  for  Champlain's  foolish  and  wanton  attack  near 
Lake  George  had  incurred  for  him  the  most  bitter  enmity  of  the  Con- 
federacy, and  all  the  arts  and  influence  of  the  priests  failed  to  overcome 
or  pacify  them.  However,  in  1 640,  the  Reverend  Fathers  Breboeuf  and 
Chaunionot,  after  their  labors  in  the  Western  country,  made  a  visit  to  the 
Neuter  Nation  and  during  the  succeeding  year  to  the  Kahquahs,  but 
not  with  either  people  did  they  succeed  in  establishing  a  foothold.  But 
the  Neuters  and  the  Kahquahs  received  the  Jesuits  and  harbored  them 
for  a  lime,  which,  coming  to  the  knowledge  of  the  Senecas,  in  a  measure 
at  least  aroused  the  ire  of  the  Confederacy  and  maj'  possibly  have  con- 
tributed as  an  auxiliary  event  that  finally  led  to  the  destruction  of  the 
peaceful  nations. 

But  as  years  passed  away  the  men  of  the  Iroquois  Confederacy  became 
more  and  more  accustomed  to  the  presence  of  white  faces.  In  1677 
Wentworth  Greenhalgh,  an  Englishman,  visited  the  Five  Nations  and 
counted  not  only  their  villages,  but  their  inhabitants  as  well.  At  that 
time  he  reported  the  Senecas  as  having  1,000  warriors ;  the  Cayugas 
300;  the  Onondagas  350  ;  the  Oneidas  200;  and  the  Mohawks  300. 
From  this  we  may  discover  that  the  aggregate  number  of  Iroquois  in 
1677  was  2,150  men.  But  in  1712,  by  the  acquisition  of  the  Tusca- 
roras,  who  had  been  driven  out  of  the  Carolinas  by  the  whites  and  allied 
Pohattans,  the  strength  of  the  Confederacy  was  considerably  augmented. 


FALL  OF  THE  IROQUOIS  CONFEDERACY.  43 

then  luinibering  about  2,6oo  warriors.  But  tlie  power  of  the  Iroquois 
league  was  at  last  doomed  to  be  broken.  In  1669  Robert  Cavelier  de 
la  Salle,  a  Frenchman  of  excellent  family,  rich  in  purse,  and  filled  with 
love  of  country  and  love  of  adventure,  with  only  two  companions,  made 
a  visit  to  the  Seneca  country,  explored  the  region  more  thoroughly  than 
had  any  predecessor,  and  drove  the  entering  wedge  which  ultimately 
separated  a  portion  of  the  Senecas  from  their  brothers,  thus  weakening 
the  power  of  the  Iroquois.  In  1678  La  Salle  received  a  commission  from 
King  Louis  XIV.  to  discover  the  western  part  of  New  France,  and  in 
the  next  year  the  adventurer  succeeded  in  penetrating  the  strongholds 
of  the  Senecas.  He  was  authorized  by  the  King  to  build  forts  and  de- 
fences, but  at  his  own  expense,  being  granted  in  return  the  right  to  trade 
in  furs  and  skins.  Under  La  Salle's  authority  was  made  tlie  visit  to  the 
Senaca  country  by  Father  Hennepin,  the  somewhat  famous  priest  and 
historian  from  whose  record  has  come  the  greater  portion  of  all  that  is 
written  by  subsequent  authorities  on  the  subject  of  Indian  history  and 
tradition. 

In  the  fall  of  1678  La  Salle  and  his  followers  commenced  the  con- 
struction of  a  sloop,  but  it  was  not  completed  and  launched  until  the 
succeeding  spring.  His  men  worked  constant!)-,  wliile  meats  for  their 
subsistence  were  supplied  by  two  Indians  of  the  Wolf  clan  of  the  Seneca 
tribe.  On  the  7th  of  August,  1 679,  witli  a  crew  of  thirty  men,  Le  Griffon 
(  The  Griffin)  set  sail  for  a  tour  of  the  lakes  and  the  exploration  of  the 
western  part  of  New  France.  For  a  period  of  nearly  half  a  century  after 
the  adventures  of  La  Salle  the  French  maintained  a  nominal  though 
not  substantial  ascendancy  in  this  region  of  the  country.  They  made 
a  foothold  among  some  of  the  Senecas,  but  the  great  body  of  that  tribe, 
true  to  their  league  with  the  eastern  Indians,  were  but  little  inclined  to 
forget,  much  less  to  forgive,  the  wrongs  perpetrated  by  Champlain,  and 
every  movement  on  the  part  of  the  Frenchmen  was  watched  with  jealous 
mterest.  The  Jesuits  labored  and  the  traders  bartered  with  the  Indians, 
and  while  the  savages  received  one  party  and  traded  with  the  other  they 
felt  no  interest  in  the  welfare  of  the  visitors.  In  1687  the  Marquis  de 
Nonville,  governor  of  New  France,  made  a  landing  at  Irondequoit  Bay 
with  nearly  2,000  French  troops  and  about  500  Canadian  Indians.  True 
to  their  instincts  the  Senecas  attacked  the  invaders  as  they  were  about 


44  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

to  la)'  battle  to  one  of  their  villages,  but  as  the  Senecas  only  numbered 
about  800  they  were  defeated.  They  burned  their  villages  and  fled 
to  the  Cayugas,  lea\-ing  the  Frenchmen  for  the  time  masters  of  the 
Genesee  country.  This  victory  of  the  almost  unconquerable  Senecas 
was  a  great  achievement  for  the  French,  for  it  gave  them  a  strong  foot- 
ing in  the  lake  region  and  so  disheartened  the  former  possessors  of  the 
locality,  the  Senecas,  that  they  abandoned  their  late  villages  and  took 
up  their  iiomes  at  Kanandesaga  (Geneva)  and  on  the  Genesee  River 
above  Avon. 

De  Nonville  then  sailed  to  the  moulh  of  the  Niagara,  where  he  erected 
a  small  fort  on  the  east  side  of  the  river.  This  was  the  origin  of  Fort 
Niagara,  one  of  the  most  celebrated  strongholds  of  the  country,  and  was 
the  key  of  Western  New  York  and  of  the  whole  upper  lake  country. 
And  in  later  years,  when  the  American  colonies  were  struggling  to  throw 
off  the  British  yoke,  the  remnant  of  Senecas  left  from  Sullivan's  destruct- 
ive expedition  against  them  made  this  point  their  place  of  refuge  dur- 
ing the  remaining  years  of  the  Revolution.  In  1687  De  Nonville,  the 
French  commander,  drove  the  Senecas  from  the  region  of  Fort  Niagara, 
but  in  1779  General  Sullivan  reversed  the  order  of  things  and  drove 
them  back  from  the  eastern  part  of  the  Genesee  country  to  their  ancient 
home  on  the  Niagara.  And  while  the  F'rench  were  the  direct  cause  of 
their  former  leaving  thej'  were  also  indirect  auxiliaries  in  compelling 
their  return. 

But  the  F'rench  did  not  long  succeed  in  maintaining  the  positions 
they  had  gained  in  the  land  of  the  Senecas.  De  Nonville  soon  returned 
to  Montreal,  leaving  a  few  troops  to  garrison  the  fort,  and  the}'  became 
so  weakened  through  sickness  that  the  post  was  abandoned  and  not 
again  occupied  for  nearly  forty  years.  By  this  time,  too,  the  whole 
Iroquois  Confederacy  had  become  aroused  by  the  intrusions  of  the 
French,  and  under  British  instigation  made  an  attack  upon  their  strong- 
hold and  seat  of  operations  at  Montreal.  In  1688  came  the  English 
revolution,  followed  immediately  by  open  war  with  France.  Count 
de  Frontenac  was  governor- general  of  New  France  under  the  French 
rule  at  this  period,  but  his  administration  was  no  more  successful  than 
was  that  of  his  predecessor.  He,  too,  invaded  the  country  of  the  Iro- 
quois, but  the  result  was  a  success  to  his  arms.      The  war  was  continued 


FRENCH  AND  INDIAN  WARS.  45 

witli  varying  fortunes  until  1697,  during  whicli  time,  on  this  side  of  tlie 
Atlantic,  hostilities  were  constant.  The  English  colonists  in  America 
were  lending  substantial  aid  to  the  Indians  and  constantly  inciting  them 
to  depredations  against  the  now  common  enemy.  During  this  period 
the  Senecas  again  possessed  their  ancient  land,  but  the  not  infrequent 
visits  of  French  troops  had  the  effect  of  deterring  them  from  attempt- 
ing a  permanent  occupation. 

The  war  between  England  and  I'"rance  was  terminated  by  the  Treaty 
of  Ryswick  in  1697,  and  by  which  was  divined  to  a  certain  extent  the 
possessions  in  America  of  the  contending  nations,  but  there  were  no 
certain  provisions  relating  to  the  lands  of  the  Senecas.  The  English 
claimed  sovereignty  over  the  entire  region  of  country  occupied  by  the 
Five  Nations,  while  the  PVench  likewise  asserted  their  rights  to  the 
same  rich  district ;  but  in  actual  possession  of  the  disputed  territory 
were  the  Iroquois  themselves,  who  repudiated  alike  the  claims  of  both 
Yonondio  and  Corlear,  as  they  denominated  the  governors  respectively 
of  Canada  and  New  York. 

Following  close  upon  the  peace  of  Ryswick  came  Queen  Anne's  war, 
an  event  having  its  outbreak  in  1702,  and  by  which  the  rival  nations, 
the  English  and  French,  again  had  recourse  to  arms.  During  this  con- 
flict the  Iroquois  maintained  a  strict  neutralit}',  thus  commanding  the 
respect  of  both  contending  governments:  of  the  French  because  tiiey 
dreaded  the  results  of  again  arousing  the  fierce  Confederates,  and  of  the 
English  for  the  reason  that  the  Iroquois  country  furnished  a  shield  of 
protection  all  along  the  frontier  colonies.  However  during  the  prog- 
ress of  Queen  Anne's  war  the  French  profited  by  the  neutrality  of  the 
F'ive  Nations,  for  thej'  were  given  an  opportunity  of  strengthening  their 
line  of  positions  and  fortifications.  Moreover,  being  at  acknowledged 
peace  with  the  Iroquois,  their  missionaries  and  politic  leaders  could  visit 
the  Senecas  in  entire  safety,  and  the  result  was  the  establishment  of  a 
friendly  relation  between  the  French  and  the  Senecas  and  a  part  of  the 
Cayugas.  So  rapidly,  indeed,  was  this  friendship  formed  and  so  firmly 
rooted  had  become  the  relation  between  the  French  and  the  Senecas 
that  the  latter  were  almost  ready  to  take  up  arms  against  the  English, 
and  that  despite  the  neutrality  of  the  Confederacy  and  the  bonds  of 
union  that  bound  together  its  members. 


46  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

About  this  same  time  another  occurrence  worked  to  tlie  great  ad- 
vantage and  favor  of  tlie  French  among  the  Senecas.  Chabert  Jon- 
caire,  a  French  youth,  had  been  captured  by  the  Senecas  and  was 
adopted  by  and  grew  up  among  them.  He  married  a  Seneca  wife,  but 
was  released  by  the  tribe  from  any  compulsion  of  remaining  among  the 
Indians.  Thereupon  Joncaire  was  employed  by  the  French  to  promote 
their  influence  with  the  natives.  Pleading  his  claims  as  an  adopted 
child  of  the  tribe  he  was  given  permission  by  the  chiefs  to  build  a  cabin 
on  the  site  of  Lewistown,  which  soon  became  the  center  of  French  in- 
fluence. This  was  the  source  of  much  anxiety  and  discomfort  to  the 
English,  and  all  their  influence  with  tlie  eastern  tribes  was  not  sufficient 
to  dislodge  him,  "  Joncaire  is  a  child  of  tlie  Nation  "  was  the  reply 
made  to  every  complaint. 

Whether  due  to  the  influence  of  Joncaire  among  the  Senecas  or  to 
some  other  cause  is  not  fully  known,  but  the  French  soon  succeeded  in 
lodging  themselves  firmly  in  the  affections  of  the  tribe.  In  1725  they 
commenced  rebuilding  Fort  Niagara  and  completed  the  task  without 
opposition,  and  by  so  doing  came  into  possession  of  one  of  the  most  im- 
portant and  strong  posts  in  tlie  country.  The  Frencli  undoubtedly 
were  poor  colonizers,  but  they  nevertheless  possessed  the  peculiar  faculty 
of  ready  assimilation  with  savage  and  half- civilized  races,  thus  gaining 
an  influence  over  them.  Whatever  the  cause,  the  power  of  the  French 
constantly  increased  among  the  Senecas.  The  influence  of  Joncaire 
was  maintained  and  increased  by  his  half-breed  sons,  Chabert  and  Clauz- 
onne,  all  through  the  second  quarter  of  the  eighteenth  century. 

In  1744  was  begun  another  war  between  England  and  France, 
during  which  the  Six  Nations  (being  increased  from  Five  Nations  by  the 
aquisition  of  the  Tuscaroras  in  17 12)  generally  maintained  a  neutrality, 
although  the  Moiiawks  gave  some  aid  to  the  English.  This  outbreak 
was  closed  by  the  Treaty  of  Aix-la  Chapelle  in  1748,  and  a  nominal 
peace  of  eight  years  followed,  although  during  the  interval  both  coun- 
tries were  earnestly  engaged  in  increasing  their  possessions,  strengthen- 
ing their  fortifications,  and  preparing  for  the  inevitable  outbreak  which 
must  end  the  dominion  in  America  of  the  one  or  the  other. 

The  storm  of  war  broke  in  1756,  after  two  years  of  open  hostilities. 
The  Mohawks  again  took  up  arms  with  the  English,  but  the  Senecas, 


EXD  OF  FRENCH  I'O  WER  IN  AMERICA.  47 

notwithstanding  their  afiection  for  the  l-'rcnch,  were  unwilling  to  go  to 
battle  against  their  friends  at  the  eastern  door  of  the  Long  House. 
The  friendship  of  the  Mohawks  for  the  l^nglisli  was  gained  through 
the  influence  of  Sir  William  Johnson,  the  skillful  English  superintend- 
ent of  Indian  affairs,  and  who  had  come  to  America  in  1734  as  the 
agent  of  his  uncle,  the  latter  being  an  extensive  landowner  in  the  Mo- 
hawk Valley.  At  the  commencement  of  the  last  great  struggle  for 
supremacy  in  America  the  French  were  everywhere  victorious.  Brad- 
dock,  almost  at  the  gates  of  Fort  Duquesne,  was  slain  and  his  army 
cut  in  pieces.  Montcalm  captured  Oswego,  and  the  French  lines  up 
the  lakes  and  across  to  the  Ohio  were  stronger  than  ever.  In  the  next 
year  the  tide  of  victorj'  set  toward  the  British  arms.  Duquesne  was 
recaptured  by  the  Throne,  while  to  the  northward  Frontenac  was  siezed 
b\'  Bradstreet,  and  other  victories  prepared  the  way  for  still  grander  suc- 
cess in  1759.  Then  Wolfe  assailed  Quebec,  the  French  stronghold  in 
America  ;  and  almost  at  the  same  time  General  Prideaux  with 
2,000  British  troops  and  provincials,  accompanied  by  Sir  William 
Johnson  with  a  thousand  faithful  Iroquois,  sailed  up  Lake  Ontario  and 
laid  siege  to  Fort  Niagara,  which  was  defended  by  only  600  men.  A 
strong  resistance  was  made  by  the  brave  commander,  but  when  his  re- 
enforcements  were  about  to  come  they  were  ambushed  by  Sir  William 
Johnson's  fierce  warriors  and  unmercifully  slaughtered.  Hearing  of 
this  disaster  the  garrison  at  once  surrendered  and  Fort  Niagara  pa.ssed 
into  the  hands  of  the  British,  and  with  the  capitulation  was  the  end  of 
F'rench  supremacy  and  dominion  over  any  of  the  territory  of  New  York. 
In  September,  1760,  the  Marquis  \^andreuil  surrendered  Montreal,  and 
with  it  Detroit,  Venango,  and  all  the  other  posts  within  his  jurisdiction. 
This  surrender  was  ratified  by  the  treaty  of  peace  between  England  and 
F"rance  in  the  month  of  February,  1763,  which  ceded  Canada  to  the 
former  power. 

This  ended  the  French  dominion  in  America.  So  far  as  the  same 
applied  to  the  locality  of  Yates  County  it  had  no  special  significance  or 
importance  except  as  this  shire  formed  a  part  of  the  region  that  was 
claimed  to  be  New  France.  That  the  Jesuit  fathers  visited  this  locality 
is  quite  probable,  and  it  may  have  been  through  their  agency  that  the 
old   fort  was  built  in    the  town  of  Milo.     The  chief  seat  of  operations, 


48  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

however,  in  this  locality  was  at  Canandaigua  or  at  Geneva,  at  the  foot 
of  the  respective  Lakes  Canandaigua  and  Seneca,  and  any  pilgrimages 
to  this  immediate  locality  were  merely  incidental. 


CHAPTER   IV. 


The  English  Dominion  —  A  brief  resume  of  Events  —  English  conquest  of  the 
Dutch  Settlements  —  Condition  of  the  Indians  —  Still  friendly  to  the  French  —  Pon- 
tiac's  League  —  The  Senecas  involved  with  Pontiac  —  Devil's  Hole  and  Black  Rock 
—  Sir  William  Johnson  makes  friends  with  the  Senecas  —  The  Revolutionary  War  — 
Attitude  of  the  Iroquois  —  Wyoming  and  Cherry  Valley  —  Sullivan's  Campaign  — 
Destruction  of  Indian  Villages — Cashong,  in  Yates  County,  Devastated  —  The  In- 
dians retire  to  Fort  Niagara—  Their  treatment  by  the  British  —  Close  of  the  Revolu- 
tion—  Overthrow  of  British  Rule  —  The  United  States  of  America. 

THE  preceding  chapter  has  made  mention  of  the  fact  that  in  1606 
King  James  made  an  extensive  grant  of  land  to  the  so-called 
Plymouth  Company,  and  in  pursuance  of  that  grant  the  colony  of  New 
England  was  founded  in  1620  ;  and  further,  that  under  the  authority  of 
a  similar  grant  from  the  same  source,  made  in  1607,  the  colony  of  Eng- 
lish settled  in  Virginia.  The  same  power  also  made  another  charter, 
which  was  granted  to  John  Smith,  and  which  resulted  in  the  founding 
an  English  settlement  in  what  afterward  became  the  Province  and  State 
of  Maine.  The  same  chapter  likewise  states  that  in  1609  Henry  Hud- 
son, in  the  employ  of  the  Dutch  East  India  Company,  founded  a  colony 
where  is  now  the  city  of  New  York,  which  was  first  settled  by  the 
Dutch,  although  the  discoverer  and  navigator — Hudson — was  hiinself 
an  Englishman.  But  the  Dutch  settlement  was  not  confined  to  the 
vicinity  of  New  Amsterdam,  as  they  called  their  ancient  burgh,  but 
their  line  of  possessions  extended  up  the  Hudson  River  as  far  and  even 
beyond  the  present  city  of  Albany.  On  this  site  last  named  was  erected 
a  fortification  called  Fort  Orange. 

The  rule  of  the  Hollanders  in  the  Netherlands,  however,  was  not  of 
long   continuance.      It  commenced   with  the   planting  of   their   colony 


CLAIMS  AND  CONTESTS  FOR  SUPREMACY.  49 

soon  after  Hudson's  discovery  and  closed  with  the  year  1664,  its  peo- 
ple and  patron  government  having  become  involved  in  a  dispute  wiili 
England  and  the  latter  proved  the  master.  The  claims  of  each  pow  er 
were  founded  on  the  right  of  discovery,  but  the  Englisli  extended  tlieir 
settlements  the  more  rapidly  and  soon  occupied  tlie  territory  of  the 
Dutchmen.  More  than  tliat  England  was  the  stronger  power  and 
granted-away  the  lands  of  the  region  to  an  indefinite  extent,  and  that 
without  regard  to  rights  or  claims  of  other  governments;  and  when 
there  came  a  conflict  over  the  right  to  possession  tlie  weaker  was  com- 
pelled to  yield  to  the  stronger  power. 

Having  overcome  the  Dutch  in  1664  the  government  of  Great  Brit- 
ain next  turned  her  attention  to  the  French,  and  although  the  latter 
were  by  man)-  years  the  prior  occupants  of  the  country  and  of  this 
region,  and  had  extended  their  settlements  over  a  considerable  country 
and  claimed  indefinitely  westward  and  to  the  south,  yet  tlie  English 
were  not  disposed  to  concede  any  rights  to  the  French  on  this  continent ; 
therefore,  after  extending  and  fortifying  their  own  settlements,  war  was 
declared  against  the  French  with  tlie  results  as  told  in  the  preceding 
chapter.  The  outbreaks  and  conflicts  between  these  powers  were  by 
no  means  confined  to  this  side  of  the  Atlantic,  for  at  home  was  the 
chief  seat  of  war,  while  on  this  side  were  heard  and  felt  but  the  echoes 
and  reverberations  from  abroad.  With  the  English  the  principle  that 
"  might  makes  right"  ever  prevailed  in  extending  and  advancing  tiicir 
interests  until  that  government  finally  came  in  conflict  with  the  united 
American  colonies  in  1775  and  the  years  following,  during  which  period 
the  mother  countr\'  was  taught  a  salutary  lesson.  There  proved  to  be 
at  least  one  country  on  the  earth  which  she  could  not  subdue  nor  con- 
quer. But  this  is  a  subject  which  more  appropriately  belongs  to  later 
pages  of  this  chapter. 

Notwithstanding  the  results  of  the  war  between  the  French  and  the 
F2nglish,  and  the  disappearance  of  the  former  from  the  region,  the 
Western  Indians  were  still  disposed  to  remember  with  affection  and 
were  yet  inclined  to  wage  war  upon  the  English.  The  celebrated 
Pontiac  united  nearly  all  these  tribes  in  a  league  against  the  redcoats 
immediately  after  the  advent  of  the  latter  ;  and  as  no  such  confedera- 
tion had  been  formed  against  the  French  during  their  years  of  posses- 


50  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

sion  the  action  of  Pontiac  must  be  attributed  to  some  other  cause 
tiian  mere  hatred  of  all  civilized  intruders.  In  May,  1763,  the  league 
surprised  nine  out  of  twelve  English  posts  and  massacred  their  garrisons. 
Tliere  is  no  positive  evidence  to  sustain  the  assertion,  yet  tliere  is  Httle 
doubt  that  the  Senecas  were  involved  in  Pontiac's  league,  and  were 
active  in  the  fruitless  attack  upon  Fort  Niagara.  They  were  unwilling 
to  fight  against  their  brothers  of  the  Iroquois,  but  had  no  hesitation  in 
killing  the  English  soldier)-  when  left  alone,  as  was  soon  made  terribly 
manifest  in  the  awful  tragedj'  at  Devil's  Hole  in  September,  1763,  at 
which  time  a  band  of  Senecas  ambushed  a  train  of  English  army-  wagons 
with  an  escort  of  soldiers,  in  all  ninety-six  men,  and  massacred  every 
inan  with  four  exceptions.  And  during  the  month  of  October  of  the 
same  year  the  Senecas  came  in  contact  with  a  body  of  British  troops 
who  were  on  their  way  to  re- enforce  the  post  at  Detroit.  This  battle 
took  place  within  the  limits  of  the  present  county  of  Erie.  The  victor)- 
was  not  for  either  side,  but  the  Britons  lost  more  men  than  did  the 
Indians. 

But  at  last  becoming  convinced  that  the  French  had  really  yielded 
up  their  claims  and  possessions  in  this  country,  and  that  Pontiac's 
scheme  had  failed  as  to  its  main  purpose,  the  Senecas  agreed  to  aban- 
diMi  their  Gallic  friends  and  be  at  peace  with  the  English.  In  April, 
1764,  Sir  William  Johnson  concluded  a  treaty  of  peace  with  eight  chiefs 
of  the  refractor)-  Senecas  ;  and  by  the  terms  of  the  agreement  there  was 
conceded  to  the  King  of  England  a  tract  of  land  four  by  fourteen  miles 
for  a  carrying-place  around  Niagara  Falls.  And  it  may  further  be  said 
that  by  this  time  Sir  William  Johnson  had  succeeded  in  winning  the 
affections  of  all  the  Iroquois  tribes  and  had  enlisted  them  under  the 
banners  of  the  King.  The  treaty  made  with  the  Senecas  by  Sir  Will- 
iam Johnson  was  considered  sufficiently  conclusive,  but  it  was  at  that 
time  provided  that  the  same  should  be  ratified  by  a  grand  council  of 
the  Iroquois  to  be  held  at  Fort  Niagara  during  the  following  summer. 
Accordingly  General  Bradstreet,  with  1,200  British  and  American  sol- 
diers, accompanied  by  Sir  William  and  a  large  body  of  his  Iroquois 
warriors,  came  to  Fort  Niagara  as  previously  agreed.  A  grand  coun- 
cil of  the  friendly  Indians  was  held  and  satisfactory  terms  proposed  and 
agreed   upon,  but  the  Senecas  sullenly  refused  attendance  at  the  pro- 


SIR   WILLIAM  JOHNSON.  51 

ceedings  and  were  said  to  be  meditating  a  renewal  of  tiie  war.  At 
length  General  Bradstreet  ordered  their  immediate  presence  at  tiie 
council  under  penalty  of  the  destruction  of  their  settlements  and  vil- 
lages, whereupon  they  came  at  once,  ratified  the  treaty,  and  adhered 
to  it  pretty  faithfully,  notwithstanding  the  peremptory  manner  in  which 
it  was  obtained. 

The  English  had  now  established  a  peace  with  each  tribe  of  the  Iroquois 
Confederacy;  and  there  was  also  then  existing  a  peace  between  the  fre- 
quently contending  nations,  England  and  F"rance,  consequently  there  was 
no  strife  among  the  civilized  people  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic.  The 
Iroquois,  though  the  seeds  of  dissension  had  been  sown  among  them,  were 
still  a  powerful  confederacy,  and  their  war  parties  occasionally  made  in- 
cursions among  the  Western  Indians,  generally  returning  with  scalps  or 
prisoners.  The  Senecas  made  frequent  com|)laints  of  depredations 
committed  by  the  whites  or  some  of  their  number  who  had  villages  on 
the  headwaters  of  the  Susquehanna  and  Ohio.  "  Cressap's  war,"  in 
which  the  celebrated  Logan  was  an  actor,  contributed  to  render  them 
uneasy,  but  they  did  not  break  out  in  open  hostilities.  Tiiey,  like  the 
rest  of  the  Six  Nations,  had  by  this  time  learned  to  place  ever\-  confi- 
dence in  Sir  William  Johnson  and  made  all  their  complaints  through 
him.  He  did  his  best  to  redress  their  grievances,  and  sought  to  have 
them  withdraw  their  villages  from  those  isolated  localities  to  their  chief 
seats  in  New  York,  so  that  they  would  be  more  completely  under  his 
protection.  Ere  this  could  be  done,  however,  the  attention  of  all  men 
was  drawn  to  certain  yet  unmistakable  mutterings  in  the  political  sky, 
low  at  first,  but  growing  more  and  more  angry,  until  at  lengtli  there 
burst  upon  the  country  that  long  and  desolating  storm  known  as  the 
Revolutionary  war. 

Sir  William  Johnson,  who  has  been  so  frequently  mentioned  in  this 
narrative,  was  an  Irishman  by  birth,  of  good  family, and  well  educated. 
In  1734'  he  was  sent  to  America  as  the  land  agent  of  his  uncle.  Sir 
Peter  Warren,  an  admiral  in  the  English  navj'  and  the  proprietor  of 
large  estates  in  this  country.  Sir  William,  soon  after  his  arrival  in 
America,  was  appointed  superintendent  of  Indian  affairs,  and  were  it  not 
for  iiis  skill  in  handling  the  savages  it  is  quite  likely  that  the  entire  Iro- 

'  Turner  says  1737  or  '%%. 


52  H/S  TOR  Y  OF  YA  TES  CO  UiX  T  Y. 

quois  Confederacy  would  liave  become  allied  to  the  cause  of  the  French. 
Associated  with  Sir  William  in  his  life  and  duties  among  the  Indians 
was  his  son,  Sir  John  Johnson,  and  his  nephew,  Col.  Guy  Johnson. 
After  the  death  of  Sir  William  in  1774  the  son  succeeded  to  his  posi- 
tion of  influence  among  the  Six  Nations,  while  the  office  of  superin- 
tendent of  Indian  affairs  was  given  to  his  nephew.  When  Tryon  County 
was  organized  and  set  off  from  Albany  County  Guy  Johnson  was  the 
"  first"  judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  and  was  associated  in 
that  office  with  the  afterward  celebrated  John  Butler. 

The  war  for  American  independence  in  fact  commenced  in  the  month 
of  April,  1775,  with  the  battle  at  Lexington,  but  before  the  actual  out- 
break, as  the  danger  of  hostilities  increased,  the  Johnsons  showed  them- 
selves clearh'  on  the  side  of  the  King.  Sir  William  said  little  and 
seemed  greatly  disturbed  by  the  gathering  troubles.  There  is  little 
doubt,  however,  had- he  lived,  that  he  would  have  used  his  power  and 
influence  in  behalf  of  his  royal  master.  But  his  sudden  death  termin- 
ated his  career,  while  his  position  among  the  Indian  tribes  descended  like 
an  inheritance  to  his  son  and  nephew.  Upon  the  outbreak  of  the  war  the 
superintendent  persuaded  the  Mohawks  to  remove  westward  with  him, 
and  made  his  influence  felt  over  all  the  Six  Nations  except  the  Oneidas 
and  Tuscaroras,  though  it  was  near  two  years  from  the  breaking  out  of 
the  war  before  they  committed  hostilities.  John  Butler  established  him- 
self at  Fort  Niagara  and  joined  a  regiment  of  Tories  known  as  Butler's 
Rangers,  and  he  and  the  Johnsons  used  all  their  influence  to  induce  the 
Indians  to  attack  the  Americans.  The  Senecas  held  off  for  awhile,  but 
the  prospect  of  both  blood  and  gold  was  too  much  for  them  to  with- 
stand, and  in  1777  tlie\',  in  common  with  the  Cayugas,  Onondagas,  and 
Mohawks,  made  a  treaty  with  the  British  at  Oswego,  agreeing  to  serve 
the  King  throughout  the  war.  Mary  Jemison,  the  celebrated  "  white 
woman."  then  living  among  the  Senecas  on  the  Genesee,  declares  that 
at  that  treaty  the  British  agents,  after  distributing  presents  among  the 
Indians,  promised  a  bounty  on  every  scalp  that  should  be  brought  in. 
However  this  is  a  question  that  has  been  widely  debated. 

As  had  characterized  their  actions  on  other  occasions  the  Senecas 
were  reluctant  to  attack  or  make  war  against  their  brothers  of  the  Long 
House,  but  they  did  not  withdraw  from  the  British   interest  and  remain 


EVENTS  FOLLOW fNG  THE   YEAR  1777.  53 

neutral  during  the  years  following  1777.  Tiiey  were  relieved  from  any 
embarrassment  by  the  fact  that  tiie  Oneidas  decided  to  take  no  active 
part  in  the  war,  while  the  Tuscaroras  were  confederates  by  compara- 
tively recent  adoption,  having  become  members  of  the  Iroquois  League 
many  years  after  its  formation  and  were  not  brothers  within  the  strict 
meaning  of  the  clan  system.  From  the  latter  part  of  1777  the  four 
tribes  named  were  active  in  the  British  interests  and  Fort  Niagara  again 
became  the  center  of  operations,  although  the  savage  warriors  were  scat- 
tered all  through  the  Genesee  country  and  even  eastward  to  the  Susque- 
hanna River.  The  most  prominent  chief  of  the  Confederacy  during  the 
Revolutionary  period  was  Joseph  Hrant,  or  Thayendenaga,  a  Mohawk 
whohad  received  a  moderate  English  education  under  thepatronage  of  Sir 
William  Johnson.  The  then  conspicuous  Seneca  chiefs  during  the  same 
period  were  Farmer's  Brother,  Cornplanter,  and  Governor  lilacksnake, 
but  which  of  these  was  leader  is  not  well  known.  At  the  massacre  at 
Wyoming  the  author  of  the  "  Life  of  Brant"  says  the  chief  in  com- 
mand of  the  Senecas  was  Guienguahtoh,  supposed  to  mean  the  same  as 
Guiyahgwahdoh,  "  the  smoke- bearer."  That  was  the  official  title  of  the 
Seneca  afterward  known  as  "  Young  King,"  but  the  latter  was  then  too 
young  to  have  been  at  Wyoming,  yet  his  predecessor  (probably  his 
maternal  uncle)  might  have  been  there.  Brant  was  certainly  not  there. 
At  Cherry  Valley,  following  the  slaughter  at  Wyoming,  the  Senecas 
were  present  in  force  together  with  a  bod)'  of  Mohawks  under  Brant 
and  a  part)'  of  Tories  under  Capt.  W'alter  Butler. 

These  and  other  similar  events,  the  sudden  and  unexpected  attacks 
upon  frontier  settlements  and  outposts,  and  the  merciless  slaughter  of 
their  inhabitants  induced  General  Washington  and  Congress  to  set  on 
foot  an  expedition  in  the  spring  of  1779,  having  for  its  object  a  retali- 
ation upon  the  Indians  and  especially  upon  the  Senecas  for  the  out- 
rages perpetrated  by  them  down  to  that  time.  This  duty  devolved  njjon 
Gen.  John  Sullivan,  who  at  that  time  was  an  officer  in  the  American 
army.  The  full  force  organized  for  the  expedition  amounted  to  5,000 
men,  which  was  formed  in  three  divisions.  Sullivan  himself  com- 
manded the  troops  that  marched  through  and  laid  waste  the  Indian 
villages  and  improvements  in  the  region  of  Seneca  Lake  ;  and  as  that 
was  the  only  part  of  the  several  campaigns  that  is  pertinent  to  this  work 


54  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

this  narrative  will  be  confined  to  the  acts  performed  in  the  region  here- 
abouts. 

General  Sullivan  organized  his  force  in  Pennsylvania  and  ascended 
the  Susquehanna  to  Tioga  Point,  where  he  was  joined  by  Gen.  James 
Clinton's  force,  the  latter  having  come  from  the  Mohawk  country. 
From  Tioga  Point  the  combined  forces  proceeded  westward  to  the  Clie- 
iiiuiig  River,  where  they  found  Tories,  Indians,  and  British  entrenched 
behind  a  breastwork  of  logs  and  earth.  On  the  29th  of  August  the 
attack  was  made  by  Sullivan's  men,  and  being  well  provided  wiih 
artillery  the  work  of  demolishing  the  entrenchments  was  quickly  done. 
The  British  and  Tories  fought  manfully,  but  a  portion  of  the  Iroquois 
fled  before  the  destructive  canonade.  However  Brant  succeeded  in 
rallying  a  few  of  the  Indians,  who  fought  desperately  from  behind 
trees,  bushes,  rocks,  or  whatever  place  afforded  concealment  or  pro- 
tection. The  battle  continued  about  two  hours,  when  the  British  and 
their  allies  were  routed  and  fled  in  great  disorder.  This  battle,  which 
occurred  on  the  site  of  the  present  city  of  Elniira,  was  the  only  regular  en- 
gagement between  the  contending  forces.  The  results  here  were  so  ex- 
ceedingly disastrous  to  the  Indians  that  wherever  Sullivan's  men  after- 
ward appeared  the  redskins  fled  in  terror,  and  all  that  remained  for  the 
American  troops  to  do  was  to  burn  and  destroy  the  villages  and  grow- 
ing crops  which  were  found  in  the  vicinity  of  the  line  of  march. 

From  Chemung  and  Newtown  Sullivan  marched  northward  to  the  so- 
called  "  French  Catharines  town,"  at  the  head  of  Seneca  Lake,  thence 
down  the  lake  on  the  east  side  to  Kanandesaga,  where  was  a  village  of 
some  size.  On  the  east  side  of  the  lake  between  Catharines  town  (Wat- 
kins)  and  Kanandesaga  were  several  small  Indian  villages,  all  of  which  were 
destroyed.  At  the  point  last  named  Brant  used  every  effort  to  induce 
iiis  Iroquois  warriors  to  make  another  stand  against  the  invaders,  but 
the  attem])t  was  of  no  avail.  The  Indians  had  already  been  severely 
punished  and  one  of  their  chiefs,  said  to  be  the  king  of  Kanandesaga, 
had  been  killed.  This  was  enough  for  them  and  with  Sullivan'a  appear- 
ance every  village  was  abandoned.  So  it  was  at  Kanandesaga,  where  it 
is  said  were  about  sixty  houses  with  gardens  and  apple  and  peach 
orchards.  Here  Sullivan  met  with  no  opposition,  and  his  men  destroyed 
every  building  and  all  growing  crops. 


GENERAL  SULLIVAN'S  EXPEDITION.  55 

From  this  point  detachments  were  sent  out  to  lay  waste  other  villages 
of  small  note.  One  of  these  was  within  the  present  county  of  Yates, 
at  the  point  commonly  called  Kashong,  on  the  creek  which  still  bears 
that  name,  in  the  town  of  Benton,  and  on  the  farm  recently  owned  by 
W,  \V.  Coe.  In  regard  to  the' destruction  of  tiiis  village  that  popular 
writer,  W.  L.  Stone,  says  :  "  A  detachment  of  400  men  was  sent  down 
on  the  west  side  of  the  lake  to  destroy  '  Gotheseunquean  '  and  the  plan- 
tations in  the  neighborhood."  The  point  designated  unquestionablj- 
refers  to  the  same  now  called  Kashong  or  Cashong.  The  diary  of 
Captain  Fowler,  in  every  way  reliable,  mentions  the  village  as  "  Kash- 
anquash,"  while  the  official  report  of  General  Sullivan  gives  the  name  as 
"  Gotheseunquean,"  already  referred  to  above.  Which  is  correct  and 
which  is  incorrect  is  not  material  to  this  narrative,  but,  however  spelled 
or  pronounced,  the  objective  point  of  destruction  was,  as  stated,  in  the 
town  of  Benton,  this  county.  There  was  no  battle  at  Cashong,  as  in 
many  other  cases  the  inhabitants  fled  before  the  approach  of  the  troops. 

After  using  Kanandesaga  as  a  base  from  which  to  operate  in  the  de- 
struction of  Indian  villages  General  Sullivan  proceeded  westward  upon  a 
like  errand,  and  then  in  the  same  manner  to  the  eastward,  laying  waste 
every  possible  thing  that  could  be  of  use  to  the  Indians  or  for  their  sus- 
tenance, after  which  the  campaign  was  regarded  as  successful  and  com- 
plete. And  such  proved  to  be  the  case,  for  the  Indian  occupants  with- 
drew themselves  to  the  protection  of  Fort  Niagara  and  in  that  localit)- 
the)'  remained  until  after  the  close  of  the  war. 

The  results  of  Sullivan's  expedition  are  best  summed  up  in  quoting 
from  the  official  account  of  General  \\'ashington,  which  in  part  was  as 
follows  :  "  Forty  of  their  towns  have  been  reduced  to  ashes,  some  of 
them  large  and  commodious,  that  of  Genesee  alone  containing  128 
houses.  Their  crops  of  corn  have  been  entirely  destroyed,  which,  by 
estimation,  it  is  said,  would  have  provided  i6o,OOObuslicls,  besides  large 
quantities  of  vegetables  of  various  kinds.  Their  whole  country  has  been 
overrun  and  laid  waste,  and  they  themselves  compelled  to  place  their 
security  in  a  precipitate  flight  to  the  British  fortress  at  Niagara  ; — and  the 
whole  of  this  has  been  done  with  the  loss  of  less  than  forty  men  on  our 
part,  including  the  killed,  wounded,  captured,  and  those  who  died  nat- 
ural deaths." 


,6  HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUNTY. 

A  preceding  paragraph  has  incidentally  mentioned  the  fact  that  the 
king  of  Kanandesaga  was  killed  at  the  battle  at  Newtown  or  Elniira. 
The  main  fact  was  undoubtedly  correct,  but  it  is  highly  questionable 
whether  the  dead  official  held  any  such  title  as  king,  for  no  such  office 
ever  existed  among  the  Iroquois  Confederates.  On  the  contrarj'  reports 
go  to  show  tiiat  Kayingwaurto  was  a  subordinate  Seneca  chief  and  at 
that  period  in  command  of  the  Indians  of  that  tribe  who  inhabited  Kan- 
andesaga and  its  vicinity.  He  was  a  chief  and  nothing  more.  Are- 
port  of  the  death  of  the  chief  was  brought  to  General  Sullivan  a  few 
days  after  the  battle  at  Newtown  by  an  escaped  prisoner,  and  after  an 
accurate  description  the  general  remembered  having  seen  such  a  war- 
rior among  the  slain  on  the  field  of  battle.  On  the  person  of  the  dead 
chief  was  found  a  written  mcmoranduni  which  strongly  tends  to  prove 
the  often  disputed  fact  that  the  British  agents  agreed  to  a  bounty  for  each 
white  scalp  taken  by  their  redskinned  allies.  The  paper  found  read  as 
follows ; 

•'This  may  certify  that  Kayingwaurto,  the  Sanakee  chief,  has  been  on  an  e.xpedition 
to  Fort  Stanvvix  and  taken  two  scalps,  one  from  an  officer  and  a  corporal.  They  were 
gunning  near  the  fort,  for  which  I  promise  to  pay  at  sight  ten  dollars  for  each  scalp. 

'•Given  under  my  hand  at  Buck's  Island  and  the  allies  of  his  Majesty. 

"John  Butler,  Col.  and  Supt.  of  Si.x  Nations." 

As  has  already  been  stated  the  campaign  of  General  Sullivan  had  the 
effect  of  driving  the  unfriendly  Indians  out  of  the  eastern  part  of  the 
Genesee  country  and  of  the  State,  and  obliging  them  to  seek  refuge  and 
protection  at  the  British  post  at  Fort  Niagara.  Not  only  had  their  vil- 
lages been  wholly  destroyed,  but  as  well  their  corn-fields  and  gardens, 
leaving  them  with  no  means  of  subsistence  through  the  winter  follow- 
ing. They  were  fed  and  otherwise  provided  for  by  the  agents  of  Great 
Britain,  but  with  the  coming  of  spring  an  attempt  was  made  to  persuade 
them  to  return  to  their  old  haunts  and  cultivate  crops  for  another  win- 
ter's use.  This  effort  was  partially  successful,  but  instead  of  returning 
to  their  ancient  camps  the  Indians  settled  and  established  villages  in  the 
region  of  Fort  Niagara,  not  being  willing  to  venture  again  into  the  ter- 
ritory where  they  might  be  subjected  to  another  destroying  visit  as 
Sullivan's  men  had  inflicted  upon  them. 

In  the  country  around  Niagara  the  squaw  portion  of  the  Indian  popu- 
lation planted  crops  of  corn  and  x'egetables  which  yielded  a  haivest  tor 


UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA.  57 

the  succeeding  winter.  But  the  suppi)'  was  not  equal  to  the  demand, 
and  the  natives  again,  in  the  winter  of  1780-81,  had  recourse  to  their 
friends,  the  British.  The  warriors  of  the  community  were  kept  con- 
stantly busy  by  Guy  Johnson  and  Colonel  l^utler  marauding  upon 
frontier  settlements  of  their  enemies,  but  the  Indians  had  become  so  thor- 
oughly broken  up  that  they  were  unable  to  produce  such  devastation  as 
at  Wyoming  and  Cherry  Vallej'.  With  the  surrender  of  Cornwailis  in 
October,  1781,  there  was  a  practical  cessation  of  hostilities,  but  it  was 
not  until  the  fall  of  1783  that  peace  was  formally  agreed  upon  between 
Great  Britain  and  the  revolted  colonies,  henceforth  to  be  universally 
acknowledged  as  the  United  States  of  America.  By  the  terms  of  the 
treaty  then  made  the  boundary  lines  between  the  British  lands  and  the 
territory  of  the  United  States  was  established  along  the  center  of  Lake 
Erie,  the  Niagara  River, and  Lake  Ontario" and  the  St.  Lawrence  River, 
and  northward  and  eastward  to  the  Atlantic  Coast.  Still  for  several 
years  the  British  posts  on  the  American  side  were  held  in  the  posses- 
sion of  the  King's  soldiers,  and  the  same  leaders  who  controlled  them 
during  the  war  continued  to  exercise  an  unfriendly  influence  among 
them  as  against  the  United  States  and  the  State  of  New  York. 


CHAPTER  V. 


Situation  of  the  Indians  at  the  close  of  the  Kevoliilion  —  They  are  recognized  as 
rightful  owners  of  the  Territor)^  —  Treaties  for  the  purchase  of  Indian  Titles  —  The 
(">rand  Council  at  Fort  Stanwix — Red  Jacket  opposes  the  Sale  —  A  brief  sketch  of 
the  famous  Chief — The  Medal  —  The  subject  Resumed  —  Conflicting  claims  by  New 
York  and  Massachusetts  —  Their  Settlement  —  Massachusetts  owns  the  Genesee 
Country  —  Yates  County  a  part  of  it  —  The  New  York  Genesee  Land  Company  —  The 
Niagara  Genesee  Land  Company  —  They  Lease  from  the  Si.\  Nations  —  Looking  to 
the  formation  of  a  new  State —  Imitating  the  action  of  \'ermont  —  The  attempt  Fails 
—  Prompt  action  of  Governor  Clinton  —The  Compromise  and  its  Reward. 

AFTER  the  close  of  the  Revolution  it  was  found  that  the  treaty  agree- 
ment entered  into  between  the  previously  contending  govern- 
ments had  made  no  provision  for  the  Indian  allies  of  Great  Britain.  The 
English  authorities  offered  them  lands  in  Canada,  but  ail  the  tribes  ex- 
cept the  Mohawks  preferred  to  remain  in  New  York.  * 


58  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

They  were  entitled  to  no  consideration  at  the  hands  of  the  United 
States  government,  for  by  their  action  in  participating  in  the  war  on  the 
side  of  England  they  had  forfeited  their  right  to  possession  and  were  in 
much  the  same  position  as  was  the  English  government  in  that  respect 
— a  conquered  nation  having  lost  their  rights  in  a  conflict  at  arms,  liut 
the  United  States  and  the  State  of  New  York  treated  the  Indians  with 
great  moderation,  and  declined  to  avail  themselves  of  their  right  to 
claim  the  lands  formerly  occupied  by  the  Iroquois,  and  even  admitted 
the  unfortunate  savages  to  the  benefits  of  peace,  although  the  latter  had 
twice  violated  their  pledges  and  plunged  into  a  war  against  the  colonies. 
However  a  property  line,  as  it  was  called,  was  established  between  the 
whites  and  Indians,  which  line  ran  along  the  eastern  boundary  of  Broome 
and  Chenango  Counties  and  thence  northwestward  to  a  point  seven 
miles  west  of  Rome. 

Conceding  after  same  discussion  and  dissension  that  the  Indians  had 
some  rights  in  the  territory  formerl}'  occupied  b\'  them  the  legislature 
of  New  York  passed  an  act  constituting  the  governor  and  certain  other 
designated  persons  as  superintendents  of  Indian  affairs.  George  Clin- 
ton, then  governor,  assumed  at  once  the  responsible  duties  of  arranging 
a  council  with  the  chiefs  and  sachems  of  the  several  tribes,  and  for  this 
purpose  sent  emissaries  to  confer  with  the  Indians  and  bring  them  if 
possible  to  an  amicable  understanding  of  the  matter.  After  much  labor 
and  the  lapse  of  considerable  time  a  council  was  held  at  Fort  Schuyler 
on  the  first  of  September,  1784  There  were  present  the  New  Yoik 
representatives  together  with  deputations  from  the  Mohawks,  Cayugas, 
Onondagas,  and  Senecas.  The  Oneidas  and  Tuscaroras  were  not  at  first 
represented,  but  after  three  days  they  appeared.  During  the  proceed- 
ings the  Cayugas  and  Tuscaroras  exhibited  to  the  commissioners  a  letter 
from  the  committee  of  Congress,  wherein  it  was  stated  that  the  Indians 
should  not  treat  with  representatives  of  New  York,  as  the  governor  had 
no  authority  to  conduct  such  council,  but  tliat  the  committee  of  Con- 
gress would  meet  the  Indians  in  council  at  Fort  Stanwi.x  on  the  20th 
of  September  "to  settle  a  peace  with  all  the  Indian  nations  from  the 
Ohio  to  the  Great  Lake."  After  distributing  presents  and  provisions 
among  the  Indians  Governor  Clinton  resolved  to  postpone  further 
action  until  the  arrival  of  the  United  States  commissioners. 


RED   JACKET.  59 

In  the  montli  of  October,  1784,  the  treaty  at  Fort  Stanwix  was  held. 
On  tlie  part  of  the  United  States  there  were  present  Commissioners 
Oliver  Wolcott,  Richard  Butler,  and  Arthur  Lee,  while  the  celebrated 
Frenchman,  Marquis  de  Lafayette,  was  with  them  in  the  capacity  of 
interested  spectator.  The  Indians  were  also  present,  being  represented 
by  chiefs  and  sachems.  The  proceedings  of  this  first  grand  cour.cil  had 
no  special  relation  to  the  lands  of  this  locality,  but  at  the  meeting  there 
was  brought  into  prominent  notice  one  who  is  claimed  to  have  been,  and 
beyond  question  was,  a  native  of  the  territory  afterward  erected  into 
Yates  County.  This  personage  was  the  famous  Red  Jacket,  who, 
though  a  youth  at  the  time  of  the  council,  afterward  became  a  con- 
spicuous figure  in  the  frequL'nt  treaty  meetings.  Lfpon  the  occasion 
above  referred  to  Red  Jacket  was  bitterly  opposed  to  making  any  con- 
cessions whatever  to  the  whites  and  openly  advocated  a  renewal  of  the 
war.  But  in  this  efi'ort  Red  Jacket  was  opposed  by  the  noted  war  chief 
Cornplanter,  and  the  council  of  the  latter  prevailed,  with  the  result  of  a 
treaty  fixing  the  western  boundary  of  the  territory  to  be  considered  as 
belonging  to  the  Six  Nations.  Here  the  reader  will  pardon  a  slight  di- 
gression from  the  general  course  of  this  narrative  that  he  may  take  a 
glance  at  this  celebrated  son  of  Yates  County,  Red  Jacket,  although 
the  son  may  be  said  to  have  occupied  the  somewhat  anomalous  position 
of  being  many  years  older  than  his  parent. 

Sagoyewatha,  the  Seneca  name  of  the  chief,  was  born  near  Branch- 
port  on  the  western  arm  of  Ogoyago  Lake,  but  as  to  the  date  of  his 
birth  there  appears  to  be  no  record,  nor  is  it  known  who  of  the  Sene- 
cas  were  his  parents.  At  the  time  of  the  treaty  at  Fort  Stanwix  the 
chief  was  a  young  man  and  had  just  been  elevated  to  the  position  lie 
held.  He  was  the  recognized  orator  of  his  tribe,  not  even  second  to 
the  eloquent  Cornplanter,  but  the  latter  held  pre-eminence,  was  a  war- 
rior of  mature  years,  and  one  who  had  carved  his  way  to  fame  among 
his  people  through  his  cruel  and  merciless  slaughter  of  white  men, 
women,  and  children.  As  a  speaker  for  his  tribe  and  nation  Sagoye- 
watha stood  without  a  peer.  Indeed  so  powerful  was  his  speech  at 
the  treaty  ground  that  Levasseur,  the  French  writer  who  derived  his 
information  from  Lafayette,  said  of  lum  :  "His  speech  was  a  master- 
piece, and  every  warrior  who  heard  him  was  carried  away  with  his  elo- 
quence." 


6o  HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUNTY. 

Red  Jacket  had,  wb.eii  a  j'outli,  heard  a  number  of  prominent  speakers 
among  the  Indians,  and  he  determined  to  and  did  instruct  himself  in  the 
art  of  oratory  ;  and  liis  first  or  maiden  effort  was  made  on  the  occasion 
referred  to,  and  tliat  brought  to  him  the  name  of  Sagoyewatha,  "  The 
Keeper  Awake,"  or  literally  "he  keeps  them  awake,"  as  more  descrip- 
tive of  his  oratorical  powers.  But  among  the  whites  he  was  generally 
called  by  the  rcdiculous  appellation  of  Red  Jacket,  a  name  which  he 
transmitted  to  his  descendants. 

He,  too,  had  been  an  actor  in  the  border  wars,  but  had  won  no  laurels 
in  them.  Brant  and  Cornplanter  both  hated  him,  declaring  that  he  was 
both  coward  and  traitor  ;  but  theirs  was  the  hatred  of  envy  and  jealousy. 
They  were  accustomed  to  tell  of  the  time  when  he  made  a  glowing 
speech  urging  the  Senecas  to  battle,  but  while  the  conflict  was  going  on 
was  discovered  cutting  up  tlie  cow  of  another  Indian  which  he  hatl  killed. 
After  that  he  was  frequentl}'  called  "  The  Cow  Killer,"  a  name  which 
was  inserted  in  two  or  three  public  documents,  but  afterward  crossed  out 
and  "  Red  Jacket  "  substituted. 

The  treason  with  which  he  was  charged  seems  to  have  consisted  in 
making  several  efforts  for  peace  during  Sullivan's  campaign  without  the 
sanction  of  the  war  chiefs.  At  one  time  he  is  said  to  have  secretly  sent 
a  runner  to  the  American  camp  inviting  a  flag  of  truce.  Brant  heard 
of  this  and  had  the  unlucky  messenger  intercepted  and  killed.  Prob- 
ably some  of  the  stories  of  his  timidity  and  treachery  are  false,  but  there 
were  many  of  them  and  all  pointed  the  same  way.  Notwithstanding  all 
this  such  was  the  charm  of  his  eloquence,  and  such  the  clearness  of  his 
intellect,  that  he  rapidly  gained  in  influence  and  was  made  a  chief,  that 
is  a  civil  chief  or  counselor  of  the  sachems. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  Revolution  he  was  a  youth  of  about  twenty. 
The  British  officers  had  been  attracted  by  his  intelligence  and  frequently 
employed  him  as  messenger,  for  which  he  was  well  qualified  by  hisfleet- 
ness  of  foot  and  shrewdness  of  mind.  The\'  compensated  him  by  a 
succession  of  red  jackets,  in  which  he  took  great  pride  and  from  which 
he  derived  his  name.  In  later  years  Red  Jacket  had  risen  to  a  high 
position,  being  mentioned  by  Proctor  as  "the  great  speaker  and  a  prince 
of  the  Turtle  tribe."  As  a  matter  of  fact,  however,  he  belonged  to  the 
Wolf  clan. 


RED   JACKET.  6i 

In  1792  Red  Jacket  and  Farmer's  Brotlier  were  two  of  fifty  cliicis 
who  visited  the  seat  of  government,  then  at  Philadelphia.  The  former 
then  claimed  to  be  in  favor  of  civilization,  and  it  was  at  this  time  that 
Washington  gave  him  the  famous  medal  which  lie  afterward  wore  on 
all  great  occasions.  It  was  of  silver,  oval  in  form,  about  seven  inches 
long  by  five  wide,  and  represented  a  white  man  in  a  general's  uniform 
presenting  a  pipe  of  peace  to  an  Indian.  The  latter  had  flung  down 
his  tomahawk.  Behind  them  is  shown  a  house,  a  field,  and  a  man 
plowing. 

The  manner  in  which  Red  Jacket  acquired  his  characteristic  name  is 
told  by  his  biographer:  On  one  of  his  visits  to  tlie  seat  of  government 
General  Knox,  then  Secretary  of  War,  presented  the  distinguished  Sen- 
eca with  the  full  uniform  of  a  military  officer,  with  cocked  hat  and  all 
equipments  complete.  Red  Jacket  requested  the  bearer  to  inform  Knox 
that  he  could  not  well  wear  military  clothes,  he  being  a  civil  sachem, 
not  a  war  chief  If  any  such  present  was  to  be  made  to  him  he  would 
prefer  a  suit  of  civilian's  clothes,  but  would  keep  the  first  gift  until  the 
other  was  sent.  In  due  time  a  handsome  suit  of  citizen's  clothes  was 
brought  to  his  lodging.  The  unsophisticated  savage  accepted  it  and 
then  remarked  to  the  bearer  that  in  time  of  war  the  sachems  went  out 
on  the  war-path  with  the  rest,  and  he  would  keep  the  military  suit- for 
such  an  occasion.  And  keep  it  he  did.  The  foregoing  anecdote  is 
slightly  at  variance  with  the  former  statement  tiiat  Red  Jacket  was  first 
clothed  in  military  uniform  by  the  British  officers,  but  the  reader  must 
do  as  in  all  tales  of  Indian  heroes,  read  all  and  believe  whichever  best 
suits  his  convenience  or  fancy.  But  Yates  Count)'  is  not  the  onh- 
claimant  to  the  place  of  nativity  of  Sago^ewatha  or  Red  Jacket.  A 
State  Historical  Gazetteer  published  some  tliirty  years  ago  fixes  his 
place  of  birth  in  the  present  town  of  Fayette  in  Senaca  County,  and  the 
spot  as  being  near  Canoga  Spring.  This  was  undoubtedly  an  error,  for 
there  can  be  produced  satisfactory  evidence  to  show  that  the  famous 
chief  was  born  in  what  is  now  the  town  of  Jerusalem  in  this  county, 
and  not  far  from  the  hamlet  called  Branciiport.  In  fact  it  is  said  that 
Red  Jacket  himself  told  the  late  Judge  Lewis  that  he  was  born  at  the 
place  indicated. 

After  the  treaty  and  great  council  at  Fort  Stanwix  held   bj-  the  com- 


62  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

niissioners  respecting  the  general  government  the  Board  of  Indian  Af- 
fairs, under  the  authority  of  New  York,  met  and  frequently  called  the 
Indians  together  for  the  purpose  of  acquiring  and  purchasing  their  lands. 
The  several  councils  thereafter  held  resulted  each  in  the  surrender  on 
the  part  of  the  natives  of  vast  tracts  of  their  former  territory,  but  in 
each  and  every  case  tiie  authorities  made  to  them  a  just  compensation. 

In  this  inanner  matters  progressed  favorably  for  some  time,  but  of  a 
sudden  there  arose  a  spirited  controversy  which  in  various  forms  in- 
volved the  question  of  title  or  right  to  purchase,  the  greater  part  of 
which  was  due  to  the  imperfect  understanding  had  by  the  King  of  the 
situation  and  extent  of  territory  in  America.  It  was  the  custom  of  the 
sovereign  to  make  extensive  grants,  charters,  or  patents  of  land  to  cer- 
tain favorites,  or  for  consideration,  but  with  the  most  indefinite  and  un- 
certain boundaries.  One  of  these  vast  and  almost  boundless  areas  was 
granted  by  King  Charles  to  his  brother  James,  the  Duke  of  York,  which 
included  all  the  lands  betv\een  the  Connecticut  River  on  the  east  and 
westward  to  the  Delaware  Bay,  north  to  the  province  of  Canada,  and 
westward  indefinitely.  This  neat  little  estate,  had  the  title  been  subse- 
quently confirmed  as  granted,  would  haveincluded  millionsand  millions  of 
acres  and  would  have  made  brother  James  "  quite  well  off,"  to  use  a  com- 
mon expression  ;  but  the  same  ruler  made  another  grant  of  territory  to  the 
Plymouth  Company,  which  likewise  extended  several  degrees  of  lati- 
tude north  and  south  and  stretched  east  and  west  from  the  Atlantic  to 
the  Pacific.  The  last  mentioned  grant  was  made  in  1620  and  the  former 
in  1628,  and  of  course  that  last  made  overlapped  the  first,  but  did  not 
vacate  or  supercede  it.  The  first  grant,  that  made  in  1620,  founded 
the  colony  tract  for  New  England,  while  the  latter  eventually  resolved 
into  the  colony,  province,  and  lastly  the  .State  of  New  York. 

Many  complications  and  controversies  were  the  outcome  of  these 
conflicting  grants.  One  of  them  very  nearlj-  involved  the  stalwart  Green 
Mountain  Boys  in  a  civil  war  against  the  authorities  of  the  province  of 
New  York,  and  would  probably  have  so  resulted  but  for  the  outbreak 
of  the  Revolution.  The  principal  discussion  concerning  ownership  and 
jurisdiction  of  the  territory  under  the  letters  patent,  and  that  which 
more  particularly  concerns  the  present  reader,  was  that  carried  on  be- 
tween the  authorities  of  the  province  of  the  then  caUed  Massachusetts 


LAND  TITLE  CONTROVERSY.  63 

Bay  and  the  representatives  of  the  colony  and  province  of  New  York, 
although  at  the  time  the  controversy  was  adjusted  both  of  these  colonics 
had  become  States  of  the  Union.  To  settle  the  dispute  between  them 
the  States  of  Massachusetts  and  New  York  ceded  all  their  domain  to 
the  federal  authority,  but  before  the  latter  had  taken  cognizance  of  the 
matter  the  States  themselves  had  taken  such  action  as  obviated  the  ne- 
cessity of  congressional  interference.  After  the  settlement  of  certain 
preliminaries  the  contestants  agreed  upon  the  appointment  of  commis- 
sioners of  arbitration,  who  held  a  meeting  at  Hartford,  Conn.,  on  the  i6tli 
of  December,  1786.  The  results  of  their  deliberations  are  best  told  by 
Turner,  as  follows  : 

"  According  to  the  stipulations  entered  into  by  the  convention  Massa- 
chusetts ceded  to  the  State  of  New  York  all  her  claim  to  the  govern- 
ment, sovereignty,  and  jurisdiction  of  all  the  territory  lying  west  of  the 
present  east  line  of  the  State  of  New  York  ;  and  New  York  ceded  to 
Massachusetts  the  pre-emption  right,  or  fee  of  the  land,  subject  to  the 
title  of  natives,  of  all  that  part  of  the  State  of  New  York  lying  west  of  a 
line  beginning  at  a  point  in  the  north  line  of  Pennsylvania,  eighty- two 
miles  north  of  the  northeast  corner  of  said  State,  and  running  thence 
due  north  through  Seneca  Lake  to  Lake  Ontario  ;  excepting  and  re- 
serving to  the  State  of  New  York  a  strip  of  land  east  and  adjoining  the 
eastern  bank  of  Niagara  River,  one  mile  wide,  and  e.xtending  its  whole 
length.  The  land,  the  pre-emption  right  of  which  was  thus  ceded, 
amounted  to  about  6,000,000  of  acres." 

The  plain  interpretation  of  this  agreement  was  that  the  land  in  ques- 
tion should  remain  and  continue  within  the  State  of  New  York  and 
subject  to  its  laws  and  government,  but  that  its  ownership  should  be  in 
the  State  of  Massachusetts,  subject  to  whatever  rights  the  Indian  occu- 
pants ma)-  have  had  and  then  had.  This  right  Massachusetts  was  at 
liberty  to  purchase  from  the  natives. 

Thus  vested  with  the  legal  title  to  the  lands  all  that  was  required  of 
Massachusetts  was  the  purchase  of  the  Indian  claim,  as  New  York  had 
previously  done  in  other  localities.  The  greater  part  of  the  terrilorj' 
included  within  the  county  of  Yates  was  also  a  part  of  the  Massachu- 
setts tract.  And  the  portion  of  this  county  which  was  not  within  the 
pre-emption  lands,  as  sometimes  called,  is  that  which  lies  bordering  on 


64  HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUNTY. 

Seneca  Lake  in  the  towns  of  Torrey,  Milo,  and  Starkey  as  at  present 
constituted. 

The  proceedings  of  the  arbitration  commission  were  held  and  its  agree- 
ment reached  during  the  year  1786  and  in  the  year  following,  1787, 
Massachusetts  began  casting  about  for  a  sale  of  her  territory;  but  at 
this  juncture  there  appeared  an  element  of  disturbance  that  not  only 
threatened  trouble  for  the  Bay  State's  interests,  but,  as  afterward  devel- 
oped, that  same  troblesome  factor  threatened  to  disrupt  the  very  insti- 
tutions of  the  State  of  New  York.  The  troubles  and  vexations  of  the 
time  were  all  caused  by  the  unlawful  operations  of  the  New  York  Gene- 
see Company  and  its  auxiliary  association,  the  Niagara  Genesee 
Company. 

The  constitution  of  the  State  of  New  York  forbade  the  purchase  of 
the  fee  of  lands  from  the  Indians  by  individuals,  that  right  being  re- 
served to  the  State  alone.  This  measure  was  adopted  to  protect  the 
nations  against  the  acts  of  unscrupulous  persons  whose  chief  aim  should 
be  to  defraud  the  easily  misleil  Indians  of  their  possessions ;  but  the 
right  so  reserved  to  this  State,  so  far  as  related  to  the  district  ceded  to 
Massachusetts,  was  passed  to  the  latter  under  the  deed  of  cession. 

During  the  winter  of  1787—88  there  was  organized  an  association  of 
individuals  who  styled  themselves  the  New  York  Genesee  Company, 
and  the  object  of  which  was  the  acquirement  of  lands  from  the  Indians  ; 
not,  however,  by  purchase,  for  that  was  forbidden  by  law,  but  by  ob- 
taining leases  of  the  lands  for  long  period  of  years,  and  upon  the  pay- 
ment of  small  cash  consideration  and  an  annual  rental.  The  New  York 
Genesee  Company  was  comprised  of  wealthy  persons,  most  of  whom 
resided  in  the  Hudson  River  region,  and  who  became  members  of  the 
association  purely  for  purposes  of  speculation.  This  company  also 
caused  to  be  organized  an  auxiliary  association,  called  the  Niagara 
Genesee  Company,  the  membership  of  which  was  comprised  chiefly  of 
residents  of  Canada,  with  a  certain  iaw  from  this  State  ;  but  almost  with- 
out exception  those  who  composed  the  latter  com[:)any  were  persons 
who  had  in  some  manner  become  acquainted  with  the  Iiulians  and  who 
were  able  to  influence  them  almost  at  will. 

Through  the  machinations  of  the  lesser  organization,  the  Niagara 
Genesee  Company,  there  was  executed  a  lease  with  the  Six  Nations,  in 


LAND  TITLE  CONTROVERSY.  6; 

which  lease  the  party  of  the  second  part  were  the  associates  comprising 
the  principal  company,  and  by  the  terms  of  which  the  second  parly 
therein  named  became  the  lessees  of  an  immense  tract  of  land  for 
a  period  of  999  years  from  the  30th  of  November,  1787.  The  consid- 
eration provided  to  be  paid  by  way  of  rental  was  the  annual  sum 
of  2,000  Spanish  milled  dollars,  added  to  which  was  the  promise  of  a 
bonus  of  $20,000. 

The  lease  consummated  the  new  proprietary  at  once  set  about  the  col- 
onization of  their  district,  which  of  course  included  within  its  limits  the 
greater  part  of  what  is  now  Yates  County  ;  but  no  sooner  had  the  intel- 
ligence of  this  lease  reached  the  ears  of  Governor  Clinton  than  tiiat  offi- 
cial at  once  dispatched  trustworthy  agents  to  the  land  of  the  Seneca  for 
the  purpose  of  informing  the  natives  of  the  fact  that  they  had  been 
duped;  that  the  lease  would  be  declared  null  and  void  by  the  State 
legislature;  and  that  the)',  the  Indians,  should  refrain  from  further  nego- 
tiations with  either  lessee  company  or  their  agents. 

It  appears  that  the  originators  of  the  scheme  for  the  acquirement  of 
Indian  lands  by  lease  had  another  project  in  view  than  the  mere  acqui- 
sition of  title.  At  tiiat  particular  time  as  well  as  previousl)-  and  after- 
ward there  was  in  progress  a  controversy  between  the  authorities  of 
the  State  of  New  York  and  the  people  of  the  indepentlentlj-  organized 
district  of  New  Hampshire  Grants,  but  more  commonly  known  as  the 
State  of  Vermont.  The  people  then  had  taken  tlieir  grants  from  the 
governor  of  New  Hampshire,  Benning  Wentworth,  under  the  belief  that 
the  territory  was  a  part  of  that  province,  but  tlie  decree  of  the  King  in 
July,  1764,  had  determined  the  eastern  boundary  of  the  province  of 
New  York  to  be  the  west  bank  of  the  Connecticut  River.  The  people  of 
the  district  would  have  readily  submitted  to  the  authority  and  jurisdic- 
tion of  New  Yoric  had  not  the  governor  of  the  latter  insisted  that  the 
township  charters  be  surrendered,  and  that  new  ones  be  taken  from  New 
York  and  full  consideration  be  paid  therefor.  Against  tiiis  the  people 
rebelled,  and  most  effectually  and  determinedly  resisted  all  attempts  of 
the  New  Yorkers  to  dispossess  or  arrest  them.  In  1777,  after  the  Dec- 
laration of  Independence  declared  at  Philadelphia,  the  people  of  the 
then  called  New  Hampshire  Grants  assembled  in  convention  and  de- 
clared their  district  to  be  an  independent  State  ;  and  thereafter,  and  for 
y 


66  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

foui'teen   long  years,    they   maintained   that  independence  until   finally 
admitted  to  the  federal  Union  in  1791. 

While  the  situation  in  Vermont  had  no  parallel  in  the  case  of  the 
lessee  company,  still  the  latter  was  inspired  with  the  hope  that  in  ac- 
quiring a  long  lease-hold  interest  in  the  lands  of  the  Six  Nations 
they,  too,  might  organize  a  separate  and  independent  State  apart  from 
the  government  of  New  York.  Such  was  their  discovered  intention, 
but  the  prompt  and  energetic  action  of  Governor  Clinton  thwarted  their 
plans,  afterward  annulled  their  leases,  and  made  them  glad  to  sue  for  terms 
of  peace  and  compromise.  The  result  was  that  instead  of  possessing 
some  millions  of  acres,  and  forming  them  into  a  new  State,  they  were 
ultimately  content  with  receiving  a  ten  mile  square  grant  off  the  old 
Military  Tract  in  the  northern  part  of  this  State.  The  lessees  were  after- 
ward further  rewarded  by  the  Phelps  and  Gorham  proprietary  by  the 
grants  of  several  towns  ;  but  consideration  of  the  latter  grants  was  the 
influence  the  agents  of  the  lessees  commanded  with  the  Indians  in  en- 
abling Phelps  and  Gorham  to  perfect  their  title  by  purchase  from  the 
Six  Nations. 


CHAPTER   VI. 


The  land  Titles  —  The  Phelps  and  Gorham  Purchase —  Its  e.xtent  and  Boundar- 
ies —  Troubles  created  by  the  Lessee  Companies  —  How  Settled  —  Consolidation  of 
interests  —  Extinguishment  of  Indian  Titles  —  The  old  Pre-emption  Line  —  Fraud 
Practiced  —  Town  Surveys  —  Sale  to  Robert  Morris  —  The  latter  sells  to  English  cap- 
italists—  Surveying  the  new  Pre-emption  Line  —  The  fraud  Discovered  —  New  com- 
plications Arise  —  How  Settled  —  Occupants  of  the  "  Gore  " —  How  Com|iensated  — 
SettleiTient  with  Charles  Williamson,  agent  of  the  Pultney  Association. 

WHTH  the  exception  of  certain  specially  reserved  tracts  of  land 
the  Hartford  convention  of  commissioners  awarded  to  the  State 
of  Massachusetts,  in  settlement  of  her  conflicting  claims  with  New  York, 
the  greater  portion  of  the  territory  of  the  last  named  State  which  lay 
west  of  Seneca  Lake.  New  York,  however,  retained  and  held  the  right 
of  jurisdiction  and  sovereignty  over  this  vast  area,  \\hile  the  fee  in  the 


THE  PHELPS  ASD  GORHAM  PURCHASE.  67 

territory  vested  in  Massachusetts,  subject  only  to  the  Indian  title  which 
the  latter  State  or  her  grantees  must  purchase  and  extinguish. 

These  lands  being  quite  remote  from  the  State  which  owned  them 
the  authorities  thereof  deemed  it  expedient  that  they  be  sold  and  the 
proceeds  used  to  replenish  the  depleted  exchequer  of  the  Common- 
wealth. There  was  no  lack  of  eager  purchasers,  prominent  among 
whom  were  Oliver  Phelps  and  Nathanial  Gorham.  The  fornu  r  of  these 
persons  determined  to  become  interested  in  the  jnirchase  of  1  ,oco,000 
acres  of  the  tract,  while  the  latter  also  liad  the  same  end  in  view,  each 
at  first  acting  independently.  Later  an  association  of  purchasers  was 
formed  and  a  proposition  duly  made  to  the  State  for  the  sale  of  the 
pre-emption  tract,  or  at  least  of  1,000,000  acres  of  it,  at  the  price  of- 
fered by  Mr.  Gorham  ;  that  is  at  "  one  and  six[)ence  currency  per  acre," 
payable  in  the  "  public  paper  of  the  Commonwealth."  The  Massachu- 
setts House  of  Representatives  agreed  to  the  sale  on  these  terms,  but  the 
Senate  failed  to  concur,  whereupon  no  action  was  taken  until  the  month 
of  April,  1788. 

While  the  question  relative  to  the  sale  of  the  land  was  pending,  and 
prior  to  the  April  meeting  of  the  ler;islature,  other  competitors  came 
into  the  field  for  the  purpose  of  making  purchases  on  the  pre-emption 
tract  ;  but  that  there  should  not  be  any  clash  of  interests  or  strife  over 
the  matter  of  purchase  all  the  parties  united  with  the  Phelps  and  Gor- 
ham association.  The  result  was  that  in  April,  1788,  the  constituted 
representatives  of  the  association,  Phelps  and  Gorham,  made  a  proposal 
to  the  legislature  to  take  all  the  land  ceded  by  New  York  to  Massachu- 
setts, at  the  agreed  price  of  $100,000,  payable  in  Massachu.setts  paper 
currency,  which,  by  the  way,  was  at  that  time  greatly  depreciated  in 
value.  The  preliminaries  being  settled  and  the  proposition  accepted 
the  contract  of  sale  was  made  complete. 

The  first  duty  devolving  upon  the  new  owners  after  having  purchased 
the  pre-emption  right  was  to  make  perfect  title  by  the  extinguishment 
title.  This  task  fell  upon  Mr.  Phelps,  while  to  Mr.  Gorham  was  en- 
trusted the  duty  of  conferring  with  the  New  York  authorities  relative 
to  running  the  boundary  or  pre-emption  line.  Gen.  Israel  Chapin  was 
at  the  same  time  directed  to  explore  the  new  region  of  country  and  re- 
port its  character  to  the  associate  proprietors. 


68  HIS  TORY  OF  YA  TES  CO  17A'  T  \ '. 

Oliver  Phelps  found  himself  charged  with  a  more  difficult  and  doubt- 
ful undertaking  than  he  at  first  anticipated.  He  found  the  lessees  un- 
der the  long  lease  in  constructive  if  not  in  actual  possession;  and  lie 
found,  too,  that  all  his  endeavors  at  negotiations  with  the  Indians  must 
prove  fruitless,  as  the  lessee  company  exercised  a  controlling  influence 
over  the  natives  and  over  the  traders,  interpreters,  and  otliers  upon 
wliose  assistance  lie  had  relied  in  carrying  out  his  own  plans  for  the  ac 
quirement  of  the  title.  At  last,  realizing  tliat  a  compromise  of  some 
sort  would  be  the  most  satisfactory  way  out  of  existing  difficulties,  Mr. 
Plielps  visited  the  principal  lessees  at  Hudson,  and  there  such  negotia- 
tions were  had  that  the  lessees  agreed  to  call  a  council  of  the  Indians 
at  Kanandesaga,  make  a  surrender  of  their  lease,  and  take  a  deed  of 
cession  from  the  sachems  and  authorized  agents  of  the  tribes,  the  grant 
ees  in  the  deed  to  be  Oliver  Phelps  and  Nathaniel  Gorlumi  for  them- 
selves and  their  associates. 

Although  there  appears  to  be  no  record  showing  the  actual  consid- 
eration tiiat  moved  the  lessee  company  to  consent  to  this  arrangement 
it  at  the  same  time  appeared  to  be  pretty  well  understood  among  the 
holders  of  the  long  lease  that  theirs  was  an  exceedingly  doubtful  title 
and  one  which  would  not  be  acquiesced  in  by  the  parties  who  executed 
it.  More  than  that  Massachusetts  and  New  York  both  refused  to  con- 
firm the  lease-hold,  in  the  face  of  which  opposition,  together  with  the 
feelings  of  discontent  prevailing  among  the  Indians,  the  lessees  were 
themselves  easily  persuaded  to  become  members  of  the  Phelps  and 
Gorliam  association,  or  syndicate  as  it  would  now  be  called,  and  in  that 
manner  become  owners  under  proper  authority. 

Having  made  a  satisfactory  arrangement  with  the  principal  men  in 
the  New  York  Genesee  Company,  and  in  particular  with  its  leading  and 
governing  spirit,  John  Livingston,  Mr.  Phelps  at  once  made  preparations 
for  a  grand  council  with  the  Si.x  Nations  to  be  held  at  Kanandesaga, 
but  on  reaching  that  place  about  June  i,  1788,  he  found  an  existing 
difficulty  or  disagreement  between  the  New  York  Genesee  Company 
and  the  Niagara  Genesee  Company,  and  that  the  leading  men  of  the 
latter  were  holding  the  Indinas  at  Buffalo  Creek  and  had  persuaded 
them  not  to  attend  the  council.  Thereupon  Mr.  Phelps  proceeded  to 
Buffalo  Creek  and  succeeded  in  removing  the  objections  of  some  of  the 


THE  PHELPS  AND  GORHAM  PURCHASE.  69 

principal  men  of  the  Niagara  Genesee  Company  by  promising  them 
townships  in  return  for  their  friendly  influence  with  tlie  natives. 

This  done  a  council  was  at  once  held  with  the  Indians  at  Buffalo 
Creek  with  result,  on  the  8th  of  July,  of  the  Six  Nations  releasing  the 
lessee  company  from  the  provisions  of  their  agreement  so  far  as  related 
to  the  pre-emption  tract;  and  with  the  further  result  of  a  sale  by  the 
Six  Nations  to  Phelps  and  Gorhani,  for  themselves  and  their  associ- 
ates, of  the  entire  tract  ceded  to  Massachusetts,  estimated  to  contain 
2.500,000  acres  of  land.  The  consideration  of  the  sale  was  the  pay- 
ment to  be  made  to  the  Indians  of  $5,000  and  an  annuity  of  $500 
forever.  By  the  deed  of  transfer  then  executed  by  the  chiefs  and 
sachems  of  the  Six  Nations  Phelps  and  Gorham,  for  themselves 
and  their  associates,  became  the  owners  in  fee  simple  absolute  of 
all  the  lands  of  Yates  Countj'  that  lay  west  of  the  pre-  emption 
line.  In  fact  that  purchase  covered  the  greater  part  of  what  is  now 
Ontario,  Wayne,  Yates,  Steuben,  and  Livingston  Counties,  and  parts  of 
Monroe  and  Allegany  Counties.  The  strip  of  land  lying  east  of  the 
pre-emption  line  and  west  of  Seneca  Lake  was  claimed  by  the  lessee 
companies,  but  the  manner  in  which  they  afterward  became  divested  of 
their  title  will  be  made  clear  later  in  the  present  chapter. 

While  01i\er  Phelps  was  busil)'  employed  in  arranging  for  his  nego- 
tiations with  the  Indians,  and  bringing  to  satisfactory  terms  the  disturb- 
ing elements  in  the  lessee  companies,  Mr.  Gorham,  the  associate  of  Mr. 
Phelps,  was  engaged  in  preparing  for  tiie  survey  of  the  east  and  west 
boundarj'  lines  of  the  Massachusetts  lands  as  preliminary  to  the  survey 
and  division  into  townships  of  the  body  of  the  tract.  For  this  work  the 
services  of  Col.  Hugh  Maxwell,  an  engineer  of  good  repute,  were 
engaged  and  the  survey  of  the  line  was  made  during  1788.  But  the 
work  of  surveying  the  east  line  was  not  ])erformed  by  Colonel  Maxwell 
nor  under  his  immediate  direction.  He  was  taken  ill  about  the  time  the 
survey  began  and  was  obliged  to  return  to  his  home,  while  the  running 
of  the  line  devolved  upon  his  assistants  and  subordinates.  Among  those 
engaged  in  this  work  were  at  lea^t  one  or  more  wiio  were  dirccth'  the 
subservient  tools  of  the  New  York  Genesee  Company,  and  who,  at  the 
command  of  their  principals,  were  dishonest  enough  to  survey  the  line, 
not   as  contemplated  by    the    letter   antl    the   spirit    of  the   agreement 


70  HIS  TORY  OF  YA  TES  CO  UN  T  3 '. 

between  New  York  and  Massachusetts,  but  so  far  as  possible  in  the 
selfish  interests  of  land  sharks  and  speculators  of  the  company  above 
mentioned.  At  that  time  Geneva,  or  Kanandesaga,  was  a  village  of 
some  importance,  and  was  the  chief  seat  of  operations  in  the  whole 
Genesee  country  and  withal  a  very  desirable  acquisition.  This  point 
the  ruling  spirits  of  the  lessee  company  desired  to  retain  and  control,  but 
could  not  with  a  correct  running  of  the  line  as  contemplated  in  the  pre- 
emption compact.  The  sudden  illness  of  Colonel  Maxwell  opened  to 
the  lessees  a  convenient  opportunity  to  defraud  Fhelps  and  Gorham  by 
inducing  the  assistant  engineers  to  deviate  from  the  correct  line,  or  what 
should  be  the  correct  line,  and  establish  the  boundary  to  the  westward 
of  Kanandesaga  or  Geneva,  thus  throwing  the  coveted  district  without 
the  Massachusetts  tract  and  bringing  it  within  the  territory  claimed 
by  the  lessees  under  their  contract  of  lease  with  the  Six  Nations.  This 
was  done.  The  engineer  in  charge  made  a  deflection  to  the  westward, 
and  so  established  the  original  or  first  pre-emption  line  as  to  defraud 
PJielps  and  Gorham  of  thousands  and  thousands  of  acres  and  brought 
Geneva  well  over  on  the  lessee  tract.  This  palpable  fraud  was  not  dis- 
covered until  some  years  afterward,  and  not  until  the  territory  had  been 
surveyed  into  townships  and  sold  to  divers  purchasers.  And  when  dis- 
covered and  the  new  pre-emption  line  run  many  complications  were 
created  with  the  unfortunate  consequences  ever  attendant  ujjon  con- 
flicting titles. 

The  surveys  into  townships  of  the  Phelps  and  Gorham  purchase  were 
made  from  the  eastern  pre-emption  line  as  run  in  1788.  That  line 
passed  through  Yates  County,  forming  the  eastern  boundary  of  Barring- 
ton  and  Milo,  as  originally  surveyed  ;  thence  northward  through  Torrey, 
as  now  established,  and  Benton,  passing  across  Kashong  Creek  about 
200  rods  east  of  Bellona.  What  is  commonly  called  the  "old  pre-emp- 
tion road  '  "  is  nowhere  on  the  pre-emption  line  in  the  town  of  Benton, 
nor  until  one  passes  north  from  Cromwell's  Hollow  in  Seneca  town- 
ship, Ontario  County. 

The  survey  of  the  territory   into   townships  was  commenced  in  1788 

1  The  road'  dividing  Starkey  and  Barriiigton  and  running  about  a  mile  into  Milo  is  on  the  old 
pre-emption  line  ;  also  in  Milo  the  straight  road  passing  north  and  south  through  Milo  Center,  in 
Torrey  for  a  short  distance  near  Caleb  Legg's,  and  in  Benton  for  only  a  few  rods  on  the  McMaster 
property. 


PHELPS  AND  GORHAM  FINANCIALLY  EMBARRASSED.         71 

and  completed  in  1789.  So  far  as  the  character  of  the  surface  would 
admit  the  towns  were  supposed  to  contain  contents  of  six  miles  square. 
Running  from  south  to  north  were  first  surveyed  the  range  lines. 
Therefore  the  eastern  boundary  of  Barrington  being  the  pre-emption 
line  the  land  between  it  and  a  parallel  line  si.x  miles  west  from  it  con- 
stituted the  "  first  range."  Still  another  line  si.x  miles  farther  west 
and  parallel  to  that  last  described  included  the  townships  of  the  second 
range.  Traveling  northward  through  each  range  monuments  were 
placed  at  the  end  of  every  six  miles,  and  by  running  lines  at  right  angles 
to  the  range  lines,  at  the  designated  points,  there  would  be  included  six 
miles  square,  thirty-six  square  miles,  or  a  township  area.  So  it  was  in 
counting  from  south  to  north  that  the  town  of  Barrington  was  num- 
bered "six"  in  the  first  range;  Milo,  being  next  north,  number 
"  seven,"  first  range  ;  Benton,  number  "  eight,"  first  range.  From  this 
is  also  shown  the  fact  that  soutli  of  Barrington  and  between  that  town 
and  the  Pennsylvania  line  were  five  other  townships  in  the  first  range. 
This  is  but  an  explanatory  example  of  the  system  of  surveys  emplojed 
in  sub-dividing  the  Phelps  and  Gorham  purchase,  as  it  has  been  com 
monly  called.  Jerusalem  and  Potter  were  in  the  second  range  and  Ital)' 
and  Middlesex  in  the  third  range.  Township  numbers  ran  from  south 
to  north  and  range  numbers  from  east  to  west  from  the  old  pre  eniption 
line. 

In  1789  the  enterpising  land  operators,  Messrs.  Phelps  and  Gorham, 
found  themselves  to  be  in  a  substantiallj'  embarrassed  condition  finan- 
cially. To  be  sure  they  were  the  possessors  of  upwards  of  2,000,000 
acres  of  the  best  lands  in  the  State  of  New  York,  and  to  a  fair  pro- 
portion of  that  vast  area  they  had  succeeded  in  extinguishing  the  Indian 
claim  of  title.  However  the  expenses  incurred  in  doing  what  had  been 
done  upto  this  timehad  been  enormous.  The  surveyor's  chargeshad  been 
large,  while  the  payment  to  the  Indians  and  the  distribution  of  influenc- 
ing presents  among  them  amounted  to  no  small  cost.  Then,  too,  was 
the  ever  present  contingent  of  hangers-on,  persons  who  had  helped  or 
claimed  to  have  assisted  in  bringing  about  a  peaceful  settlement  of  diffi- 
culties, and  who  were  persistent  in  their  demands  for  money  and  lands. 
During  this  time  the  proprietors  had  succeeded  in  disposing  of  about 
half,  slightly  less,  of  their  vast  estate,  but  the  purchasers  were  in   the 


72  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

main  persons  who  lield  shares  or  stock  in  the  association,  and  who  had 
accepted  town  grants  or  deeds  in  exchange  for  their  interests  in  the 
company.  Therefore  the  year  1789  found  Plielps  and  Gorham  with  a 
large  amount  of  land  remaining,  but  uitli  very  httle  ready  casli,  and  the 
payment  agreed  to  be  made  to  Massachusetts,  the  $  100,000,  was  now 
due.  The  worthy  proprietors  had  reckoned  upon  paying  the  purchase 
price  in  Massachusetts  money,  which  at  the  time  they  made  tiie  original 
contract  was  worth  only  about  fifty  cents  on  the  dollar,  but  which  on 
account  of  the  State's  having  funded  her  debt  and  re-established  her 
credit  among  other  States  of  the  Union  had  advanced  to  nearly  par 
value.  The  result  of  this  was  that,  instead  of  being  able  to  make  the 
payment  with  about  $50,000  actual  means,  the  proprietors  found  them- 
selves under  the  necessity  of  raising  nearly  $100,000,  an  obligation  they 
could  not  meet. 

In  this  emergency  Phelps  and  Gorham  memorialized  the  Massachu- 
setts legislature,  asking  that  they  be  released  from  the  payment  of  the 
whole  principal  sum,  and  expressed  a  willingness  to  pay  for  that  por- 
tion of  the  lands  to  which  the  Indian  title  had  been  extinguished.  This 
proposition  was  agreeable  to  the  State,  the  more  so  perhaps  from  the 
knowledge  they  had  that  the  remaining  territory  could  find  ready  sale 
to  Robert  Morris,  of  Philadelphia,  the  financier  of  the  Revolution  and 
a  man  of  large  means  and  influence. 

In  the  early  part  of  1790  a  sale  was  effected  to  Mr.  Morris,  the  deed 
or  contract  therefor  being  executed  by  Oliver  Phelps  and  Nathaniel 
Gorham,  and  the  lands  embraced  in  the  transfer  included  all  that  the 
grantors  had  purchased  under  the  pre-emption  right  except  such  town- 
ships as  had  already  been  sold,  of  which  there  were  about  fiftj'.  The 
consideration  agreed  to  be  paid  by  Mr.  Morris  was  ^'30,000  New  York 
money,  or  its  ready  equivalent  of  $75,000. 

Mr.  Morris  had  no  sooner  become  fully  possessed  of  his  new  purchase 
than  he  proceeded  to  investigate  its  character  and  condition,  and  he 
soon  discovered  or  had  strong  reason  to  suspect  that  a  gross  fraud  had 
been  practiced  in  running  the  east  line.  For  the  purpose  of  accurate 
information  on  the  subject  he  engaged  Adam  Hoopes  to  explore  the 
country,  and  particularly  to  re-survey  the  east  boundary  and  determine 
upon  the  accuracy  of  the  original  line.      But  before  anything  had  been 


THE  PRE-EMPTION  LINE  RESURVEYED.  73 

done  in  this  matter  Mr.  Morris's  agent  in  England  succeeded  in  mak- 
ing a  sale  of  the  tract  to  a  party  of  English  capitalists,  comprised  of  Sir 
William  Pultne)%  John  Hornby,  and  Patrick  Coiquhoun.  The  nego- 
tiations were  had  with  Charles  Williamson,  who  acted  in  tlie  capacity  of 
agent  for  the  persons  named  and  received  the  deeds  in  his  own  name, 
which  the  actual  purchasers,  being  aliens,  could  not  hold.  The  consid- 
eration paid  Mr.  Morris  was  i^35,000  sterling  or,  its  equivalent,  $170,- 
000.  Mr.  Morris's  ownership  was  quite  brief,  but  his  profit  was  none 
the  less  substantial.  The  lands  included  within  this  sale  amounted  to 
about  1,200,000  acres.     Tiie  deed  was  executed  April  11,  1792, 

Among  other  things  Mr.  Morris  liad  agreed  with  his  grantees  that  he 
would  cause  to  be  made  an  accurate  survey  of  the  pre-emption  line, 
and  in  accordance  with  this  promise  he  directed  the  work  to  be  done 
under  the  supervision  of  Major  Iloopes.  He  also  caused  Andrew,  Jo- 
seph, and  Benjamin  Ellicott  to  be  engaged  as  assistants  in  the  work. 
The  work  was  performed  in  1792,  Benjamin  Ellicott  being  in  immediate 
charge  and  assisted  by  his  brothers  and  others  named  Armstrong,  Sax- 
ton,  and  Briscoe. 

This  party  of  competent  and  trustworthy  surveyors  commenced  at 
precisely  the  same  point  as  had  the  previous  engineers,  at  the  eighiy- 
second  milestone  in  the  Pennsylvania  line,  but  the  new  men  at  once 
discovered  that  the  original  line  began  bearing  to  the  westward  at  the 
\ery  outset,  and  so  continued  with  occasional  variations  until  Sodus 
Hay  was  reached.  The  greatest  variation  from  the  correct  line  was  two 
miles,  sixty- five  chains,  and  sixty-four  links,  and  this  at  a  point  eighty- 
one  miles  from  the  place  of  beginning.  Throughout  the  towns  that 
now  form  a  part  of  Yates  Count)'  the  line  was  shown  to  be  from  one 
and  one-half  to  two  and  one- half  miles  farther  west  than  it  should  have 
been.  This  survey  made  by  the  Ellicotts  and  others  also  demonstrated 
very  clearly  that  the  running  of  the  old  line  so  far  from  its  true  course 
was  the  result  of  fraud  and  not  an  error. 

This  discovery  worked  to  the  great  disadvantage  of  the  State  and  to 
the  owners  and  settlers,  who  had  by  that  time  taken  possession  of  their 
lands.  The  State  had  sold  and  granted  to  divers  individuals  all  the 
lands  lying  between  the  old  pre-emption  line  and  Seneca  Lake,  and 
many  of  the  purchasers  and  grantees  under  these  sales  were  in  posses- 
10 


74  HIS  TORY  OF  YA  TES  CO  UX  T  Y. 

sion.  Now  the  true  pre  emption  had  been  survejed  and  fixed,  and 
within  the  Phelps  and  Gorham  purchase,  as  by  that  survey  decided, 
were  found  the  lands  and  improvements  of  persons  holding  titles  from 
the  State.  Nothing  now  remained  to  be  done  on  the  part  of  the  State 
other  than  to  satisfy  the  claims  of  the  injured  parties.  In  many  cases 
Mr.  Williamson  confirmed  the  State  titles  and  received  compensation 
therefor  from  the  State  by  grants  of  lands  in  other  localities  from  the 
public  lands,  while  in  other  instances  the  governor  appeased  the  claim- 
ants by  grants  of  public  lands,  but  generally  was  compelled  to  give 
from  three  to  six  acres  for  each  one  possessed  b}'  the  person  found  to  be 
on  the  pre-emption  tract. 

The  principal  settlement  in  this  region  at  that  time  was  tlie  Friends 
colony  in  the  towns  of  Milo  and  Torrey  and  the  vicinity  generally. 
They  were  found  to  be  in  part  on  the  pre- emption  tract  and  in  part  on 
State  lands.  The  chapter  next  following  shows  how  they  became 
quieted  in  their  possession  through  the  generosity  of  Charles  Williamson. 

The  new  pre  emption  line  touched  the  waters  of  Seneca  Lake  at  a 
point  about  two  miles  north  of  tiie  village  of  Dresden,  and  continued  in 
the  lake  the  remainder  of  its  length.  The  result  of  the  survey  showed 
Geneva  to  be  wholly  within  the  Massachusetts  district  and  therefore  a 
part  of  the  Phelps  and  Gorham  purchase.  Neither  Phel))s,  Gorham,  or 
Robert  Morris  ever  realized  any  aiiditional  remuneration  on  account  of 
the  discovery,  but  whatever  of  advantage  or  profit  came  of  it  fell  to  the 
Pultney  association,  of  which  Charles  Williamson  was  active  agent. 

One  of  the  largest  tracts  of  land  that  was  brought  within  the  purchase 
after  running  the  new  line  was  the  16,000  acres  originally  granted  to 
Seth  Reed  and  Peter  Ryckman  in  consideration  of  services  performed 
by  them  in  acquiring  title  to  the  State  by  influencing  the  Indians  to  at- 
tentl  the  council.  Moreover  both  these  persons  were  members  of  the 
lessee  company  and  the  grant  was  in  part  made  to  quiet  and  satisfy  them. 

Charles  Williamson  claimed  of  the  State  on  behalf  of  his  principals 
compensation  for  the  total  amount  of  37,788  acres  of  land,  a  poition  of 
which  land  lay  within  the  county  of  Yates  as  afterward  established. 
One  parcel  was  a  320-acre  tract  reserved  by  treaty  to  Joseph  Poudre, 
and  which  was  in  the  towns  of  Seneca,  Ontario  County,  and  Benton, 
this  countj' ;  another  was  a  tract  of  2,600  acres  surveyed  to  William  J. 


LAND  GRANTS.  75 

Fredenburgh  in  the  towns  of  Torrey  and  Mile;  another  was  tlie  Lan- 
sing tract  of  2,466^  acres  also  in  Torrey  and  Milo;  one  of  400  acres 
surveyed  to  John  Quick  in  Starkey  ;  one  survey  of  1,500  acres  in  Milo 
certified  to  James  Walker;  the  Phillips  tract  in  Starkey  of  800  acres;  the 
tract  of  Samuel  Latta  containing  200  acres  in  Starkey;  the  Nathaniel 
Owen  tract  of  200  also  in  Starkey  ;  3,996  acres  surveyed  to  James  Wat- 
son in  Starkey;  600  acres  in  Starkey  surveyed  to  Lansing  and  DeWitt; 
and  3,600  acres  belonging  to  John  Carpenter  and  others,  1,000  acres  be- 
longing to  Charles  McKnight  and  others,  and  a  small  gore  of  463  acres, 
all  in  Starkey.  Other  particular  instances  might  be  cited,  but  they  are 
not  considered  as  having  any  importance  in  this  chapter.  The  remain- 
ing portion  of  the  land,  that  lying  between  the  new  pre-emption  line 
and  Seneca  Lake,  was  practically  undisturbed.  It  had  been  granted  by 
the  State  of  New  York  to  individuals  who  held  military  land  warrants 
or  to  others  to  stop  clamorous  tongues  among  the  lessee  companies. 

The  land  lying  between  the  old  and  new  lines  became  known  as  "the 
gore,"  and  by  that  name  it  has  ever  since  been  designated.  When  the 
towns  were  organized  as  parts  of  Ontario  County  the  unsurveyed  lands 
were  annexed  to  the  regular  towns  for  jurisdictional  purposes.  Starkey, 
however,  lying  in  a  great  and  separate  body,  became  a  part  of  Reading 
in  Schuyler  County,  and  was  organized  as  a  part  of  Yates  in  1824. 

Much  that  might  properly  come  within  the  province  of  this  chapter, 
particularly  that  which  relates  to  the  sale  and  disposition  of  the  several 
townships  now  forming  Yates  County,  is  omitted  from  the  present  nar- 
rative, but  will  be  found  in  the  chapters  devoted  to  township  history. 


HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


Jemima  Wilkinson,  the  Public  Universal  Friend  —  First  emissary  of  the  Friends 
Society  sent  to  explore  the  Genesee  Country  —  His  unfavorable  Report  — A  Commit- 
tee of  investigation  Chosen  —  The  life  of  The  Friend —  Her  sickness,  recovery,  and 
singular  Transformation — Her  Teachings  —  Friends  Society  Formed  —  Her  travels 
in  New  England  and  Pennsylvania  —  The  Friends  the  pioneers  in  Yates  County  — 
Founding  the  new  Jerusalem — Their  Trials  and  Hardships  —  First  wheat  Sown  — 
The  first  Mill  —  The  coming  of  The  Friend  —  Her  home  and  Meeting-house  —  A  dis- 
sension in  the  Society  —  Some  prominent  members  Withdraw — The  purchase  of  Jeru- 
salem Township  —  The  Friend's  Purchase  —  Her  removal  to  Jerusalem  —  Death  of 
Sarah  Richards  —  Troubles  following  her  Decease  —  A  serious  Litigation — Ultimate 
success  of  The  Friend's  Cause —  Death  of  The  Friend  —  Her  last  Will  and  Testa- 
ment—  False  prophets  enter  the  Society — Its  decline  and  Downfall  —  Members  of 
the  Society. 

AS  early  as  the  year  1786  Ezekiel  Sherman  made  a  visit  of  explor- 
ation and  investigation  to  the  region  of  the  then  called  Genesee 
country,  the  object  of  which  was  to  find  some  suitable  location  for  tl  e 
establishing  of  a  permanent  settlement  by  a  peculiar  sect  or  class  of 
persons,  the  devoted  followers  of  Jemima  Wilkinson.  At  that  early  day, 
however,  settlement  of  any  kind  in  this  region  was  attended  not  only 
with  great  hardship,  but  the  Indian  occupants  of  the  locality  were  not 
yet  fully  reconciled  to  the  singular  situation  in  which  they  found  them- 
selves on  account  of  the  disastrous  results  of  the  war  j'ust  closed  ;  nor 
were  these  savage  descendants  of  the  once  powerful  Iroquois  at  all  dis- 
posed to  readil\-  submit  to  the  invasion  of  their  much  loved  hunting  and 
fishing  region  by  any  white  people,  no  matter  how  peaceable  may  have 
been  the  settlement  or  how  worthy  may  have  been  the  object  of  the 
colonists. 

Finding  the  country  not  ripe  for  occupation  Mr.  Sherman  returned 
to  the  place  whence  he  came  and  reported  to  the  society  the  results 
of  his  investigation.  But  far  from  being  dismayed  by  the  unfavorable 
representations  of  their  emissary  the  society  determined  to  send  a 
committee  of  three  persons  to  make  a  further  investigation  of  the  con- 
dition and  situation  of  the  new  countr)-  and  if  possible  to  fix  upon  a 
favorable  tract  for  their  future  occupancy  and  habitation. 


JEMIMA    WILKINSON.  77 

Jemima  Wilkinson,  as  siie  was  originally  named,  or  tlie  Universal 
Friend,  as  she  styled  herself  after  her  somewhat  remarkable  transforma- 
tion from  the  material  to  the  spiritual  being,  was  the  founder  and  tlie 
conscientious  leader  of  the  sect  or  society  just  referred  to.  She  was 
not,  neither  were  her  followers,  religionists  of  the  order  common!)' 
termed  enthusiasts  or  fanatics,  nor  were  they  in  any  sense  the  followers 
of  a  false  doctrine.  On  the  contrary  the  people  who  allied  themselves  to 
the  Friend  were  earnest,  honest,  upright  men  and  women,  and  among  her 
followers  were  numbered  many  persons  who  are  remembered  as  having 
been  among  the  foremost  men  of  the  region  that  was  afterward  erected 
into  the  county  of  Yates,  and  whose  descendants  many  of  them  still 
occupy  the  soil  of  the  county  and  are  among  the  progressivecitizensof  the 
present  time  ;  and  although  the  society  has  been  for  many  years  extinct, 
and  memory  of  it  lives  only  in  historical  records,  still  no  intelligent 
speaker  has  given  voice  to  sentiments  other  than  of  praise  for  the 
society  and  admiration  for  its  most  zealous  founder  and  head. 

The  name  of  Jemima  Wilkinson  is  known  in  almost  every  house- 
hold in  the  county,  and  the  story  of  her  life  has  been  published  many 
times  and  told  by  parent  to  child  through  all  the  generations  of  people 
from  the  coming  of  her  society  and  self  to  this  locality  to  the  present. 
Nothing  untold  can  now  be  said  of  her,  yet  any  work  of  the  historian 
that  purports  to  treat  of  this  region  of  the  State  would  indeed  be  in- 
complete without  at  least  a  passing  allusion  to  The  Friend  and  her  faith- 
ful people.  Jemima  Wilkinson  was  born  in  the  town  of  Cumberland, 
Providence  County,  R.  I.,  in  1758,  and  was  the  daughter  of  Jeremiah 
and  Amy  (Whipple)  Wilkinson.  Of  their  twelve  children  Jemima  was 
the  eighth  and  the  only  one  of  them  that  attained  any  special  celebrity 
or  prominence.  The  young  life  of  this  child  was  not  unlike  that  of 
others  of  her  condition  and  situation,  nor  is  it  understood  tliat  she  pos- 
sessed peculiar  traits  that  marked  her  in  contrast  with  others  of  her 
time.  She  lived  at  a  time  wiien  it  was  not  an  uncommon  thing  for 
numbers  of  people  to  separate  themselves  from  established  churches  or 
sects  and  set  up  a  new  stantiard  of  religious  discipline  or  worship  ;  and 
while  it  is  known  that  Jemima  was  brought  under  the  influence  of  one 
of  these  departures  it  is  not  believed  that  she  was  led  by  it.  However 
during  her  young  womanhood  she   underwent   a   remarkable  and  most 


78  HIS  TOR  V  OF   i  \4  TES  CO  UN  T  V. 

singular  change.  In  the  summer  of  1776,  then  being  eighteen  years 
old,  she  fell  sick  and  of  her  disease  none  of  the  medical  men  of  the 
time  were  able  to  comprehend,  except  that  it  was  diagnosed  as  one  of 
the  ailments  of  the  nervous  system  and  not  of  the  physical,  for  she  ap- 
peared to  suffer  no  pain.  At  last  she  wasted  in  bodily  strength  and 
friends  despaired  of  her  life  ;  but  during  her  illness  Jemima  constantly 
told  them  of  her  strange  visions,  beautiful  in  her  eyes,  which  to  those 
around  her  were  evidences  of  an  approaching  end  and  the  iiallucinations 
of  a  bewildered  brain.  Gradually  she  became  more  weak  in  strength  as 
her  illness  continued,  when  finally,  in  October,  she  appeared  to  fall  into 
a  trance  state  and  appeared  almost  lifeless  for  a  space  of  about  thirtj'- 
six  hours.  To  the  great  surprise  of  her  family  she  suddenly  aroused 
herself,  called  for  her  garments,  dressed,  and  walked  among  the  assem- 
bled members  of  the  household,  though  frail  and  wasted  with  her  long 
prostration.  From  this  time  forth  she  disclaimed  being  Jemima  Wilkin- 
son, but  asserted  that  the  former  individuality  had  passed  away  and  that 
she  was  another  being,  a  minister  of  the  Almighty  sent  to  preach  his 
gospel  and  to  minister  to  the  spiritual  necessities  of  mankind.  She  took 
to  herself  the  name  of  the  Universal  Friend,  or  the  Public  Universal 
Friend,  and  would  recognize  no  other  names  even  to  the  end  of  her  life, 
although  to  her  followers  she  was  commonly  known  as  "  Tiie  Friend." 
The  first  public  appearance  of  Jemima  in  her  new  character  was  made 
on  the  Sunday  next  following  her  rising  from  the  bed  of  sickness,  and 
on  the  day  alluded  to  she  attended  worship  and  after  the  services  were 
ended  repaired  to  a  grove  of  trees,  where  she  delivered  a  discourse  of 
some  length.  In  the  course  of  her  remarks  she  displayed  a  surprising 
familiarity  with  scripture  passages  and  astonished  her  hearers  with  the 
peculiar  force  of  her  delivery.  From  this  time  forward  she  preached 
frequently,  and  her  audiences  were  comprised  of  persons  of  full  mental 
power;  not  a  band  of  religious  discontents  nor  a  party  looking  for  a 
Moses  to  lead  them  out  of  a  darkness,  but  rather  men  of  worth,  stand- 
ing, influence,  and  wealth,  who  with  their  families  were  impressed  with 
the  truth  of  the  teachings  of  Jemima  Wilkinson,  although  she  at  that 
time  was  scarcely  more  than  a  girl,  being  but  about  eighteen  years  of 
age.  The  Friend  traveled  about  from  place  to  place,  visiting  and 
preaching   in    Rhode   Island,  Connecticut,   and    Massachusetts,    and   in 


THE  FRIEXD'S  SETTLEMENT.  yc, 

many  localities  houses  of  worship  were  erected  by  her  converted  follow- 
ers. During  the  summer  of  1782  she  went  to  Pennsylvania,  to  the 
neighborhood  of  Philadelphia,  accompanied  by  a  small  party  of  her  ad 
hcrents,  and  there  she  received  a  friendly  welcome  from  the  Quaker  ele- 
ment of  the  region.  She  preached  and  labored  among  them  for  some 
time,  with  the  result  that  many  new  converts  were  gathered  around  her 
standard.  Between  this  field  and  that  of  her  former  labors  her  minis- 
trations were  divided  until  the  year  1790,  when  she  made  the  pilgrimage 
to  the  new  Jerusalem  in  what  afterward  became  the  town  of  Torrey  in 
the  county  of  Yates.  To  establish  a  community  home  in  some  new 
region  of  the  land  was  the  cherished  desire  of  The  Friend,  and  it  was 
for  this  purpose  that  Ezekiel  Sherman  was  authorized  to  visit  the 
Genesee  country  in  1786,  reference  to  which  was  made  in  a  preceding 
portion  of  this  chapter. 

Notwithstanding  the  unfavorable  character  of  the  report  of  Ezekiel 
Sherman  the  new  societ\'  determined  upon  a  still  further  investigation, 
and  if  possible  to  plant  their  colony  in  this  section  of  the  country.  To 
this  end  Thomas  Hathaway,  Richard  Smith,  and  Abraham  Dayton 
were  constituted  a  committee  to  represent  the  society  and  in  1787  set 
out  upon  their  journey.  They  first  explored  some  portions  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, particularly'  in  the  Wyoming  Valley,  but  at  last  struck  upon  tlie 
trail  made  b)'  General  Sullivan's  army  of  some  years  before,  and  this 
led  them  to  and  along  the  shores  of  Seneca  Lake.  After  visiting  Kan- 
andesaga,  now  Geneva,  they  came  down  the  west  side  of  the  lake  to 
Kashong,  now  in  Benton,  Yates  County,  and  at  the  latter  place  fell  in 
with  two  Frenchmen  who  were  trading  among  the  Indians,  and  who 
were  respectively  named  De  Bartzch  and  Poudre.  By  the  traders  the 
committee  was  informed  that  the  region  about  them  was  unsurpassed 
for  purposes  of  settlement  and  cultivation  ;  and  in  this  opinion  the 
worthy  commissioners  appear  to  have  agreed,  for  they  decided  to  make 
a  favorable  report  of  the  locality,  but  to  leave  tlie  e.xact  situation  of  the 
colony  to  the  discretion  of  whoever  of  tlie  society  should  first  come  to 
make  a  home. 

The  first  settlement  by  members  of  the  society  was  made  during  the 
latter  part  of  the  sunmier  of  1788,  and  the  pioneers  to  whom  belonged 
the  honor  of  that  event  were  Abel  Botsford,  Peleg  Briggs,  John  Briggs, 


8o  HIS  TORY  OF   VA  TES  CO  UN  T  ] '. 

Isaac  Nichols,  George  Sisson,  Ezekiel  Sherman,  Stephen  Card,  and 
others  to  the  number  of  twenty-five  persons.  The  descendants  of  a 
number  of  these  heads  of  families  are  still  residents  of  the  county,  re- 
siding in  various  towns.  This  party  of  pioneers  proceeded  along  up 
Seneca  Lake  until  their  attention  was  attracted  by  the  noise  of  falling 
waters.  This  indicated  to  them  a  desirable  site  for  a  mill  and  to  the 
spot  their  steps  were  directed.  This  was  in  August,  1788,  and  the 
exact  point  of  location  was  on  the  outlet  of  Keuka  Lake  not  far  distant 
from  the  place  where  it  discharges  into  Seneca  Lake,  at  the  location 
which  has  ever  since  been  known  as  City  Hill.  Not  only  was  the  first 
permanent  white  settlement  effected  at  that  time,  but  the  sturdy  pio- 
neers of  the  party  at  once  cleared  the  land  and  sowed  about  twelve 
acres  of  wheat,  the  first  event  of  its  kind  in  the  State  west  of  Seneca 
Lake. 

During  the  year  1789  the  little  colony  on  the  lake  received  large 
accessions  in  numbers,  and  even  their  faithful  and  devoted  leader  her- 
self attempted  the  overland  journey  to  the  new  country  in  the  same 
year,  but  an  unfortunate  accident  that  nearly  proved  fatal  in  its  results 
changed  her  determination,  and  she  returned  again  to  her  home  near 
Philadelphia.  However  The  Friend  sent  her  trusted  companion  and 
earnest  co-worker,  Sarah  Richards,  to  the  settlement  at  new  Jerusalem 
to  investigate  its  condition  and  its  people  and  report  to  the  leader  on 
her  return.  But  it  appears  that  Sarah  was  not  pleased  at  all  she  saw 
among  the  colonists,  upon  which  she  upbraided  them  in  an  earnest 
lecture.  After  a  brief  sojourn  Sarali  returned  to  The  Friend  and  did  not 
visit  the  settlement  again  until  1791. 

The  year  1789  was  marked  with  many  trials  and  hardships  for  the 
pioneers  of  the  new  country.  Mills  they  had  not,  neither  provisions, 
and  many  were  threatened  with  starvation.  To  grind  their  corn  a  stump 
was  hollowed  out,  and  with  a  stone  or  mallet  the  corn  was  pounded 
sufficiently  to  call  coarse  meal ;  but  the  supply  of  this  conmiodity  was 
exceedingly  scarce  and  many  families  were  compelled  to  subsist  on 
nettles  and  milk  and  the  meat  of  such  animals  as  the  forest  aft'orded. 
But  after  the  first  year  the  fertile  soil  of  the  locality  returned  an  abun- 
dant harvest,  and  from  that  time  forward  no  family  suftered  for  the 
necessaries  of  life  ;  for  luxuries  they  sought  not,  for  such   was  not   the 


THE  FRIEXD'S  SETTLEMENT.  8i 

cliaracter  of  the  followers  of  the  Universal  Friend.  The  distinguished 
patron  and  founder  of  the  society  became  a  dweller  among  its  members 
during  the  year  1790,  she  having  left  Worcester,  Pa.,  in  March  and 
completing  the  journey  in  about  two  weeks.  In  the  same  year,  and 
after  The  Friend's  arrival,  the  society  erected  a  log  meeting-house  and 
also  a  house  of  abode  for  its  leader.  The  former  stood  on  the  road 
leading  from  Norris  Landing  to  the  mill,  near  what  has  been  more 
lately  called  the  James  M.  Clark  residence  ;  The  Friend's  house  stood 
on  vvhat  is  yet  called  the  Townsend  farm,  and  although  nuich  worn  by 
the  storms  of  a  century  is  still  standing,  itself  a  monument  to  its  singu- 
lar and  almost  incomprehensible  founder.  The  dwelling  of  The  Friend 
was  built  by  Elijah  Malin  and  the  means  for  its  erection  were  furnished 
mainly  by  Anna  VVagener,  both  of  which  persons  were  devout  believers 
in  the  teachings  of  The  Friend. 

So  far  as  this  narrative  has  progressed  there  has  nowhere  been  made 
mention  of  any  fact  tending  to  show  by  what  means  the  Society  of 
Friends  became  possessed  of  the  land  upon  which  their  first  settlement 
was  made.  In  a  general  way  it  was  known  to  the  society  that  the  re- 
gion was  a  part  of  the  Massachusetts  pre-emption  territory  subject  to 
the  right  of  jurisdiction  reserved  to  the  State  of  New  York;  and 
although  a  latent  fact  it  was  nevertheless  true  that  certain  of  the  follow- 
ers and  adherents  of  The  F"riend  were  members  of  the  somewhat  noted 
lessee  company,  and  through  that  channel  and  the  influence  of  these 
members  in  the  company  the  settlement  was  permitted  and  effected 
without  the  formality  of  negotiations  and  purchase.  It  was  assimied, 
too,  that  the  entire  settlement  was  on  the  pre-emption  tract,  although 
in  fact  when  the  line  had  become  determined  it  was  found  to  be  on  both 
sides  of  the  same.  This  discovery  together  with  the  subsequent  run- 
ning of  the  new  pre-emption  line  led  to  certain  complications,  but  which 
were  afterward  satisfactorily  adjusted.  But  the  reader  will  inquire  how 
was  it  that  Ezekiel  Sherman  made  such  an  unfavorable  report  regard- 
ing the  hostile  attitude  of  the  Indians,  and  yet  within  a  year  or  two 
afterward  so  large  a  settlement  was  permitted  by  them  to  be  made 
without  any  interruption  on  their  part?  In  this  connection  it  may  be 
said  that  at  this  time  the  Six  Nations  had  concluded  their  sale  to  Phelps 
and  Gorham,  but  they  still  lingered  about  their  favorite  camps  hunting 
11 


82  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

and  fishing,  as  if  reluctant  to  yield  up  possession  thej'  had  so  long  and 
so  peaceably  held.  Moreover  they  were  at  almost  open  enmity  with 
all  white  settlers  and  retired  before  the  onward  march  of  civilization 
with  feelings  of  hatred  for  their  late  conquerers.  Occasionally  there 
would  be  an  outbreak,  but  the  savages  made  no  demonstration  against 
the  Friends  settlement,  although  it  was  the  first  in  the  region  west  of 
Seneca  Lake.  In  truth  it  appears  that  the  Senecas  stood  in  wondrous 
awe  of  the  strange  people  inhabiting  the  new  Jerusalem.  The  Public 
Universal  Friend  not  only  held  her  own  community  of  people  in  a  com- 
mon bond  of  religious  strength  and  union,  but  as  well  did  her  influence 
extend  over  the  savage  and  warlike  Senecas,  and  by  them  she  was 
looked  upon  as  something  more  than  and  totally  unlike  the  average 
woman.  She  preached  to  them  on  various  occasions,  and  her  words 
being  interpreted  fell  as  seed  sown  upon  good  ground,  for  they  showed 
to  her  and  her  followers  invariable  respect  and  refrained  from  any 
unfriendly  demonstrations  against  the  infant  settlement.  Not  only 
that,  but  occasions  are  not  wanting  on  which  the  Indians  furnished  The 
Friend  with  bountiful  supplies  of  game  and  other  necessaries  and  com- 
forts of  life.  On  the  other  hand  The  Friend  and  her  people  always 
treated  the  Indians  in  a  most  friendly  manner,  offering  them  no  affront 
and  denying  them  no  unreasonable  request.  They  therefore  became 
friends.  In  1791,  when  the  Senecas  were  on  their  way  to  the  treaty 
grounds  at  Newtown  (Elmira),  a  body  of  them  to  the  number  of  about 
500  camped  at  Norris  Landing.  Among  them  were  Cornplanter,  Red 
Jacket,  Good  Peter,  Rev.  Mr.  Kirkland,  Horatio  Jones,  Jasper  Parish, 
the  latter  being  interpreters.  On  this  occasion  The  Friend  preached  to 
the  Indians  and  was  received  by  them  with  much  favor.  On  a  still  later 
occasion,  in  1794,  at  Canandaigua,  at  the  final  treaty  The  Friend  also 
addressed  the  Indians,  usnig  this  te.vt  for  the  subject  of  her  remarks: 
"  Have  we  not  all  one  heather  ?  Hath  not  one  God  created  us  all  ?  "  For 
this  and  other  similar  appearances  she  was  called  by  the  \xo<\no\'s>  Squaw 
Shiii-ne-waw-iia-gis-tawgc,  meaning  "A  great  woman  Preacher." 

In  1788  the  so-called  "old  pre-emption  line"  was  surveyed  and  run, 
Init  the  Friends  had  not  more  than  an  indefinite  idea  of  its  e.xact  loca- 
tion. They  of  course  desired  to  possess  the  land  in  fee  simple,  for  which 
purpose   they  addressed  an    application    to  George   Clinton,  governor 


MEASURES  TAKEN  TO  POSSESS  THE  LAND.  S3 

of  New  York,  believing  themselves  to  be  on  the  State  lands,  reqiieslint,' 
that  they  be  allowed  to  make  purchase.  The  governor  directed  tlitni 
to  attend  the  land  sale  at  Albany,  which  was  done  with  the  result  of  a 
purchase  of  a  tract  embracing  14,040  acres,  the  certificate  of  title  being 
given  to  James  Parker,  William  Potter,  and  Thomas  Hathaway  and  their 
associates  as  tenants  in  common,  they  representing  and  acting  for  the 
society.  The  certificate  of  sale  was  dated  October  10,  1792,  but  the  con- 
sideration has  been  variously  expiessed  by  standard  writers.  Turner  in 
his  history  of  the  land  titles  in  general,  and  the  Phelps  and  Gorham  pur- 
chase in  particular,  says  the  purchase  price  was  "a  little  less  than  2s.  per 
acre,"  while  Cleveland  states  that  no  consideration  was  expressed,  "ex- 
cept the  requirement  that  there  shall  within  seven  years  be  one  family 
located  on  each  640  acres."  The  latter  statement  would  appear  to  be  the 
more  reasonable,  for  had  the  State  granted  or  sold  the  tract  for  actual  and 
substantial  consideration  money  restitution  would  necessarily  have  been 
required  by  the  grantees  \\hen  it  was  discovered  that  the  pre-emption 
line  rightly  run  brought  a  considerable  portion  of  their  lands  on  the 
pre-emption  tract.  This  proved  the  case.  The  new  line  was  run  in 
1 79 1  and  passed  through  the  Friends  settlement  more  than  a  mile 
eastward  of  the  old  line,  showing  that  their  location  was  in  part  on  the 
Phelps  and  Gorham  tract  proper.  But  at  this  time  Phelps  and  Gorham 
had  passed  their  title  to  Robert  Morris,  and  by  the  latter  it  was  sold  to 
the  London  Association,  the  agent  of  the  latter  being  Charles  Will- 
iamson. This  unfortunate  condition  of  affairs  left  those  of  the  societv 
no  resource  other  than  to  seek  a  confirmation  of  their  title  from  the 
agent  of  the  association.  The  nimiber  of  settlers  on  the  gore,  as  it  was 
called,  in  the  Friends  settlement  was  twent\-three  and  they  addressed 
themselves  to  Mr.  Williamson  as  follows: 

"Jerusalem,  13th  of  the  ist  Month,  1794. 

"  Friend  Williamson :  We  take  this  opportunity  to  let  thee  know  our  wishes,  who 
are  now  on  thy  land  at  the  Friends  Settlement,  in  Jerusalem,  in  the  county  of  Ontario, 
and  in  the  State  of  New  York.  We.  the  subscribers,  wish  to  take  deeds  from  friend 
Williamson  for  the  land  our  improvements  is  on.  rather  than  any  other  person.  Our 
desire  is  that  thee  would  not  dispose  of  the  land  to  any  other  person  l)ut  to  us  who  are 
on  the  land. 

"  Benajah  Botsford,  Eleazer  Ingraham,  Solomon  Ingraham,  Richard  Smith,  Abel 
Botsford,  Enoch   Malin.  William   Davis,  John   Brij;gs,  EInalhan  Botsford,  Daniel   In- 


84  HIS  TOR  y  OF  YA  TES  CO  UXTY. 

graham.  Richard  Mathews,  Iilnathan  Botsford,  jr..  Asahel  Stone,  Samuel  Dooliltle, 
John  Davis,  Benedict  Robinson,  Philo  Ingraham.  Samuel  Parsons,  Jonathan  Davis^ 
Elijah  Malin,  Thomas  Hathaway,  Mercy  Aldrich,  Elisha  Ingraham." 

Charles  Williamson,  the  representative  of  the  London  Association, 
to  whom  tlie  above  petition  was  addressed,  showed  to  the  petitioners  the 
greatest  consideration,  treated  them  not  only  with  fairness  but  with  great 
liberality,  and  confirmed  to  them  in  the  name  of  his  principals  the  title 
to  their  lands  agreeable  to  their  request. 

From  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  Society  of  F"riends  in  1776 
down  to  the  closing  years  of  the  eighteenth  century  there  appears  to 
have  been  no  serious  interference  with  its  prosperity  and  progress.  Its 
numbers  were  comprised  of  persons  and  families  who  had  heard  the 
early  teachings  of  its  remarkable  leader  and  were  brought  to  this  lo- 
cality from  the  States  of  Rhode  Island,  Massachusetts,  Connecticut,  and 
Pennsylvania.  Many  of  them  were  strangers  to  one  another  before 
coming  to  the  new  Jerusalem,  but  when  arrived  there  became  united 
by  tlie  fraternal  bonds  of  love,  and  faith,  and  hope,  and  all  were  devotees 
of  their  leader,  The  Friend,  originally  Jemima  Wilkinson.  Their  lands 
anil  estates  were  held  in  common,  and  while  each  family  lived  upon  that 
set  apart  to  it  the  whole  belonged  to  the  society,  according  to  the  cus- 
tom that  prevailed  in  the  bodj-.  In  the  societj'  James  Parker  was  per- 
haps the  most  influential  and  wealthy  member,  whose  tract  embraced 
a  thousand  acres  and  on  which  in  parcels  dwelt  and  labored  himself, 
his  son,  and  his  sons-in-law.  But  during  the  latter  part  of  the  century 
referred  to  above  Mr.  Parker  became  for  some  unknown  reason  dissat- 
i-ficd  with  the  workings  of  the  society,  or  with  the  strict  and  rigorous 
demands  of  The  Friend  herself,  and  withdrew  himself  from  its  member- 
ship and  any  and  all  allegiance  to  it.  The  rupture  was  sudden,  but  none 
the  less  effectual,  and  there  proved  to  be  a  permanent  alienation  of  affec- 
tion between  him  and  The  F'riend.  Almost  at  the  same  time  William  Pot- 
ter, another  leading  member  of  the  society,  withdrew  himself  from  his 
former  connection  in  the  bod)',  and  from  that  time  dated  the  decline  of 
power  and  influence,  not  only  of  The  Friend,  but  as  well  the  society  of 
w  hich  she  was  founder  and  leader — its  acknowledged  head.  Then  fol- 
lowed a  long  litigation  growing  out  of  the  question  of  title  to  parts  of 
The  Fiiend's  tract,  in  which  suit  William  Potter  w;is  plaintiff  and  George 


VICISSITUDES  OF  THE  SOCIETY.  85 

Sibson  defendant,  with  determination  in  favor  of  the  plaintiff  and  against 
the  defendant,  and  therefore  adverse  to  The  p-riend's  interest.  The 
opinion  of  the  court  pointed  out  a  means  by  which  The  Friend's  cause 
might  find  reHef  in  equity,  but  in  resorting  to  proceedings  fell  into  the 
hands  of  an  unscrupulous  lawyer,  who  cheated  his  clients  of  a  large  re- 
taining fee.  Directly  the  losses  in  defending  and  prosecuting  the  .sev- 
eral suits  fell  upon  individuals  of  the  society,  but  indirectly  they  came 
upon  tlie  society  at  large  and  had  much  to  do  with  The  Friend's  ulti- 
mate change  of  residence  from  the  Seneca  Lake  region  to  the  more 
remote  and  less  desirable  final  abode  in  Jerusalem,  a  town  so  named  in 
recognition  of  her  presence  within  its  border. 

But  even  before  changing  her  dwelling  place  from  the  original  site 
The  Friend  had  in  mind  the  thought  of  departing  from  the  communitv 
and  making  her  home  in  some  remote  locality,  away  from  the  dissentients 
who  were  the  cause  of  so  great  trouble.  To  this  end  Abraham  Dayton, 
a  faithful  servator  of  The  Friend,  was  sent  to  Canada  to  negotiate  with 
Governor  Simcoe  for  a  grant  of  a  tract  of  land  upon  which  she  and  her 
still  devoted  adherents  could  abide  in  peace.  Friend  Dayton  succeeded 
in  securing  a  grant  of  the  township  of  Beauford,  Canada  West,  but 
when  the  society  were  making  preparations  to  emigrate  to  the  region 
the  governor  annulled  the  charter  on  the  ground  that  the  same  was 
made  under  the  mistaken  impression  that  the  members  of  the  society 
were  Quakers,  for  whom  he  had  great  respect,  but  on  learning  the  pre- 
cise nature  or  character  of  the  society  deemed  it  expedient  to  revoke 
the  grant  already  made.  However  he  renewed  the  same  to  Mr.  Day- 
ton, who  moved  his  family  and  propert)-  to  the  township  and  lived  there 
during  the  remainder  of  his  life. 

On  September  2,  1790,  Thomas  Hathaway  and  Benedict  Robinson 
became  the  owners  of  township  number  seven  in  the  second  ranL;e  by 
purchase  from  Phelps  and  Gorham.  In  extent  the  purchase  embraced 
thirty-si.x  square  miles  and  the  consideration  paid  therefor  was  $4,320. 
Both  Hathaway  and  Robinson  were  members  of  the  societj',  and  it  is 
believed  the  purchase  was  made  with  the  advice  and  sanction  of  The 
Friend  and  upon  its  territory  she  designed  at  some  time  to  establish  her 
permanent  home.  At  all  events  such  was  the  intention  of  Benedict  Rob- 
inson at  least,  as  might   readily  be  inferred  from  a  letter  addressed  by 


86  HIS  TORY  OF  YA  TES  COUNT  Y. 

him  to  Sarah  Richards,  the  nearest  companion  and  faithful  counselor  of 
The  Friend.  In  January,  1 792,  Robinson  conveyed  to  Sarah  Richards  on 
behalf  of  The  Friend  and  in  trust  for  her  four  whole  lots  and  halves  of 
two  others,  containinj^  1,400  acres  of  land,  Thomas  Hathaway  having 
previously  sold  his  interest  in  these  lots  to  Robinson.  By  conveyances 
subsequently  executed  The  Friend  became  possessed  of  a  large  tract  of 
land  in  this  township,  amounting  in  the  aggregate  to  4,480  acres.  On 
this  tract  in  1791  The  Friend,  accompanied  by  Sarah  Richards,  made  the 
selection  of  a  site  for  her  permanent  home,  visiting  the  land  in  person. 
The  work  of  improving  and  clearing  the  land,  cutting  roads,  and  erect- 
ing such  houses  and  buildings  <'is  were  necessary  was  at  once  com- 
menced and  prosecuted  under  the  immediate  supervision  of  Sarah 
Richards,  but  it  was  not  until  the  spring  of  1794  that  The  F"riend  and 
the  members  of  her  household  moved  to  the  place.  The  locality  of  her 
domicile  was  called  '"Brook  Kedron,"  a  name  applied  by  Thomas  Hath- 
away. However  the  trusted  Sarah  Richards  did  not  live  to  witness  the 
completion  of  her  task,  she  dying  during  the  latter  part  of  1793.  By 
her  will  she  bequeathed  her  trust  to  Rachel  Malin,  and  by  the  same 
means  devised  her  property  and  estate  to  the  same  person.  To  her 
daughter,  Eliza  Richards,  she  gave  only  a  small  property  in  Connecti- 
cut and  entrusted  her  future  to  the  generous  care  of  The  Friend. 
Eliza,  however,  proved  recreant  to  The  Friend's  teachings  ;  she  escaped 
one  night  from  The  Friend's  house  and  was  married  to  Enoch  Malin. 

This  couple,  Enoch  and  Eliza  Malin,  afterward  became  the  cause  of 
much  trouble  to  The  Friend  and  involved  her  and  her  estate  in  a  long 
and  bitter  litigation  It  will  be  remembered  that  The  Friend  in  making 
purchases  of  land  seldom  entered  in  person  into  the  negotiations,  and 
never  took  title  to  henself  in  her  own  name,  but  rather  the  conveyances 
were  executed  to  her  prime  minister,  Sarah  Richards,  in  trust  for  The 
F'riend  either  expressed  or  implied.  By  the  extensive  purchases  of 
land  in  JerusalemSarah  became  possessed  of  the  fee,  while  the  equitable 
title  was  in  The  Friend  ;  but  Enoch  and  Eliza  were  not  so  disposed  to 
regard  it,  for  Eliza,  as  the  child  and  natural  heir  of  Sarah,  contended 
that  a  part  at  least  of  The  Friend's  estate,  so  called,  was  wholly  the 
property  of  her  mother,  and  acting  on  this  assumption  conveyed  away 
portions  of  it  to  sundry  persons.      Finally,  in    181 1,  Rachel  Malin,  the 


THE  FRIEND  S  HOUSES.  87 

successor  to  Sarah  Richards,  brouglit  suit  in  equity  against  Enoch  and 
Eliza  Malin,  and  others  claiming  to  hold  title  under  them.  The  case  was 
not  finally  determined  until  1828,  and  resulted  in  a  final  decree  sustain- 
ing the  trust  relation  in  Sarah  Richards  and  by  her  passed  to  Rachel 
Malin,  thus  upholding  both  the  legal  and  equitable  titles  in  The  Friend. 
But  before  this  litigation  was  ended  both  the  original  parties,  Enoch  and 
Eliza  Malin  and  The  Friend  herself,  were  dead  and  buried.  The  death 
of  The  Friend  occurred  on  July  i,   18 19. 

The  first  house  of  The  Friend  in  Jerusalem,  that  commenced  under 
the  direction  of  the  ever  faithful  Sarah  Richards,  was  first  occupied  by 
The  Friend  in  1794.      It  was  built  in  three  sections,  two  of  them  being 
wholly  of  logs  and  a  single  story  in  height,  while  the  third  was  of  logs 
covered  with  clapboards,  a  building  of  presentable  appearance  and  two 
stories  high.      One  of  the  log  sections  was  used  as  a  meeting-house  by 
the  society  and  was  otherwise  utilized  as  a  school- room.    The  first  teacher 
appears  to  have  been   Sarah  Richards,  followed  by  Ruth  Prichard  and 
John  Briggs.     This  substantial   structure  was  the  abiding  place  of  The 
Friend  and  her  family  until  the  year  18 14.      Before  that  year,  however, 
Thomas  Clark  commenced  the  erection  of  a  more  desirable  house  de- 
signed for  the  use  of  the  distinguished  leader  of  the  society.      His  work- 
was  begun  in  1 809,  but  not  before  18 14  was  it  sufficiently  complete  to 
receive  its  tenant.      The   building  was  two  and   one  half  stories  high, 
having  large  rooms  with  high  ceilings,  and  was  exceedingly  well  ven- 
tilated and  lighted.      F"or  its  time  this  was  one  of  the  most  pretentious 
dwellings  of  the  region  and  was  the  home  of  The  Friend  from  18 14  to 
1 8 19,  in  the  latter  of  which  years  she  died.      But  notwithstanding  the 
demise  of  The  Friend  the  home  was  occupied  by  her  successors  as  long 
as  the  society  continued  in  existence  and   after  its  extinction  was  put 
to    such    use   as   was    required   by    its   subsequent  owners;   and   it  still 
stands,  showing  somewhat  the    marks  of  time  and   the  wearing  of  the 
elements.      F'or  the  locality,  even  to   the  present  gcneiation  of  people, 
there  has  been  ever  slio«  n  a   feeling  of  respect,  for  the  final   house  of 
The  Friend  is  the  only  substantial  monument  ever  erected  to  her  mem- 
ory.     Indeed  for  a  time  it  covered  her  remains,  her  body  having   been 
deposited   in  a  strong  vault  built  in  the  cellar  and  securely  walled  in. 
After  some  years  it  was  removed  to  a  more  suitable  place  of  burial  and 


88  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

laid  beside  the  graves  of  those  who  had  been  followers  of  Tiie  Friiiiid. 
But  the  necessities  of  later  generations  of  occupants  of  the  soil  requirtd 
these  lands  for  agricultural  uses,  and  the  body  was  disinterred  and  re- 
moved for  permanent  burial  to  the  cemetery  at  Penn  Yan. 

Because  of  the  persecutions  of  The  Friend  by  those  who  had  been  her 
former  followers  and  adherents  she  felt  it  incumbent  upon  herself  to 
remove  from  her  first  established  home  at  the  new  Jerusalem  to  the 
remote  locality  in  which  her  remaining  life  was  spent.  At  the  time  or 
soon  after  the  first  of  her  society  came  to  the  Seneca  country  the  region 
was  given  the  name  of  new  Jerusalem,  and  that  name  applied  to  the 
region  inhabited  by  members  of  the  society  and  was  not  a  township  so 
named,  as  has  been  erroneously  supposed.  But  when  The  Friend  had 
moved  to  her  last  abode  the  name  Jerusalem  had  already  been  given  the 
township.  In  1789  Thomas  Hathaway  and  Benedict  Robinson  made  the 
purchase  of  the  towtiship,  and  in  the  same  year  it  was  duly  organized 
and  named.  Very  appropriately  it  was  called  Jerusalem,  for  it  was  then 
intended  to  become  the  permanent  home  of  The  F"riend.  To  her  and 
those  of  the  society  who  held  firmly  to  its  tenets  it  was  indeed  a  Jeru- 
salem, for  in  absolute  control  of  all  its  lands  they  were  safe  from  intru- 
sion by  those  who  sought  to  destro)-  the  power  and  influence  of  both 
society  and  leader.  Yox  a  time  only  can  it  be  said  that  The  F"riend  and 
her  following  were  so  exempted  from  wordly  troubles,  for  with  the  death 
of  Sarah  Richards,  and  the  sale  of  portions  of  The  Friend's  estate  by 
Enoch  and  Eliza  Malin,  there  were  ever  afterward  many  vaxations  and 
complications  that  disturbed  the  quiet  community  even  until  after  The 
Friend  had  died  and  until  the  society  itself  was  dissolved. 

With  the  removal  of  The  Friend  to  her  new  home  in  Jerusalem  there 
went  at  the  same  time  or  soon  afterward  a  fair  proportion  of  her  followers. 
Some  of  these  bought  lands  for  themselves,  but  many  were  given  loca- 
tions on  The  Friend's  tract,  which  was  quite  extensive,  and  which  was 
so  intended  to  be  for  the  accommodation  of  those  who  sought  to  be  near 
her  and  were  not  able  to  purchase.  Still  The  Friend  retained  a  consid- 
erable tract  of  land  in  the  original  location  on  the  lake,  some  300 
acres ;  and  although  residing  some  twelve  miles  distant  from  the 
scene  of  former  labors  she  occasionally  visited  the  old  settlement  and 
preached  to  those  who  still   lived  in   the  locality.      In   travelii'g  to  and 


THE  FRIEXD'S  CARRIAGE.  89 

from  lier  lionie  and  the  old  place  The  Friend  would  sometimes  ride  a 
horse,  but  as  years  advanced  she  betook  herself  to  a  three-seated 
vehicle,  of  almost  ancient  construction,  as  the  most  convenient  and  easy 
means  of  making  the  journey.  In  this  old  carriage,  it  is  said  on  reliable 
authority.  The  F"riend  traveled  from  her  home  near  Philadelphia  to  the 
new  Jerusalem  in  1791.  During  the  earlier  years  of  her  residence 
here  the  carriage  could  not  well  be  used,  as  the  roads  were  then  in  a 
primitive  state  and  almost  impassable  to  such  a  cumbrous  vehicle  as 
was  this.  Yox  this  reason  it  was  put  aside  for  some  years  and  Tlie 
Friend  made  her  journeys  on  horseback.  She  became,  too,  an  expert 
rider  and  once  eluded  her  persecutors,  who  sought  to  arrest  her,  by  her 
skillful  and  rapid  riding.  But  during  the  later  years  of  her  labors, 
being  somewhat  broken  by  overwork  and  suffering  from  a  dropsical 
affliction.  The  Friend  had  recourse  to  her  carriage  to  convey  her  about 
among  the  branches  of  the  society.  And  the  old  carriage  itself,  having 
withstood  the  ravages  of  time  is  still  in  existence,  and  is  kept  as  nearly 
as  possible  in  its  original  appearance.  It  is  now  the  property  of 
William  T.  Remer,  of  Benton.  To  describe  it  understandingly  to  the 
reader  would  be  a  difficult  task,  but  it  is  as  it  was  when  built  except 
that  the  wheels  have  been  reduced  in  size.  On  its  back  and  sides  are 
still  seen  The  Friend's  initials  "  U.  F."  in  plain  script,  and  also  her  coat 
of  arms.  The  vehicle  is  entered  by  means  of  one  door,  and  that  on 
wiiat  farmers  call  the  "  nigh  "  side.  The  carriage  is  now  more  than  100 
years  old  and  is  appearently  as  strong  as  when  built.  Frequently  is  the 
old  carryall  seen  on  the  streets  of  Penn  Yan  and  the  town  of  Benton, 
but  on  none  but  public  days  and  for  occasional  use  at  funerals. 

Many  of  the  persons  who  had  once  been  the  warmest  friends  and  de- 
voted followers  of  the  Universal  Friend,  after  they  had  seceded  from 
and  severed  their  connection  w  ith  the  society,  became  her  most  unre- 
lenting and  bitter  persecutors;  and  while  it  is  not  deemed  within  the 
proper  scope  of  this  narrative  to  refer  at  length  to  the  many  false  and  de- 
famatory charges  brought  against  her  and  studiously  circulated  by  the 
seceders  it  does  become  necessary  to  state  the  fact  that  she  was  once  ar- 
rested upon  the  charge  of  blasphemy.  Several  times  did  the  officers  of 
the  law  attempt  to  arrest  her,  not  that  they  feared  she  might  escape  the 
jurisdiction  of  the  courts,  but  to  make  the  fact  public  that  she  was  under 
12 


90  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

arrest ;  that  she  should  be  at  least  to  that  extent  disgraced  ;  that  if  pos- 
sible she  sliould  be  confined  in  jail  at  Canandaigua  ;  and  tiiat  the  tri- 
umph of  their  revengeful  spirit  might  be  complete.  But  The  Friend  was 
not  to  be  taken  unawares,  neither  did  she  fear  the  results  of  arrest  and 
trial;  but  her  people  were  determined  she  should  not  be  unnecessarily 
detained  nor  in  anj'  manner  disgraced,  therefore  they  protected  her 
against  the  persecutions  of  a  relentless  enemy.  And  when  the  time 
came  right  she  quietly  submitted  to  the  service  of  legal  process  of  ar- 
rest, and  was  provided  with  bondsmen  and  attorne\'  and  gave  bail  for 
her  appearance  without  the  necessity  of  leaving  her  own  house.  As 
required  b)'  the  recognizance  she  duly  appeared  at  the  court  at  Can- 
andaigua, but  the  grand  jury  refused  to  indict  her.  At  that  time  she 
was  invited  b\'  the  court  and  others  to  preach  to  them,  which  she  did. 
After  tile  sermon  was  ended  Judge  Spencer,  being  asked  his  opinion 
of  the  discourse,  said  :  "We  ha\e  lieard  good  counsel,  and  if  we  live  in 
harmony  with  what  that  woman  has  told  us  we  shall  be  sure  to  be  good 
people  here  and  reach  a  final  rest  in  Heaven." 

"  The  Last  Will  and  Testament  of  the  person  called  the  Universal  Friend,  of  Jeru- 
salem, in  the  county  of  Ontario,  and  State  of  New  York,  who  in  the  year  one  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  seventy-si.x  was  called  Jemima  Wilkinson,  and  ever  since  that  time 
the  Universal  Friend,  a  new  name  which  tlie  mouth  of  the  Lord  hath  named.  Con- 
sidering the  uncertainty  ol  this  mortal  life,  and  being  of  sound  mind  and  memory, 
blessed  to  the  Lord  of  Saboath  and  father  of  mercies  therefor,  I  do  make  and  publish 
this  my  Last  Will  and  Testament. 

"  1st.     My  will  is  that  all  my  just  debts  be  paid  by  my  executors  hereafter  named. 

"  2d.  I  give,  bequeath,  and  devise  unto  Rachel  Malin  and  Margaret  Malin.now  of 
said  Jerusalem,  all  my  earthly  pro])erty,  both  real  and  personal,  that  is  to  say  all  my 
land  lying  in  said  Jerusalem  and  in  Benton  or  elsewhere  in  the  county  of  Ontario,  to- 
gether with  all  the  buildings  thereon,  to  them  the  said  Rachel  and  Margaret,  and  to 
their  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  to  be  equally  and  amicably  shared  between  them,  the 
said  Rachel  and  Margaret  ;  and  I  do  also  give  and  bequeath  to  the  said  Rachel  ^L^lin 
and  Margaret  Malin  all  my  wearing  apparel,  all  my  household  furniture,  all  mv  horses, 
cattle,  sheep,  and  swine,  of  every  kind  and  description,  and  also  my  carriages,  wag- 
ons, and  carts  of  every  kind,  together  with  all  my  farming  tools  and  utensils,  and  all 
my  movable  property  of  every  nature  and  description  whatever. 

"  3d.  My  will  is  that  all  the  present  members  of  my  family,  and  each  of  them, 
be  employed  if  they  please,  and,  if  employed,  supported  during  natural  life  by  the  said 
Rachel  and  Margaret,  and  whenever  any  of  them  become  imable  to  help  thetriselves 
they  are,  according  to  such  inability,  kindly  to  be  taken  care  of  by  the  said  Rachel  and 
Margaret ;  and  my  will  also  is  that  all  poor  persons  belonging  to  the  Society  of  Uni- 


LAST  WILL  AND  TESTAMENT  OF  THE  FRIEND.  91 

versal  Friends  shall  receive  from  the  said  Rachel  and  Margaret  such  assistance,  com- 
fort, and  support  during  natural  life  as  they  may  need  ;  and  in  case  any,  either  of  my 
family  or  elsewhere  in  the  Society,  shall  turn  away,  such  shall  forfeit  the  provisions 
herein  made  for  them. 

"4th.  I  hereby  ordain  and  appoint  Rachel  Malin  and  Margaret  Malin  executors 
of  my  Last  Will  and  Testament.  In  witness  whereof  I.  the  person  once  called  Jemima 
Wilkinson,  but  in  and  ever  since  the  year  1777  known  and  called  the  Public  Universal 
Friend,  hereunto  set  my  name  and  seal  the  25th  day  of  the  2d  mo.  1818. 

"John  Collins. 

"  Ann  Collins,  The  Tuelic  Universal  Friend.  [l.s.J 

''Sarah  Gregory. 

"  Be  it  remembered  that  in  order  to  remove  all  doubts  of  the  e.'iecution  of  the 
foregoing  Last  Will  and  Testament,  being  the  person  who  in  the  year  1777  was  known 
and  called  by  the  name  of  Jemima  Wilkinson,  but  since  that  time  as  the  Universal 
Friend,  do  make,  publish,  and  declare  the  within  instrument  as  my  Last  Will  and  Testa- 
ment, as  witness  my  hand  and  seal  the  7th  day  of  the  7th  mo.  18 1 8. 

"  Thomas  R.  Gold,  her 

"  John  Briggs.  Jemima  X  Wilkinson. 

■•  James  Brown,  jun'r.  cross  mark." 

With  the  decease  of  The  Friend,  in  coiiformit)'  witli  the  provisions 
of  her  will,  the  property  and  estate  which  iiad  belonged  to  her  were 
passed  to  the  beneficiaries  named  in  the  will,  Rachel  and  Margaret 
Malin.  For  soirie  time  all  things  went  along  smoothly  and  well,  but 
the  society  was  practically  witiioiit  a  leader.  And  about  this  time,  or 
some  years  after  The  Friend's  death,  there  came  to  the  community  one 
Michael  H.  Barton,  who  evidently  felt  that  he  had  a  mission  in  life  to 
accomplish.  He  found  favor  in  the  eyes  of  some  of  the  society,  but 
with  others  he  was  not  so  looked  upon.  He  assumed  the  functions  for- 
merly e.xercised  b}'  The  Friend,  preached  at  the  meetings  for  several 
years,  and  otherwise  took  upon  himself  the  care  of  the  society.  And 
the  worthy  Barton,  too,  seems  to  have  been  something  of  a  politician, 
a  practice  hitherto  not  dreamed  of  in  the  society  as  a  character  becom- 
ing its  leader;  he  took  the  stump  for  Harrison  in  184O,  hoping  to  be 
rewarded  for  his  services  by  an  appointment  to  office,  but  the  death  of 
the  successful  candidate  put  an  end  to  his  aspirations  in  that  direction. 
Michael  H.  Barton  died  in  1857  and  the  society  received  no  substan- 
tial benefit  or  enlargement  during  his  ministrations. 

Succeeding   Mr.  Barton   came  two  other  prophets,  self  called  as  was 
their  predecessor,    and   who,   in  endeavoring    to    infuse    a  new    spirit 


92  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

into  the  society,  only  succeeded  in  working  its  ruin.  While  Barton  was 
the  politician  Hynies  was  the  historian;  but  the  latter  was  less  success- 
ful in  his  role  than  the  former  had  been  in  his,  and  he  was  dismissed 
bj'  the  society.  George  Clark  set  almost  at  naught  the  rigorous  relig- 
ious discipline  of  the  society  and  labored  onl)'  for  his  own  selfish  ends 
and  personal  emolument.  He  survived  the  society  he  had  sought  to 
serve,  in  his  own  waj-,  and  afterward  died  in  New  York.  But  the 
greatest  blow  against  the  life  of  the  now  declining  society  came  in  the 
death  of  the  faithful  and  zealous  sisters,  Margaret  and  Rachel  Malin, 
the  devisees  under  the  will  of  The  F"riend  and  her  immediate  successors 
in  the  household.  Margaret  died  in  1844,  and  by  her  will  devised  her 
interest  in  the  estate  to  James  Brown,  jr.,  with  the  expressed  desire  that 
he  replace  her  in  the  society  and  at  the  head  of  the  late  Friend's  house- 
hold. By  Margaret  Malin's  will  James  Brown  became  possessed  of  about 
700  acres  of  The  Friend's  estate,  together  with  several  thousand  dollars 
worth  of  personal  ]3ropert\'.  Rachel  Malin  died  in  1848,  lea\ing  her 
property  to  the  descendants  of  her  brothers  and  sisters.  This  last  death 
and  the  disposition  of  property  following  divided  eftectually  the  estate 
of  the  Universal  Friend,  and  from  that  time  it  may  be  said  that  the 
society  became  practically  extinct.  The  division  of  the  property  was 
not  as  The  Friend  herself  originally  designed  when  she  made  Rachel 
and  Margaret  her  heirs  and  successors,  but  with  each  successive  j-ear 
the  strengtii  of  the  society  became  less,  and  outside  and  worldly  influ- 
ence were  constantly  working  its  disintegration  with  their  final  and  un- 
avoidable results  of  effectual  dissolution. 

The  preceding  portion  of  the  present  chapter  has  related  onh-  the 
general  outline  historx- of  The  Friend  and  her  society  without  regard  to 
the  individual  members  who  comprised  the  society,  and  without  ref- 
erence to  the  date  of  arrival  in  the  region  that  was  primarily  called  the 
new  Jerusalem.  Unfortunately  there  appears  to  be  no  record  by  which 
can  be  learned  the  date  of  settlement  in  this  locality  of  the  various  fam- 
ilies that  were  allied  to  The  Friend,  but  following  the  coming  of  the  first 
representatives  of  the  society  in  1788  settlement  by  others  became 
qiiite  frequent,  and  during  the  first  five  or  so  j'ears  of  the  histoi}'  o( 
tliis  county  subsequent  to  1788  there  were  probably  no  settlers  in  the 
region  who  were  not  in  some  manner  identified   with  the  society  or  in- 


MEMBERSHIP  OF  THE  SOCIETY  OF  FRfEA'DS. 


93 


fluenced  in  their  immigration  to  the  locahty  by  the  community  estab- 
lished by  Tlie  Friend.  There  has  been  preserved,  however,  a  fairly 
accurate  list  of  those  who  were  adult  members  of  the  Society  of  Univer- 
sal Friends,  and  it  is  proper  in  connection  with  this  chapter,  and  as  a 
part  of  the  pioneer  history  of  Yates  County,  that  niention  should  be 
made  of  each  to  the  extent  of  recording  individual  names.  A  preced- 
ing historical  and  biographical  work  has  at  considerable  length  recorded 
the  lives  of  the  families  and  individuals  comprising  the  society,  where- 
fore it  becomes  this  chapter  of  the  present  work  to  furnish  not  more 
than  the  roll  of  membership.      It  is  as  follows  : 

William  Aldrich,  Joseph  Ballou,  John  Bartleson,  Samuel  Barnes, 
Samuel  Barnes,  jr.,  Elizur  Barnes,  Henry  Barnes,  Jonathan  Botsford,  sr., 
Jonathan  Botsford,  jr.,  Jonathan  Botsford,  brother  of  Elijah,  Abel  Botsford, 
Elijah  Botsford,  Benajah  Botsford,  son  of  Elnathan,  John  Briggs,  sr.,  John 
Briggs,  jr.,  Peleg  Briggs,  sr.,  Benjamin  Brown,  sr.,  Benjamin  Brown,  jr., 
George  Brown,  James  Brown,  Abraham  Dayton,  Castle  Dains,  Jonathan 
Dains,  John  Davis,  Samuel  Doolittle,  John  Gardner,  Amos  Gurnsey,  sr., 
Amos  Gurnsey,  jr.,  Jonathan  Gurnsey,  Spencer  Hall,  Arnold  Hazard, 
David  Harris,  Nathaniel  Hathaway,  sr.,  Nathaniel  Hathaway,  jr.,  Thomas 
Hathaway,  James  Hathaway,  Jedediah  Holmes,  sr.,  Jedediah  Holmes, 
jr.,  Adam  Hunt,  Silas  Hunt,  Abel  Hunt,  Eleazer  Ingraham,  Elisha  In- 
graham,  John  Ingraham,  Nathaniel  Ingraham,  Remington  Kenyon, 
Ephraim  Kinney,  sr.,  Beloved  Luther,  Elisha  Luther,  Sheffield  Luther, 
Stephen  Luther,  Elijah  Malin,  Meredith  Mallory,  sr.,  Isaac  Nichols, 
George  Nichols,  Josej)!!  Niles,  Israel  Berry,  Samuel  Botter,  Abraham 
Richards,  Asa  Richards,  Richard  Smith,  Silas  Spink,  Asahel  Stone,  sr., 
George  Sisson,  Gilbert  Sisson,  Joseph  Turpin,  John  Tripp,  David  Wag- 
ener,  Jacob  Wagener,  Jaud  Weaver,  John  Willard,  Eleazer  Whipple, 
Benoni  Wilkinson,  Simon  Wilkinson. 

In  the  Society  of  Friends  also  were  a  number  of  persons,  females,  who 
adhered  strictly  to  the  life  of  celibacy  advocated  by  The  Friend,  and 
these,  too,  are  worthy  of  at  least  some  mention.  They  were  as  follows: 
Sarah  Richards,  The  Friend's  intimate  associate  and  counselor,  who 
with  her  husband  became  members  of  the  society  during  their  married 
life;  Mehitabel  Smith,  the  sister  of  Richard  Smith;  Anna  Wagener. 
sister  of  David   Wagener;   Lucy,  sister  of  Daniel   Brown;   Rachel  and 


94  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

Margaret  Malin,  The  Friend's  devisees  and  successors  ;  Mercy  Aldrich, 
wife  of  William  Aldrich  and  elder  sister  of  The  Friend ;  Patience 
Wilkinson,  also  The  Friend's  sister  and  wife  of  Thomas  Hazard  Potter; 
Alice  Hazard,  daughter  of  William  Potter  and  wife  of  George  Hazard  ; 
Lucina  Goodspeed  ;  Susannah  Spencer,  sister  of  Peleg  Briggs,  sr.;  Mar- 
tha Reynolds;  Patience  Allen;  Hannah  Baldwin;  Sarah  and  Mary 
Briggs,  sisters  of  Peleg  Briggs,  jr.;  Lydia  and  Phebe  Coggswell ;  Mary 
Gardner,  widow,  sister  to  Martha  Reynolds;  Mary  Hunt,  daughter  of 
Adam  Hunt;  Lydia  Davis,  daughter  of  John  Davis;  Eunice  Hatha- 
way, daughter  of  Freelove  Hathaway;  Susannah  Hathaway,  widow ; 
Mary,  widow  of  James  Hathaway;  Lavina  Dains,  daughter  of  Jonathan 
Dains,  sr.;  Elizabeth  Carr,  called  in  the  society  "Mother  Carr";  Anna 
Styer ;  Sarah  Clark,  widow;  Mary  Holmes,  sister  of  Jedediah  Holmes; 
Catharine  White,  better  known  as  Aunt  Katie  White,  widow  ;  Mary 
Bean;  Eunice  Beard;  Lydia  Wood,  widow  ;  Mary  Ingraham,  daughter 
of  Nathaniel  ;  Rachel  Ingraham,  daughter  of  Eleazer  Ingraham  ;  Chloe 
Towerhill,  born  in  slavery,  became  the  property  of  Benjamin  Brown, 
and  given  freedom  by  The  Friend's  influence  ;  Elizabeth  and  Hannah 
Kenyon,  mother  and  daughter  —  the  daughter  married  George  Nichols; 
Elizabeth  Kinney,  widow,  mother  of  Ephraim,  Isaac,  Samuel,  and 
Mary  Kinney;  Rebecca  Hartwell,  mother  of  Samuel  Hartwell ;  Eliza- 
beth Luther;  Elizabeth  Ovett,  sister  of  Abel,  Jonathan,  and  Elnathan 
Botsford ;  Susannah  Potter,  daughter  of  Judge  William  Potter;  Re- 
becca Scott,  widowed  mother  of  Orpha  and  Margaret  Scott;  Aphi  and 
Margaret  Comstock,  sisters  of  Israel  Comstock. 

To  those  who  have  been  mentioned  in  the  above  list  Mr.  Cleveland 
has  given  the  appropriate  name  of  "  The  Faithful  Sisterhood,"  but  to 
the  roll  so  given  adds  as  follows  :  "  There  was  a  noble  array  of  devoted 
women  not  of  this  select  band,  who  as  wives  and  mothers,  and  true 
exponents  of  the  highest  morality  and  social  virtue,  illustrated  the 
pioneer  life  with  examples  worthy  to  be  held  in  honored  remembrance, 
and  gave  The  Friend's  society  a  name  for  virtue,  industry,  and  matronly 
worth  of  which  no  pen  can  speak  in  adequate  praise."  They  are  as 
follows : 

Sarah  Alsworth ;  Huldah  Andrews;  Susannah  Avery,  wife  of  Daniel 
Brown;   Abigail  Barnes,  mother  of  Henry  Barnes;   Experience  Barnes, 


HONORED   WOMEN  OF  THE  FRIEND'S  SOCIETY.  95 

wife  of  Eleazer  Barnes;  Mary  Bartleson,  mother  of  Isaac  and  Bartle- 
son  Shearman  ;  Elizabeth  Botsford,  wife  of  Jonathan  Botsford  ;  Eliza 
beth  Botsford,  daughter  of  Jonathan  Botsford,  jr.,  and  wife  of  Abel 
Hunt;  Lucy,  wife  of  Elnathan  Botsford  ;  Lucy,  daughter  of  Elnathan 
Botsford;  Mary,  wife  of  Abel  Botsford;  Mary,  daughter  of  Abe!  Bots 
ford  ;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Peleg  Briggs,  sr.;  Esther  Briggs;  Anna  Briggs; 
Margaret  Briggs ;  Lavina  Briggs ;  Ruth  Briggs,  wife  of  Peleg  Gifford  ; 
Anna  Brown  ;  Anna  Brown,  2d  ;  Abigail  Brown;  Catharine  Brown,  wife 
of  David  Fish  and  daughter  of  Benjamin  Brown,  sr.;  Charlotte  Brown  ; 
Desiah  Brown  ;  Rachel  Brown,  daughter  of  Thomas  Clark  and  wife  of 
Henry  Brown,  of  Benton  ;  Sarah,  daughter  of  Benjamin  Brown,  sr., 
and  wife  of  Judge  Arnold  Potter;  Susannah  Brown;  Zernah  Brown, 
mother  of  James  Brown,  jr.;  Hannah  Buckingham  ;  Mabel  Bush  ;  Susan- 
nah Clanford,  sister  of  David  Wagencr  and  wife,  first,  of  Peter  Supplee 

and  afterward  of Clanford  ;   Sarah  Comstock,  mother  of  Aphi  and 

Martha  ;  BathshebaCohoon;  Abigail  Congol;  Eunice  Crary;  PhebeCarr; 
Mary  Dains,  wife  of  Jonathan-  Dains ;  Johanna  Dains,  wife  of  Castle 
Dains  ;  Abigail,  wife  of  Abraham  Dayton  ;  Dinah  Dayton  ;  Anice  Day- 
ton ;  Anna  Davis,  wife  of  William  Davis;  Leah,  wife  of  John  Davis; 
Rachel,  wife  of  Jonathan  Davis;  Sinah  Davis,  wife  of  Stewart  Cohoon  ; 
Anna  Fannin,  Hannah  Fisher,  wife  of  Silas  Hunt;  Frances  Gardner; 
Mar)-  Green;  Kesiali  Gurnsey;  Mary  Gurnsey,  wife  of  Amos  Gurnsey ; 
Mary  Gurnsey,  Fear  Hathaway,  daughter  of  Susannah  Hathawa)'  and 

wife  of 13ruce  ;   Deborah    Hathaway ;  Freelove  Hathaway  ;   Mar)' 

Hathaway;  Mary  Hall;  Mary  Hall,  2d  ;  Mary  IMalin  Hopkins,  wife 
of  Jacob  Rensselaer;  Abigail  Holmes;  Elizabeth  Holmes,  wife  of 
Elisha  Luther;  Margaret  and  Lucy  Holmes;  Mary  Hunt,  wife  of 
Adam  Hunt;  Sarah,  daughter  of  Adam  Hunt;  Anna  Ingraham,  wife 
of  John  Ingraham  ;  Abigail  Ingraham,  daughter  of  Eleazer  Ingraham  ; 
Experience  Ingraham,  wife  of  Nathaniel  Ingraham  ;  L)-dia.  wife  of 
Eleazer  Ingraham  ;  Lydia,  daughter  of  Eleazer  Ingraham  ;  lilizabeth 
Jaques;  Ruth  Jailor;  Hannah  Kenyon,  wife  of  George  Nichols  ;  Candice 
and  Eunice  Kinney  ;  Martha  Luther,  sister  of  Beloved  and  Reuben 
Luther  and  wife  of  George  Brown  ;  Mary  Luther,  wife  of  Reuben  Hud 
son;  Lydia  Luther;  Sarah  Luther,  wife  of  Beloved  Luther;  Elizabeth 
Miller;  Sarah   Negers;  Anna   Nichols,  wife  of  Isaac  Nichols  ;  Margaret 


96  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

Palmer;  Mary  Perr\-;  Sarah,  Hannah,  Susan,  and  Armenia  Potter  ;  Pen- 
elope, daughter  of  William  Potter  and  wife  of  Benjamin  Brown  ;  Ruth 
Pritchard,  wife  of  Justus  P.  Spencer;  Orpha  and  Elizabeth  Rose; 
Bethany,  wife  of  George  Sisson  ;  Lydia,  daughter  of  George  Sisson  ; 
Mary  Sisson;  Tamar  Stone,  sister  of  John  Davis;  Elizabeth  Stone; 
Elizabeth  and  Rhoda  Shearman  ;  Rachel,  daughter  of  Peter  Supplee 
and  wife  of  Morris  F.  Sheppard  ;  Lydia  and  Mary  Turpin  ;  Lydia  and 
Mary  Wall;  Rhoda  Wescott ;  Almy  Wilkinson;  Deborah  Wilkinson, 
youngest  sister  of  The  Friend,  wife  first  of  Benajah  Botsford  and  after- 
ward of  Elijah  Malin. 


CHAPTER  VHL 

Early  efforts  at  Colonization  and  Settlement  —  Extent  of  Ontario  Countv  —  Steu- 
ben County  set  Off —  Towns  of  Ontario  and  Steuben  which  were  erected  into  Yates 
County  — How  first  organized  and  their  Extent — -The  District  of  Jerusalem  —  Ben- 
ton and  Milo  set  Off — Italy  formerly  part  of  Middletown  —  Middlesex  originally  part 
of  Augusta — Barrington  and  Starkey  come  from  Steuben  County  —  Torrey  taken 
from  Benton  and  Milo — A  Brief  allusion  to  the  War  of  1812-15  —  Public  sentiment 
in  this  Locality. 

PRIOR  to  the  year  1 789  the  region  commonly  called  the  Genesee 
country  formed  a  part  of  Montgomery  County.  Therefore  when 
Phelps  and  Gorham  made  their  extensive  purchase  from  Massachusetts 
and  from  the  Six  Nations  they  bought  land  in  Montgomery  County. 
Hut  at  that  time  there  was  no  organization  whatever  in  this  part  of  the 
county  ;  there  had  not  been  made  any  surveys  and  the  Indian  title  had 
not  been  extinguished.  However  there  was  a  settlement  within  the 
country  and  in  this  localit}'  —  that  of  the  Friends  in  the  new  Jerusalem 
and  within  what  was  afterward  erected  into  Yates  County.  The  pur- 
chase by  Phelps  and  Gorham,  the  sur\ey  of  their  lands  into  townships, 
and  the  ready  sale  of  these  townships  to  speculators  and  others,  some  of 
whom  were  desirous  of  making  actual  settlement  on  the  town  lands,  was 
the  first  great  step  toward  the  creation  of  a  county  out  of  the  lands  and 
territory  of  Western  New  Yorlc.     When  the  worthy  proprietors  first  made 


ONTARIO  COUNTY  FORMED.  97 

their  purchase  and  came  to  view  their  lands  they  had  no  thought  tliat 
Kanandesaga  was  not  a  part  of  their  territory,  wherefore,  being  a  trad- 
ing village  of  some  importance  and  the  most  direct  and  convenient  en- 
trance to  their  tract,  they  established  themselves  at  that  point  as  a  seat 
of  operations. 

The  proprietors  were  correct  in  their  conclusions  that  Kanandesaga 
was  on  their  purchase,  although  through  the  selfish  schemes  of  the  les- 
sees the  pre-emption  line  \\as  so  run  as  to  fall  west  of  the  trading  post 
and  to  bring  that  place  within  the  territory  claimed  by  the  lessees.  After 
the  line  had  been  established  Mr.  Phelps,  the  active  proprietor  of  the 
association,  although  not  perfectly  satisfied  with  the  survey,  neverthe- 
less acquiesced  and  submitted,  and  changed  his  base  of  operations  from 
Kanandesaga  to  Canandaigua.  The  result  was  that  when  Ontario 
County  was  erected,  Januarj'  27,  1789,  and  the  county  seat  established 
Canandaigua  received  the  fortunate  designation  and  the  public  build- 
ings were  erected  there. 

Ontario  County,  when  erected  in  17S9,  comprehended  the  entire  re- 
gion of  the  Phelps  and  Gorham  purchase,  and  even  all  of  the  country 
known  as  Western  New  York.  Therefore  all  the  towns  surveyed  in 
this  locality,  and  which  were  afterward  formed  into  Yates  County,  were 
formerly  a  part  of  Ontario,  although  directly  at  least  two  towns  now  of 
Yates  were  taken  from  Steuben  County.  The  last  named  county  was 
firmed  from  the  mother  county,  Ontario,  in  1796. 

The  towns  which  now  comprise  Yates  County,  and  which  lie  west  of 
the  old  or  first  pre-emption  line,  were  surveyed  and  numbered  during 
the  years  1788  and  1789,  but  they  were  not  generally  named  until  tiiey 
possessed  a  sufficient  population  tojustify  their  organization.  The  I-Viends 
settlement  e.\tended  over  parts  of  the  towns  of  Mile,  Torrey,  and  per- 
haps a  small  portion  of  Starkey,  and  was  called  the  new  Jerusalem. 
This  fact  has  led  at  least  one  writer  of  local  history  into  an  error,  in  that 
he  states  that  the  Friends  settlement  was  organized  into  a  town  called 
Jerusalem,  which  embraced  all  the  present  county  of  Yates  except  Star- 
key  and  Barrington.  The  only  town  that  was  ever  called  Jerusalem, 
under  proper  or  recognized  authority,  was  that  which  still  bears  the  name, 
and  which  was  originally  "  township  number  seven,  second  range."  15ut 
let  us  take  a  brief  glance  at  the  towns  of  old   Ontario   which  afterward 

13 


98  HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUNTY. 

became  Yates  County,  and  notice  how,  and  wlien,  and  b\'  what  names 
they  were  organized. 

In  1789,  the  same  year  in  which  Ontario  County  was  erected,  the  in- 
habited portions  of  the  county  were  formed  into  districts  for  jurisdic- 
tional purposes,  tliat  tliC)-  might  be  properl}'  governed,  and  that  the 
freemen  resident  therein  might  avail  themselves  of  their  rights  and  priv- 
ileges as  electors  At  tiiat  time  the  population  of  the  towns  that  now 
comprise  Yates  County  was  exceedingly  small,  and  it  became  neces- 
sary to  group  a  number  of  them  together,  having  them  partake  of  the 
nature  of  a  township,  but  not  actually'  becoming  such.  They  were  made 
into  a  joint  organized  district  and  allowed  to  elect  local  officers,  but 
there  was  wanting  the  distinct  townshij)  character.  The  district  of  Jeru- 
salem was  in  this  way  created  and  comprised  all  that  is  now  included 
in  the  towns  of  Jerusalem,  Milo,  Benton,  and  Torrey. 

The  district  of  Jerusalem  remained  undisturbed  as  to  its  territor\-  until 
1803,  when,  having  acquired  a  considerable  population,  it  became  nec- 
essary to  sub- divide  th*e  same  and  create  a  new  jurisdiction.  The  result 
was  that  in  February,  1803,  all  the  land  now  in  Benton,  Milo,  and  Tor- 
rey was  separated  from  Jerusalem  and  erected  into  a  district  by  the 
name  of  "  Vernon."  But  it  appears  that  a  year  previous  to  this  event  a 
town  named  Vernon  iiad  been  established  in  Oneida  County,  which 
necessitated  a  change  in  the  name  of  the  more  recent  creation.  There- 
fore Vernon  was  changed  to  Snell,  and  so  named  in  lionor  of  Jacob 
Snell,  wlio  was  then  State  senator  from  Montgomery  County.  This  name 
stood  until  1810,  when  on  account  of  some  dissatisfaction  the  name 
-Siicll  was  droppetl  and  Benton  adopted  in  its  stead.  The  latter  name 
was  applied  in  compliment  to  the  first  settler  in  the  town  proper — Levi 
Benton.  He  commenced  an  improvement  near  the  north  end  of  what 
is  now  called  Flat  street  and  about  a  mile  west  of  Benton  Center.  The 
town  of  Benton,  as  at  present  constituted,  covers  township  number  eight, 
range  first,  with  the  addition  of  the  land  lying  between  the  old  pre- 
emption line  and  Seneca  Lake,  excepting  the  territory  set  off  into  the 
town  of  Torrey,  which,  however,  it  originall)-  included. 

The  town  of  Milo  was  separated  from  Benton  March  6,  1818.  Within 
its  boundaries  was  included  surveyed  township  number  seven,  range  first, 
together  with  all  the  land   lying  east  of  the  town  and   west  of  Seneca 


TOWNSHIPS  ORGANl/.ED.  99 

Lake.  Its  separation  from  tlie  mother  town  of  Benton  is  said  to 
have  been  due  to  the  efforts  of  Samuel  Lawrence,  one  of  the  represent- 
atives of  Ontario  County  in  the  State  Assembly.  Mr.  Lawrence  pio- 
posed  the  name  of  Milan  for  the  new  town,  but  as  that  had  been  already 
adopted  for  another  district  this  was  called  Milo.  Henton,  Miio,  and 
Barrington,  of  what  is  now  \'ates,  and  other  towns  as  well  were  deeded 
by  Phelps  and  Gorham  to  Caleb  Henton  in  behalf  of  the  lessee  company ; 
and  by  Caleb  Benton  the  same  were  conveyed  to  John  Livingston,  also 
one  of  the  famous  lessees.  The  first  deed  was  dated  January  16,  1789; 
the  second  April  27,  1789. 

The  present  town  of  Jerusalem  occupies  survey  number  seven,  seconti 
range,  together  with  a  considerable  tract  of  headland  commonly  called 
Bluff  Point.  This  was  annexed  to  Yates  County  and  to  Jerusalem  on 
I'^ebruary  25,  1814.  Jerusalem  proper  was  deeded  by  the  proprietary 
to  Benedict  Robinson  and  Thomas  Hathaway,  who  were  shareholders 
in  the  association.  The  purchase  price  of  the  township,  $4,320,  or 
eighteen  pence  per  acre,  was  very  small  for  so  valuable  a  town,  but  the 
fact  that  the  grantees  were  among  the  associated  owners  of  the  Phelps 
and  Gorham  purchase  sufficiently  explains  the  matter.  Moreover  the)' 
were  both  devoted  followers  of  The  Friend,  and  secured  the  township  for 
the  purpose  of  establishing  for  their  patron  a  permanent  home. 

The  town  of  Italy  formed  originally  a  part  of  Middletown,  the  latter 
having  been  organized  and  so  named  in  1789,  but  afterward  changed 
to  Naples.  Italy  as  now  situated  covers  township  number  seven,  range 
third.  This  was  one  of  the  towns  not  sold  in  parcel  by  Phelps  and  Gor- 
ham, but  was  by  them  sold  with  the  entire  tract  to  Robert  Morris,  and 
by  the  latter  to  the  Pultney  Association.  Afterward  the  town  was  sub- 
divided The  town  of  Italy  was  set  off  and  organized  on  the  15th  of 
February,    181 5. 

Middlesex,  lying  next  north  of  Italy,  occupies  the  township  sur\e\ed 
as  number  eight,  third  range.  It  was  included  vvitiiin  the  district 
formed  in  1789  and  called  Augusta,  but  changed  in  1808  to  Middlesex. 
The  survey  of  township  eight,  third  range,  included  lands  on  the  west 
side  of  Canandaigua  Lake,  but  the  part  west  of  the  lake  never  became  a 
part  of  \'ates  County.  This  portion  was  originally  convex  ed  by 
Thomas    Maxwell   to   Arnold    Potter,  but    there   arose  a  question  as  to 

LofC. 


lOO  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

the  sufficiency  of  the  title  convej-ed  by  Maxwell.  Subsequently  Oliver 
Phelps  quit-claimed  to  Potter  and  thus  confirmed  Maxwell's  title.  In 
1856  six  lots  in  the  southeast  part  of  Middlesex  were  annexed  to  Potter 
township. 

The  present  town  of  Potter,  number  eight,  second  range,  was  origi- 
nally a  part  of  the  Middlesex  district,  and  was  set  off  and  organized 
April  26,  1832.  It  received  its  name  from  Arnold  Potter,  an  original 
proprietor  and  the  first  settler  in  the  town.  Arnold  Potter  was  the  son 
of  William  Potter,  one  of  the  foremost  men  of  the  region  in  his  time. 
He  was  originally  a  follower  of  The  Friend  and  one  of  her  faithful  serv- 
ants. He,  too,  was  one  of  the  influential  dissentients  from  Tiie  Friend's 
teachings,  and  whose  separation  from  the  society  was  a  serious  blow 
against  its  after  prosperity.  At  one  time  William  Potter,  his  son  Ar- 
nold, and  another  son  owned  the  entire  town  of  Potter. 

The  town  of  Starkey  lies  between  the  old  pre-emption  line  and  Sen- 
eca Lake,  but  when  the  new  line  was  surveyed  about  two- fifths  of  the 
territory  was  brought  into  the  Phelps  and  Gorham  purchase.  The 
greater  part  if  not  all  of  the  lands  of  Starkey  were  surveyed  and  granted 
by  the  State  on  military  land  warrants.  The  land,  too,  was  claimed  by 
the  lessee  company  as  belonging  to  them  under  their  famous  lease. 
Charles  Williamson,  agent  of  the  Pultney  Association,  quieted  in  their 
possession  many  of  the  owners  found  on  the  pre-emption  lands,  for 
which  he  received  compensation  from  the  State,  while  others  were 
themselves  given  other  grants  in  other  localities  by  the  governor  of 
New  York.  The  original  name  of  this  town,  Starkey,  was  Fredericks- 
town,  so  created  March  18,  1796,353  part  of  Steuben  County,  but 
changed  in  iSoS  to  Waj-ne  in  honor  of  "  Mad  Anthony "  Wayne. 
Still  later  the  name  was  changed  to  Reading.  While  under  this  name, 
on  April  6,  1824,  that  part  of  tlie  town  now  called  Starkey  was  an- 
nexed to  Yates  County. 

Barrington,  so  named  by  its  pioneers  who  came  from  the  vicinit\-  of 
Great  Barrington,  Mass.,  was  surveyed  as  township  number  six,  first 
range.  When  Steuben  County  was  organized  Barrington  with  several 
other  townships,  the  lands  of  Starkey  being  among  them,  were  organ- 
ized into  a  district  called  Frederickstown  and  so  named  in  honor  of 
Frederick   Bartles,  who  built  a  mill  at  Mud  Lake  in  1793.     The  name 


TOUWSHIPS  ORGANIZED,  loi 

was  afterward  changed  to  Wayne,  and  when  Barrington  was  itself  or- 
ganized in  1822  the  present  designation  was  given.  Barrington  was 
one  of  the  towns  that  came  from  Phelps  and  Gorham  to  the  lessees  by 
deed  in  satisfaction  of  their  interest  in  the  association,  or  as  a  reward 
for  their  influence  and  assistance  in  negotiating  a  treaty  with  the  In- 
dians. The  town  was  surveyed  into  lots  and  "drawn  for"  by  inter- 
ested parties.  A  portion  of  the  town  went  in  some  manner  to  Charles 
Williamson  of  the  Pultney  Association,  while  another  and  smaller  part 
fell  to  the  Hornby  estate. 

Torrey  is  the  junior  of  the  towns  that  comprise  Yates  County.  Its 
lands  were  situate  on  both  the  east  and  west  sides  of  the  old  and  new 
pre-emption  lines ;  also  it  comprises  parts  of  townships  number  seven 
and  eight,  range  first,  and  part  of  the  State  lands.  Directly  the  town 
was  taken  from  Benton  and  Milo,  November  14,  185  i.  Within  wliat 
is  now  Torrey  was  the  first  home  of  The  Friend  in  the  ntw  Jerusalem  ; 
and  here,  too,  were  built  the  first  mills  and  meeting-house  and  sowed 
the  first  wheat  in  all  the  Genesee  country.  Moreover  the  settlement 
made  here  by  the  Society  of  Universal  Friends  was  the  first  pioneer 
movement  in  New  York  State  west  of  Seneca  Lake. 

From  the  foregoing  narrative  the  reader  will  discover  the  fact  that 
nearly  all  the  towns  which  comprise  Yates  County  had  an  organized 
e.xistence  of  some  kind  for  many  years  before  the  count)'  itself  was 
erected.  Therefore  it  is  proper  that  some  mention  should  be  made  of 
them  as  parts  of  older  counties  before  writing  of  them  as  sub-di\-isions 
of  Yates  County.  The  county  was  brought  into  existence  by  an  act  of 
the  legislature  of  the  State  of  New  York  passed  the  5th  of  February, 
1823.  Why  and  how  this  organization  was  brought  about  will  be  ap- 
propriate subjects  for  consideration  in  the  succeeding  chapter. 

Although  in  no  manner  a  part  of  the  present  chapter,  and  in  no  wise 
connected  therewith,  it  nevertheless  becomes  necessary  in  this  place  to 
make  some  allusion  to  a  series  of  events  having  their  occurrence  during 
and  about  the  period  intended  to  be  covered  by  the  present  chapter. 
For  a  year  preceding  the  War  of  1812-15,  during  that  period  and 
even  afterward  for  some  time,  the  towns  that  were  erected  into  Yates 
County  were  making  the  most  rapid  growth  and  progress  in  the  clear- 
ing of  farms  and  erecting  buildings.     The  settlement  by  incoming  fam- 


1 02  HIS  TORY  OF  ]  \4  TES  CO  UN  T  V. 

ilies  was  something  remarkable,  and  peace  and  prosperity  everywhere 
prevailed.  The  settlement  by  the  Friends  had  attained  its  greatest 
numerical  strength  ;  the  stronghold  in  Jerusalem  had  become  well  pop- 
ulated, while  the  goodly  number  of  the  society  who  still  dwelt  over  in 
Milo  and  the  region  round  about  were  fast  developing  the  resources  of 
their  localit)'. 

At  that  time  Yates  County  had  not  been  organized,  nor  was  its  erec- 
,tion  then  even  contemplated,  and  whatever  of  history  the  people  of 
the  locality  were  making  by  their  lives  and  deeds  was  a  part  of  the  his- 
tor)-  of  the  old  county  of  Ontario.  But  then  the  formation  of  Yates 
County,  although  that  consummation  was  not  reached  until  1823,  nec- 
essarily transferred  a  wealth  of  history  from  old  Ontario  to  the  new 
Yates,  and  the  early  record,  to  be  properly  preserved,  must  be  incorpo- 
rated in  the  volume  designed  to  refer  to  the  region  most  recently  organ- 
ized, and  that  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  the  organization  was  of  later 
occurrence  than   the  leading  events. 

The  second  war  with  England  had  its  actual  outbreak  in  181  2  and 
was  closed  during  the  year  1815.  However  before  the  formal  decla- 
ration the  political  situation  was  such  that  hostilities  might  have  com- 
menced at  anytime  during  the  period  of  three  or  four  years  immediately 
preceding  the  first  conflict  at  arms,  but  both  countries  were  then  busily 
engaged  in  making  preparations  for  the  impending  and  inevitable  strug- 
gle. During  those  years,  too,  the  condition  of  affairs  was  closely  watched 
by  the  people  living  in  the  southern  part  of  Ontario  County,  those 
occupying  the  particular  region  of  country  lying  between  Canandaigua 
and  Seneca  Lakes.  Rut  their  watchfulness  was  not  of  the  character 
that  is  born  of  warlike  ambition,  but  was  rather  the  interest  that  comes 
from  deep  concern.  It  so  happened  that  a  fair  proportion  of  the  inhab- 
itants of  this  locality  were  then  or  had  been  members  of  the  Society  of 
Universal  Friends,  and  one  of  the  tenets  of  that  society  was  opposition 
to  all  warfare,  whether  between  countries,  societies,  sects,  or  individ- 
uals. This  principle  was  not  born  of  fear,  but  of  love,  which  they 
taught  and  held  should  exist  among  the  members  of  the  human  family. 

While  such  was  the  governing  characteristic  of  the  Friends  there 
was  another  element  of  local  population  whose  belief  inclined  them  to 
advocate  American  independence  as  paramount  to  all  other  considera- 


EVENTS  PRECEDING  THE   WAR  OF  iSi 2.  103 

tions.  Tliey  were  guided  and  actuated  by  the  patriotic  sentiment, 
"country  first,  the  citizen  afterward."  This  element  of  people  com- 
prised the  contingent  of  men  furnished  by  the  towns  that  afterward  be- 
came Yates  County,  during  the  War  of  1812-15,  but  unfortunately 
there  exists  no  record  showing  who  they  were  or  from  what  towns  they 
came.  Nor  has  there  been  preserved  any  record  from  which  we  may 
learn  of  the  service  they  performed  or  of  the  battles  in  which  they  par- 
ticipated. Therefore  the  reader  must  be  content  with  but  the  briefest 
allusion  to  the  events  of  the  period,  and  that  in  a  general  way,  without 
reference  to  local  interests,  for  there  were  no  struggles  or  conflicts 
within  the  region  that  afterward  was  erected  into  the  county  of  \'ates. 
During  the  five  years  next  preceding  18 12  the  whole  country  was  in  a 
state  of  nominal  peace,  but  throughout  this  period  there  was  gathering 
that  dark  cloud  which  was  destined  to  involve  the  nation  in  another 
foreign  war. 

The  events  which  led  to  the  second  war  with  Great  Britain  were 
numerous.  The  United  States  had  scrupulously  observed  the  provis- 
ions of  the  peace  treaty  made  at  the  close  of  the  Revolution  ;  had  main- 
tained, too,  a  strict  neutrality  during  the  progress  of  the  Napoleonic 
war  with  the  British  kingdoni,  when  perhaps  every  consideration  of 
gratitude  should  have  induced  a  participation  in  it  against  the  mother 
country.  For  several  years  the  aggressive  acts  of  the  British  iiad  been 
the  subject  of  anxiety  and  regret,  and  feelings  of  animosity  increased  on 
this  side  of  the  Atlantic.  The  embargo  laid  by  Congress  was  found  so 
injurious  to  commercial  interests  that  it  was  repealed  and  the  non-inter- 
course act  passed  in  its  stead.  In  April,  1809,  the  English  ambassa- 
dor in  Washington  opened  negotiations  for  the  adjustment  of  difficulties, 
and  consented  to  a  withdrawal  of  the  obnoxious  "  orders  in  council,"  so 
far  as  they  affected  the  United  States,  on  condition  that  the  non-inter- 
course act  be  repealed.  This  was  agreed  to  and  the  President  issued  a 
proclamation  announcing  that  on  the  lOth  of  June  trade  with  Great 
Britain  might  be  resumed  ;  but  tiie  English  government  refused  to  rat- 
ify the  agreement  and  recalled  their  minister,  whereupon  the  Pnsident 
revoked  his  proclamation  and  the  non-intercourse  act  again  became 
operative. 

War  was  fuimallj' declared  on  the  19th  of  June,  i  Si  2,  but  the  measure 


I04  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

was  not  invariably  sustained  throughout  the  Middle  States.  The  op- 
posing element  was  embraced  in  the  Federal  party,  its  chief  ground 
of  opposition  being  that  the  country  was  not  prepared  for  war.  The 
Federalists  constituted  a  large  and  influential  minority  of  the  political 
element  of  Congress  and  had  a  considerable  following  in  the  sev- 
eral States  not  active  in  politics.  They  asked  for  further  negotia- 
tions and  not  the  denunciations  of  the  ruling  party  (that  is,  the  Demo- 
cratic and  Republican,  for  it  went  by  both  names)  upon  the  English 
government  with  savage  and  bitter  attacks  upon  Napoleon,  whom  they 
accused  the  leading  party  with  favoring. 

What  may  have  been  the  feeling  in  this  locality  during  the  period  of 
which  we  write  would  be  indeed  difficult  to  determine,  but  from  all  that 
can  be  learned  it  appears  that  the  great  mass  of  the  people  were 
heartily  interested  in  the  American  cause,  and  were  therefore  identified 
with  the  Democratic  and  Republican  parties'  welfare,  both  at  the  polls 
and  in  the  measures  then  being  discussed  for  the  conduct  of  the  coming 
war.  Opposed  to  them  was  the  Federal  party,  which,  though  strong  in 
influence  and  wealth,  was  numerically  weak.  They  were  wont  to  call 
their  opponents  "  Screaming  War  Hawks  "  and  took  to  themselves  the 
dignified  name  "  Peace  part)'."  The  Friends  occupied  a  neutral  ground, 
not  that  they  had  no  interest  in  occurring  events  or  in  possible  results, 
but  they  were  checked  by  a  conscientious  opposition  to  warfare  in  any 
cause.  They  were  Federalistic  in  action  without  themselves  being  Fed- 
eralists, but  they  were  nobly  and  truly  patriotic  and  loyal  in  their 
.Vmericanism,  but  never  demonstrative  or  frankly  outspoken  in  the  ex- 
pression (jf  their  convictions.  In  their  quiet  and  unassuming  manner 
they  lent  substantial  aid  to  the  cause  of  freedom. 

The  old  inhabitants  of  this  region,  the  Seneca  Indians,  following  the 
advice  of  their  renowned  sachem,  Red  Jacket,  at  first  declared  lor  neu- 
trality, but  when  the  British  invaded  their  reservation  lands  that  action 
was  a  signal  for  warlike  operations  and  they  became  united  with  Amer- 
ican soldiers.  The  militiamen  from  Ontario  County,  therefore  from 
Yates,  were  under  the  command  of  Gen.  Amos  Hall,  who  at  one 
time  commanded  the  American  troops  on  the  Lake  Ontario  frontier. 

But  it  does  not  become  this  narrative  to  dwell  at  length  upon  the 
scenes  and  events,  as  they  have  but  a  remote  bearing  upon  the  subject 


YATLS  COUNTY  ORGANIZED.  105 

of  which  this  work  purports  to  treat.  The  results  of  the  war  are  written 
in  the  conflicts  on  Lake  Erie,  the  repulse  of  the  British  on  the  Delaware, 
the  invasion  of  New  York,  and  the  attempt  to  control  the  Hudson  River 
and  Lake  Champlain.  The  battles  at  Black  Rock  and  Lundy's  Lane,  the 
capture  of  Niagara  and  Oswego,  the  burning  of  Newark,  the  battle  at 
Plattsburgh,  together  with  naval  engagements  in  American  waters  were 
the  chief  events  of  the  war,  and  were  followed  by  the  withdrawal  or  sur- 
render of  the  British  forces  and  the  final  treaty  of  peace,  wiiich  was 
ratified  February  17,  1815.  Tlie  Americans  had  fought  their  last  battle 
with  a  foreign  foe. 


CHAPTER  L\. 

Organization  of  Yates  County  — The  Acts  of  the. Legislature  regarding  It — Glimpses 
ai  the  inside  History^  Naming  the  County  —  Governor  Yates  its  Godfather — [The  first 
Court-House  and  Gaol  destroyed  by  Fire  —  The  new  Court-House  —  The  second  Jail 
Burned  —  The  present  Jail  —  The  Clerk's  and  Surrogate's  Offices  —  The  County  Farm 
and  Property  —  The  civil  List  —  Federal  Officers  —  State  Officers  —  County  Officers  — 
County  Societies  and  ()rganizations. 

YATES  COUNTY  was  brought  into  existence  by  virtue  of  an  act 
of  the  legislature  of  New  York  passed  and  adopted  on  February 
5,  1823.  The  organization  of  a  new  county  out  of  the  territory  of 
old  Ontario  became  necessary  from  the  fact  that  the  population  and  in- 
terests of  its  southern  towns  had  by  this  time  assumed  large  proportions, 
and  the  convenience  of  the  people  residing  in  them  demanded  a  sub- 
division of  the  mother  shire  and  the  erection  of  a  new  body  politic. 
This  was  the  ostensible  and  apparent  purpose  of  the  persons  most  in- 
terested in  the  proposed  new  formation,  and  was  the  chief  argument 
used  by  the  promoters  of  the  scheme, — the  convenience  of  the  people, — 
but  underneath  the  surface  lay  the  desire  to  gratify  political  ambitioti 
in  the  breasts  of  certain  individuals.  But  whatever  may  have  been  the 
motive  which  actuated  the  movement  it  cannot  be  the  i)rovince  of  this 
work  to  criticise  or  commend  the  action  of  the  persons  engaged  in  it. 
It  was  a  fair  proposition  and  one  that  could  be  productive  of  none  but 


lo6  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COU.XTY. 

good  results.  The  convenience  of  the  majorit}'  of  the  people  was  a  suf- 
ficient cause  for  building  up  a  new  county  in  the  State,  and  had  the 
prime  movers  in  the  enterprise  been  governed  by  other  than  pure  sin- 
gleness of  purpose  the  public  at  large  never  realized  anj'  but  substan- 
tial and  beneficial  results  in  the  final  consummation. 

The  enacting  clause  of  the  act  above  referred  to  reads  in  part  as  fol- 
lows: "All  that  part  of  the  county  of  Ontario  comprising  the  territory 
hereinafter  mentioned,  viz.  :  the  towns  of  Benton.  Milo,  Middlesex,  Italy, 
and  Jerusalem,  in  Ontario  County,  shall,  from  and  after  the  passing  of 
this  act,  be  a  separate  and  distinct  county  by  the  name  of  Yates.  And 
the  freeholders  and  other  inhabitants  of  the  said  county  of  Yates  shall 
have  and  enjoy  all  and  every  the  same  rights,  powers,  and  privileges 
as  the  freeholders  and  inhabitants  of  any  of  the  counties  of  this  State  are 
by  law  entitled  to  and  enjo}-." 

Thus  was  the  count)'  erected,  but  not  according  to  its  present  area 
and  extent.  By  an  act  of  the  legislature  passed  the  6th  day  of  April, 
1S24,  supplementary  to  the  original  act,  an  addition  was  made  to  the 
county's  territory,  as  follows:  From  and  after  January  i,  1826,  all 
that  part  of  the  county  of  Steuben,  including  Barrington,  and  all  that 
part  of  Reading  lying  north  of  the  north  line  of  lot  No.  15,  between 
the  old  and  new  pre-emption  lines,  and  north  of  an  east  and  west  line 
between  the  lots  numbers  seven  and  eight  from  the  new  pre-emption 
line  and  the  Seneca  Lake,  shall  be  annexed  to  the  county  of  Yates. 
The  second  section  of  the  same  act  also  provided  that  all  that  part  of 
the  town  of  Reading  within  the  limits  aforesaid  shall  be  a  separate 
town  by  the  name  of  Starkey  ;  and  the  first  town  meeting  shall  be  held 
at  the  house  occupied  by  Stephen  Reeder. 

At  the  time  of  the  passage  of  the  original  act  creating  this  county 
Aaron  Remer  was  one  of  the  members  of  Assembh-  from  Ontario,  the 
mother  county,  and  as  such  was  of  great  use  and  \'alue  in  bringing  the 
count}'  into  existence.  The  news  that  the  bill  had  passed  was  no  sooner 
brought  to  the  ears  of  the  people  of  Penn  Yan  and  its  locality  than  a 
committee  of  strong  and  leading  men  at  once  waited  upon  the  e.xecu 
tive  at  Albany  to  urge  his  approval  of  the  measure.  This  committee 
comprised  Aaron  Remer,  Morris  F.  Sheppard,  Joel  Dorman,  William 
M.  Oliver,  William  Cornwell,  and  others.     They  repaired  at  once  to  the 


^l-u/^^^ 


YATES  COUNTY  AFTER  BE/ JVC  ERECTED.  107 

capitol,  paid  their  respects  to  Governor  Yates,  and  addressed  liini  to  tlie 
effect  that  "  they  had  called  to  have  him  own  and  acknowledge  his  new 
born  child,"  one  of  the  committee  then  handing  him  a  copy  of  the  bill. 
"Oh  yes,  gentlemen,"  responded  the  governor,  "the  executive  will 
with  pleasure  immediately  christen  and  proclaim  his  own  darling  off- 
spring." Then,  taking  his  pen,  the  governor  wrote  in  a  bolder  hand 
than  usual  these  words:  "Approved — Joseph  C.  Yates."  This  being 
done  the  bill  was  handed  back  to  the  visitors  with  the  remark  :  "  There, 
it  is  now  a  law." 

The  county  being  duly  erected  the  first  step  to  follow  was  its  full  and 
complete  organization,  the  erection  of  county  buildings  at  the  designated 
shire  town,  and  the  organization  of  courts  and  various  other  branches  of 
local  government.  The  act  of  1823  also  provided  "that  John  Sutton, 
of  Tompkins  County,  George  H.  Feeter,  of  Herkimer  County,  and  Joseph 
B.  Walton,  of  Otsego  County,  shall  be  commissioners  for  the  purpose  of 
examining  and  impartially  determining  the  proper  site  or  sites  for  a 
court-house  and  gaol." 

It  was  further  provided  that  "  there  shall  be  held  a  Court  of  Common 
Pleas  and  a  Court  of  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace,  to  be  held  in  three 
terms,  to  commence  as  follows:  1st  Tuesday  in  June,  1st  Tuesday  in 
October,  and  the  2d  Tuesday  in  Januarj'."  Further  it  was  provided 
that  the  first  term  of  court  should  be  held  in  the  house  of  Asa  Cole,  in 
Benton,  but  still  in  the  village  of  PennYan,and  afterward  and  until  the 
court-house  should  be  completed  at  such  place  as  the  judge  of  the 
Common  Pleas  should  designate.  Until  the  "  gaol  be  completed  "  it  was 
directed  by  the  act  that  prisoners  should  be  confined  in  the  gaol  of  On 
tario  County.  Also  the  Board  of  Supervisors  was  directed  to  meet  at 
the  house  of  Miles  Benham.in  Milo,  to  raise  money  for  building  a  court- 
house and  gaol  ;  the  sum  of  $2,500  to  be  raised  the  first  year  and  a  like 
amount  the  year  following.  The  worthy  commissioners  who  had  been 
designated  to  act  in  the  matter  of  locating  the  county  seat  found  them- 
selves beset  on  all  sides  with  aspiring  applicants.  Penn  Yan  in  Milo  of 
course  held  the  advantage,  being  the  most  available  and  central  town  of 
the  county,  but  notwithstanding  that  the  people  residing  in  and  near 
Dresden  put  forth  a  claim  and  re-inforced  it  with  strong  argument. 
Jerusalem  also  sought  the  prize,  and  had  her  representatives  been  sue- 


io8  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

ccssful  what  is  now  Kinney's  Corners  miglit  ha\e  been  the  seat  of  jus- 
tice of  Yates  County.  The  claims  of  Dresden  w  ere  mainly  based  upon 
its  proximity  to  Seneca  Lake,  the  waters  of  which  were  then  a  princi- 
pal thoroughfare  of  travel  between  north  and  south  points.  Moreover 
Dresden  lay  quite  near  the  ancient  site  on  which  first  settled  the  pio- 
neer Friends,  and  theirs  was  almost  historic  ground.  Jerusalem  became 
the  final  home  of  The  Friend,  many  of  her  substantial  followers  being 
then  residents  there,  and  within  the  borders  of  the  town  was  as  suitable 
a  location  as  could  be  desired,  and  one  which  would  be  central  and 
easily  accessible  to  the  people  of  the  whole  county. 

But  in  the  little  village  of  Penn  Yan  there  dwelt  men  of  w-orth  and 
large  influence;  men  who  had  been  chiefly  instrumental  in  bringing 
about  the  county  erection  and  whose  judgment  in  the  matter  was  not 
to  be  disregarded.  Furthermore  Abraham  Wagener,  with  his  charac- 
teristic generosity  and  public  spiritcdness,  stepped  forward  with  a  do- 
nation of  a  large  lot  of  land  and  upon  which  the  count}'  buildings 
should  be  erected.  This  tract  comprised,  according  to  the  deed  on 
record,  two  acres  of  land.  Penn  Yan  also  was  then  the  most  metropoli- 
tan village  in  the  county,  and  with  the  great  influence  brought  to  bear 
in  its  favor  it  could  not  be  otherwise  than  that  the  county  buildings 
should  be  erected  there.  Wherefore,  after  patientl}'  hearing  all  the 
arguments  of  interested  parties,  and  after  the  customary  mature  delib 
eration  (as  a  matter  of  form  perhaps),  the  commissioners  designated  the 
village  of  Penn  Yan,  in  the  town  of  Milo,  as  the  seat  of  justice  of  Yates 
County.  This  important  question  being  satisfactorily  settled  it  only  re- 
mained for  the  supervisors  to  proceed  with  the  construction  of  the  court- 
house, jail,  and  county  biiikling.  The  act  had  already  provided  for  the 
raising  by  tax  levy  of  $5,000,  and  had  also  provided  that  William  Shat- 
tuck,  of  Benton,  and  George  Shearman  and  Samuel  Stewart,  of  Milo, 
should  be  appointed  "commissioners  to  superintend  the  erection  of  the 
court-house  and  gaol  at  the  place  the  commissioners  first  appointed  shall 
designate,  provided  that  suitable  lot  or  lots  therefor  be  conve)-ed  to  the 
supervisors  of  Yates  County  and  their  successors  forever."  It  was 
this  last  proviso  that  Abraham  Wagener  satisfied  when  he  deeded  the 
two  acre  tract  to  the  county. 

Under  the  direction  of  Commissioners  Shattuck,  Shearman,  and  Stew- 


THE  COUNTY'S  COURT-HOUSES.  109 

art  the  first  court-house  was  erected.  It  is  stiU  remembered  by  some 
older  residents  as  a  plain,  substantial  brick  building,  not  vastly  different 
in  appearance  from  the  present  court-house,  but  somewhat  smaller  in 
size.  Its  interior  was  so  arranged  and  constructed  as  to  furnish  accom- 
modations for  county  officers,  and  also  was  provided  with  cells  for  the 
confinement  of  prisoners.  In  fact  it  was  a  sort  of  combination  building 
for  use  both  as  court-house  and  jail.  Yet  it  was  honestly  and  faithfully 
built,  and  ample  for  the  requirements  of  the  county  at  that  time.  Un- 
like many  more  recent  structures  in  this  county  and  elsewhere  the  old 
court-house  is  understood  as  having  been  built  within  the  appropriation. 

In  1834,  as  near  as  can  at  present  be  ascertained,  the  old  court  house 
of  Yates  County  was  destroyed  b)-  an  unfortunate  fire.  The  loss  oc- 
curred just  at  noon  on  the  4th  or  5th  of  the  month.  Of  course  it 
became  necessary  to  erect  a  new  building,  the  site  for  which  was  desig- 
nated as  the  same  upon  which  the  first  structure  occupied.  The  new 
court-house  is  still  standing,  although  occasional  repairs  have  been  made 
since  1840.  It  was  not  completed  and  ready  for  occupancy  until  about 
1835,  as  is  evidenced  in  the  fact  that  the  Common  Pleas  judges  in  Aug- 
ust, 1834,  designated  the  house  of  Robert  R.  Heecher  as  the  place  for 
holding  the  next  term  of  court.  The  second  court-house  was  an  \m- 
provement  upon  the  first  in  that  it  was  larger,  more  comfortable,  and 
relieved  of  the  often  annoying  presence  of  jail  occupants.  The  lower 
floor  was  arranged  for  county  officers'  quarters,  while  the  upper  story 
was  finished  for  court  uses.  The  building  still  stands,  and  while  not  at- 
tractive in  appearance  is  nevertheless  a  firm  structure.  The  new  jail 
was  built  about  the  same  time  on  the  land  fronting  Liberty  street.  This 
was  also  a  substantial  building  of  stone  and  frame,  but  was  burned 
about  1857,  having  been  set  on  fire  by  a  prisoner  confined  within  its 
walls.  The  prisoner  was  Albert  Hathaway,  of  Barrington,  who  had 
burned  several  buildings  in  his  town,  but  was  at  last  arrested,  indicted, 
and  put  on  trial.  The  defence  made  was  the  more  recently  popular 
plea  of  insanity  and  the  trial  resulted  in  acquittal  on  that  ground. 

In  1857  the  new  and  present  substantial  jiil  and  sherift"'s  residence 
was  erected.  It  is  of  stone,  covered  with  a  coating  of  plastic  material. 
The  cells  are  constructed  with  solid  cast-iron  fronts,  making  the  jail  de- 
partment  secure  as  a  place  of  imijrisonment  and   remarkably  free  from 


1 1  o  HIS  TOR  Y  OF  YA  TES  CO  UN  T  Y. 

the  possibility  of  burning.  It  was  built  b)'  Charles  V.  Bush,  of  Penn 
Yan,  at  a  cost  of  about  $8,000.  In  1889  there  was  erected  on  tlie  court- 
house lot  an  elegant  count}'  building  for  the  use  of  the  clerk  and  sur- 
rogate. It  is  virtuall)'  a  double  building,  the  north  side  being  the  clerk's 
oflfice  and  depository  for  county  records,  while  the  south  side  is  occu- 
pied on  the  ground  floor  as  the  surrogate's  office  and  above  for  private 
offices  by  the  same  officer.  This  building  was  erected  at  an  expense  of 
about  $10,000  or  $1 1,000,  an  amount  considerably  in  excess  of  the  con- 
tract price.      It  was  built  by  Hershel  Pierce,  of  Dundee. 

This  was  the  second  building  of  its  special  kind  in  the  count)',  the 
former  having  stood  on  the  same  site,  but  occupying  less  ground  and 
being  less  ornamental.  The  old  so-called  county  building  was  a  small 
stone  structure  and  was  built  soon  after  the  burning  of  the  first  court- 
house. The  front  was  occupied  by  the  clerk's  office  and  the  rear  part 
by  the  surrogate.  It- was  an  unsightly  affair  and  unsuitable  for  the  use 
required  of  it;  therefore  it  was  torn  down  to  make  room  for  a  new 
and  more  convenient  structure,  one  that  should  be  a  credit  to  the 
county  which  owned  it. 

The  foregoing  is  a  record  of  the  public  buildings  of  the  county  of 
Yates  which  have  been  and  are  in  use  in  connection  with  its  administra- 
tion and  governmental  affairs.  But  the  county  has  one  other  property 
which  demands  some  notice  in  this  place.  Yates  County  had  not  been 
a  separate  organization  for  more  than  four  or  five  years  before  its  people 
and  officers  began  discussing  the  question  of  establishing  a  home  for  the 
unfortunate  and  indigent  element  of  local  population.  In  1824  the 
State  legislature  passed  an  act  which  made  a  general  provision  for  the 
maintenance  of  thjs  poor  of  the  several  counties  of  the  State,  and  under 
this  law  the  supervisors  of  the  county  took  the  initial  steps  toward  the 
establishment  of  a  county  infirmary.  The  matter  was  under  discussion 
early  in  October,  1829,  at  which  time  the  supervisors  filed  with  the  clerk 
a  certificate  which  read  as  follows  : 

"  In  compliance  witli  the  tenth  section  of  an  act  passed  the  27th  of  November,  1824, 
relative  to  County  Poor-Houses,  we  hereby  determine  that  it  will  be  beneficial  to  the 
county  of  Yates  to  erect  a  county  poor-house  therein. 

"  Given  under  our  hands  this  loth  day  of  October,  1829. 

"Jonathan  Whittaker,  George  Youngs.  Clarkson  Martin,  Alfred  Brown.  Asher 
Spicer,  James  Christie,  .Abraham  Maxfield." 


THE  POOR-HOUSE  AND  FARM.  iii 

Thereafter  the  supervisors  of  the  county  agreed  upon  the  purchase  of 
lands  for  poor-house  purposes.  The  deed  was  executed  April  14,  1830, 
by  Alfred  Brown,  of  Jerusalem,  to  the  superintendents  of  the  poor  of 
Yates  County,  Elijah  Spencer,  Joel  Dornian,  Jabez  French,  John  War- 
ner, and  James  C.  Robinson,  wliereby,  in  consideration  of  the  sum  of 
$1,200,  the  grantor  conveyed  to  the  grantees,  or  to  their  successors  in 
office  or  legal  representatives,  125  acres  of  land  in  the  town  of  Jerusa- 
lem. This  is  the  same  tract  of  land  now  in  part  used  by  the  county  as 
a  poor-house  farm,  although  the  area  of  the  same  has  been  increased  so 
as  to  now  contain  180  acres. 

The  Yates  County  poor-  house  and  its  management  have  at  times  been 
the  subjects  of  much  discussion,  and  no  little  anxiety  on  the  part  of  the 
supervisors,  the  press,  and  the  people  of  the  county  as  well.  There  have 
been  charges  of  corruption  and  extravagance  which  may  not  have  been 
wliolly  groundless.  It  was  during  the  period  extending  from  1855  to 
i860  that  the  subject  was  uppermost  in  the  jjublic  and  official  mind, 
but  eventually  the  matter  was  adjusted,  or  settled,  and  aftairs  resumed 
their  usual  quiet  state.  From  that  to  the  present  time  there  has  been 
no  serious  disturbance  concerning  the  county  poor-house  management. 
Now  having  at  some  length  referred  to  tiie  various  properties  and  in- 
terests of  Yates  County  it  is  proper  that  there  should  be  also  made  a  rec- 
ord of  the  names  of  persons  who  have  been  identified  with  the  county  in 
the  administration  of  its  aftairs.  In  other  words  the  present  connection  is  a 
proper  one  in  which  to  publish  a  complete  civil  list  of  officers  who  have 
represented  Yates  Count)'  either  in  Federal,  State,  or  local  government : 

I'reHdential  Electors. — Truman  Spencer,  1832;  Eiisha  Doubleday,  1836;  Eli  Slieldon, 
1848;  Daiiu.s  A.  Ogden,  1852;  Meletiah  H.  Lawrence,  18".6;  Myron  II.  Weaver,  18G4; 
Everttt  Brown,  1888. 

Members  of  Congress. — William  Babcock,  1831-32;  Joshua  Lee,  1835-36;  John  T. 
Andrews,  1837-38  (then  living  at  Bath);  William  M.  Oliver,  1841-42;  Samuel  S.  Ells- 
worth, 1845-40;  Andrew  Oliver,  1853-54,1855-06;  Daniel  Morris,  18G3-64,  18G5-GG. 

Canal  Commissioner  Neiv  York  State. — Darius  A.  Ogdfu,  Novomhtr  7.  187G,  to  I'ehru- 
ary  8,  1878. 

Canal  Appraiser. —  Darius  A.  Ogden,  appointed  March  1,  1853. 

Inspector  0/  Slate  Prisons. — George  Wageiier,  elected  November  3,  1874. 

Prison  Labor  Commissioner. — Darius  .\.  Ogden,  appointed  February  11.  1884. 

State  Senators. — William  M.  Oliver,  1827-3(1,  president  ;yro  tempore  in  1829;  Richard 
H.  William):,  1846-47;  James  Huntington.  185G-57;  Abraham  V.  Harpeuding.  187M- 
71  :  George  P.  Lord,  1880-83. 


112  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

Memhers  of  Assembly.' — Aaron  Remer,  1823  ;  Philip  Robinson,  1824 ;  Avery  Smilli, 
1825;  James  P.  Robinson,  1B26;  Morris  F.  Sheppard,  1827-29;  Aaron  Remer,  1830- 
31;  Joshua  Lee,  1832;  James  P.  Robinson,  1833;  Meredith  Mallorj',  1834;  Mordecai 
Ogden,  183.'i-36 ;  Miles  Benham,  1837-38;  Samuel  S.  Ellsworth,  1839 ;  Heman  Chap- 
man, 1840;  Henry  Spence,  1841;  Richard  H.  Williams,  1842;  Thomas  Seamans,  1843 ; 
Kzekiel  Castnor,  1844;  George  W.  Wolcott,  184");  Nehemiah  Raplee,  1846;  Hatley  N. 
Dox,  1847 ;  John  Wisewell,  1848 ;  Melatiah  H.  Lawrence,  1849 ;  Samuel  Jayne,  jr., 
1850;  Charles  S.  Hoyt.  1851;  De  Witt  C.  Stanford,  1852;  D.  G.  Underwood,  1853; 
J.  R.  Van  Osdel,  1854 ;  Henry  H.  Gage,  1855 ;  A.  V.  Harpending,  1850 ;  John  Mallior, 
1857;  Daniel  Morris,  1858;  George  R.  Barden,  1859;  Gilbert  Sherer,  1800;  Darius  A. 
Ogdeu,  1861  ;  Guy  Shaw,  1862;  0.  G.  Loomis,  18G3 ;  Eben  S.  Smith,  1864-65;  Charles 
S.  Hoyt,  186(i;  Oliver  S.  Williams,  1867;  Foster  A.  Hixon,  18G8  ;  William  T.  Remer, 
1869;  George  P.  Lord,  1870-71;  Morris  B.  Flinn,  1872;  George  W.  Spencer,  1873; 
Hanford  Struble,  1874;  John  Sutherland,  1875;  Mason  L.  Baldwin,  1876;  Joel  M. 
Clark,  1877-78;  Asa  P.  Fish,  1879-80;  John  T.  Andrews,  1881  ;  Staflbrd  C.  Cleveland, 
1882;  Henry  C.  Harpending,  1883  ;  Clark  E.  Smiih,  1884-85;  George  R.  Cornwell, 
1886-87;  William  A.Carson,  1888;  Calvin  J.  Huson,  1889;  Everett  Brown,  1890-91. 

Judges  of  Common  P/feas.— William  M.  Oliver,  1823-27  ;  Samuel  S.  Ellsworth,  1828- 
32;  Cornelius  Masten,  18.33-37 ;  William  M.  Oliver,  1838-43  ;  Andrew  OHver,  1844-46. 

Surrogates. — Abraham  P.  Vosburg,  1823-26;  Andrew  F.Oliver,  1827-39;  Edward 
J.  Fowle,  1840-43;  Evert  Van  Buren,  1844-46. 

The  constitution  of  1846  abolished   the  office  of  surrogate  except  in 

counties  where  the  population  exceeds  40,000,  and  devolved  its  duties 

on  the  county  judge. 

County  Judges  and  Surrogates. — Andrew  Oliver,  1847-50;  John  L.  Lewis,  1851-54; 
William  S.  Briggs,  1855-70;  Andrew  Oliver.  1871-76;  William  S.  Briggs,  1877-82; 
Hanford  Struble,  1883. 

County  Clerks. — Abraham  H.  Beiniett,  1823-31  ;  George  Shearman,  1832-37;  Abner 
Woodworth,  1838-40 ;  Samuel  Stevens,  1841-43 ;  David  H.  Buell,  1844-46 ;  Russell 
n.  Fargo,  1847-49;  Alfred  Reed,  1850-52;  Clarkson  Martin,  1853-55;  Lewis  R.  Gra- 
ham, 1856-61;  Alexander  Bassett,  1862-64;  Samuel  Botsford,  1865-67;  Alden  D. 
Fox,  18(18-70;  George  W.Spencer,  1871-73;  Joseph  F.  Crosby,  1874-76;  Edward  M. 
Carpenter,  1877-79  ;  Horatio  N.  Hazen,  1880-82;  Edward  Kendall,  1883-88 ;  Joseph 
Crosby,  1889-91;  William  S.  Cornwell,  1892. 

JVeasurer.?.— William  Babcock,  1823-26  ;  Henry  Bradley,  1829  ;  Eben  Smith,  1830- 
35;  E.  B.  Jones,  1836-39;  Leander  Reddy,  1841 ;  James  D.  Morgan,  1844  ;  WiHiam 
Whitney,  1847-51  ;  Stephen  B.  Ayres,  1852-54;  John  Ellsworth,  1855-60;  James 
Burns,  1861-71  ;  S.  B.  Ayres,  by  appointment,  1872;  Seymour  Tracy,  1873-75;  Oliver 
G.  Shearman,  1876-78;  Jareb  D.  Bordwell,  1879;  Daniel  F.  Randolph,  1880-85; 
J.  Henry  Smith,  1886-94. 

'  In  the  lists  of  county  officers  this  explanation  is  necessary  :  The  date  of  election  is  given  of  mem- 
bers of  Assembly,  county  judge,  and  district  attorney  ;  the  date  of  appointment  of  first  judges  of 
Common  Pleas  ;  and  the  date  of  commencement  or  term  of  office  o£  clerk,  sheriff,  treasurer,  and 
school  commissioner. 


CO  UN  T  T  OFFICERS  —  CO  UN  T  V  SOCIE  TIES.  1 1 3 

Sheriffs. — James  P.  Robinson,  1823-25;  Ebenezer  Brown,  1820-28;  Miles  Benham, 
1829-31:  Alfred  Brown,  1832-34:  Joseph  Keteluim,  1835-37;  Uriah  Hanford,  1838- 
40;  Jeremiah  B.Andrews,  1841-43;  Smith  D.  Mallory,  1844-4G;  Martin  Holmes, 
1847-49;  George  Wagener,  1850-'i2  ;  Nathanial  Squire,  1853-55 ;  Daniel  Lanning, 
1856-58;  William  T.  Remer,  1859-61  ;  John  Underwood,  1802-64  ;  Joseph  Crosby, 
1865-67;  George  Wagener,  1868-70 ;  John  L.  Dinturft',  1871-73 ;  Theodore  Bogart, 
1874-76:  Spencer  Clark,  1877-79;  Charles  Bell.  1880-82 ;  Charles  Spcehnan,  1883-85; 
Michael  A.  Pearce.  1880-88;    Perry  W.  Danes,  1889-91;  William  T.  Beaumont,  1892. 

District  Attorneys. — lames  Taylor,  1826-30;  Chaile.'s  G.  Judd,  1831-38;  John  L. 
Lewis,  1839-40;  Daniel  Morris,  1847-50 ;  D.  J.  Snnderlin,  1851-52 ;  A.  V.  Harpend- 
ing,  1853-58;  Henry  M.  Stewart,  1859-61;  John  L.  Wolcott,  1863-67;  Hantord 
Striible,  1868-73;  Henry  M.  Stewart,  1874-76;  John  T.  Knox,  1877-82;  Andrew  C. 
Harwick,  1883-85;  Charles  S.  Baker,  1886-91 ;  Tliomas  Cormody,  by  appointment 
from  April,  1891,  to  January  1,  1892;  John  T.  Knox,  1892. 

School  Commi.isioner.1. — Henry  A.  Bruner,  1858-60  ;  George  P.  Lord,  1859-66;  Schuy- 
ler Snlherland,  1867-69  ;  J.Warren  Brown,  1870-72  ;  Bradford  S.  Wixon,  1873-75  ; 
Wdliara  F.  Van  Tuyl,  1876-81  ;  Harlan  P.  Bush,  1882-84;  James  A.  Thayer,  1885-90; 
Llewellyn  J.  Barden,  1891. 

While  possibly  not  appropriate  subjects  of  discussion  and  narration 
in  this  particular  connection  the  writer  nevertheless  makes  bold  enough 
to  here  devote  space  to  a  record  of  the  organizations  and  societies  of 
the  county.  Of  these  there  are  but  two  in  the  countv  that  are  ncit 
local  in  their  general  character,  and  these  are  the  Yates  Count)-  Agri- 
cultural Society  and  the  Vates  Count)'  Historical  Society,  which  will 
be  treated  in  the  order  of  seniority. 

As  early  as  the  year  i  84O  an  agricultural  society  was  organized  in 
Yates  County  under  the  name  as  above  given,  and  from  that  or  tlie  suc- 
ceeding year  there  has  been  held  an  annua!  fair  in  the  county,  generally  at 
or  near  the  county  seat,  but  occasionally  in  some  other  town  thiin 
Milo.  The  records  of  the  first  year  of  the  society's  existence  are  mea- 
ger and  imperfect,  and  it  is  quite  difficult  to  determine  whether  or  not 
any  fair  meeting  was  held  during  1840.  The  first  exhibition  was  held 
in  the  court-house  park,  as  were  several  after  that  time.  For  a  time 
also  they  were  held  at  Dundee.  The  society  at  length,  about  1857 
or  '58,  obtained  a  few  acres  of  land  on  what  is  now  Pine  street,  not  far 
from  where  the  Catholic  school  is  situated,  and  here  the  annual  fair 
was  held  until  the  re-organized  society  obtained  the  new  and  more  ex- 
tensive grounds  on  Lake  street. 

The  first  county  fair  held  at   Dundee  was  in  the  year    185  i,  and  was 

15 


1 1 4  HIS  TOR  Y  OF   }  'A  TES  CO  UA'  T ) ". 

thereafter  occasionally  held  there  for  some  time.  In  1871  the  old 
grounds  on  Pine  street  were  disposed  of  and  a  lease  at  once  made  for 
tile  new  tract  on  Lake  street.  The  latter  was  afterward  purchased  by 
the  society.  The  exhibition  hall  originally  used  has  been  transformed 
into  a  horse  barn  and  a  new  and  more  appropriate  building  lias  been 
erected  near  the  entrance  to  the  grounds.  The  latter  was  built  during 
the  year  1891  The  racing  track,  half  a  mile  in  extent,  was  laid  out 
and  built  soon  after  the  premises  were  occupied.  The  grand  stand  was 
erected  by  the  Penn  Van  Driving  Park  Association,  a  local  organization 
of  the  county  seat  who  have  a  lease- hold  interest  in  the  grounds. 

But  what  can  be  said  of  the  history  of  the  Yates  County  Agricultural 
Society?  With  each  annual  fair  there  is  some  change  in  the  character 
of  exhibits,  each  recurring  event  showing  some  new  development  of  the 
county's  resources.  To  describe  them  all  would  require  a  volume,  and 
there  would  be  .s'hown  a  record  of  no  special  value  or  importance. 
Under  the  system  of  business  inaugurated  by  the  old  society  the  ofifi- 
cers  chosen  annually  were  a  president,  a  vice-president  from  each  town, 
secretary,  and  treasurer.  At  a  later  period  the  same  officers  were 
elected  with  the  addition  of  an  executive  board,  one  member  from  each 
town.  In  1855,  under  the  laws  of  1S53,  a  re-organization  of  the  societj- 
was  made  and  the  officers  thereafter  annually  elected  were  president, 
vice  president,  secretary,  and  treasurer.  The  societj'  was  organized 
March  14,  1840.  From  the  time  of  organization,  1840,  to  the  present 
the  chief  officers  of  the  society  have  been  as  follows : 

Tliei-e  appear.s  to  have  been  no  ofticers  elected  in  1840.  1841,  John  Hatniaker,  pres- 
ident; Darin.«  A.  Ogden,  secretary;  Eben  Smith,  treasurer.  1842,  Uriah  Hanford, 
president ;  D.  A.  Ogden,  secretary ;  E.  Smith,  treasurer.  1843,  Ludlow  E.  Lapham, 
president;  D.  A.  Ogden,  secretary  ;  Ezekiel  Castner,  treasurer.  1844,  Romulus  Gilder- 
sleeve,  president;  L.  E.  Lapham,  secretary;  Fitz  A.  Stebbins,  treasurer.  1845,  M.  H. 
Lawrence,  president;  B.  L.  Iloyt,  secretary;  F.  A.  Stebbins,  treasurei.  184(J,  CJiarles 
Lee,  president;  A.  Bigelow,  secretary;  F.  A.  Stebbins,  treasurer.  1847,  John  Mallory, 
president;  A.  Bigelow,  secretary;  F.  A.  Stebbin.s,  treasurer.'  1848,  Adam  Clark,  presi- 
dent; A.  Bigelow,  secretar}';  F.  A.  Stebbins,  treasurer.  1840  and  1850,  same  as  in 
1848.  1851,  Nathan  Raplee,  president;  James  Armstrong,  secretary;  F.  A.  Stebbins, 
treasurer.  1852,  M.  Holmes,  president;  R.  Gildersleeve,  secretary;  F.  A.  Stebbins, 
treasurer.  185.3,  Nelson  Thompson,  president;  Edwin  R.Randall,  secretary;  Guy 
Shaw,  treasurer.  1854,  Nelson  Thompson,  president ;  E.  R.  Randall,  secretary :  George 
Wagener,  treasurer.  1855,  Nel.^on  Thompson,  president;  George  A.  Sheppard,  vice- 
president;   ^V.  S.  Judd,  secretary  ;  J.  S.  Gillett,  tre.isurer.     1850,  Gilbert  Slierer,  pres- 


YATES  COUNTY  AGRICULTURAL  SOCIETY.  115 

ident;  Samuel  V.  Miller,  vice-president;  B.  L.  Hoy t,  secretary  ;  W.  S.  Judd,  treas- 
urer. 1857,  William  T.  Remer,  president;  EzeUie!  Clark,  vice-president;  B.  L.  Hoyt, 
secretary  ;  W.  S.  Judd,  treasurer.  1858,  Job  L.  Babcock,  president;  Guy  Shaw,  vice- 
president;  A.  F.  Stark,  secretary;  B.  L.  Hoyt,  treasurer.  1859  and  I860,  no  record. 
1861,  Guy  Shaw,  president;  John  Southerland,  vice-president;  J.  Mallory,  secretary; 
B.  L.  Hoyt,  treasurer.  1862,  Guy  Shaw,  president;  John  Smith,  vice-president; 
J.  Mallory,  secretary;  B.  L.  Hoyt,  treasurer.  186.3,  George  Wagener,  president ;  John 
Southerland,  vice-president;  W.  S.  Judd,  secretary;  B.  L.  Hoyt,  treasiner.  1864, 
John  Southerland,  president;  Joseph  Abbott,   vice-president;   \V.  S.  Judd,  secretary; 

B.  L.  Hoyt,  treasurer.  1865  and  1866,  no  record.  1867,  Thomas  J.  Lewi.s,  president; 
Charles  H.  Ketclmm,  vice-president;  J.  D.  Jacobus,  secretary;  James  Burns,  treasurer, 
1868,  Thomas  J.  Lewis,  presidontv;  C.  II.  Ketchura.  vice-president;  G.  Y.  Eastman, 
secretary  ;  0.  G.  Shearman,  treasurer.  18(iy,  Charles  H.  Ketchum,  president ;  Darius 
Baker,   vice-president;   G.  Y.  Eastman,  secretary ;  0.  G.  Shearman,   treasurer.     1870, 

C.  H.  Ketchum,  president ;  D.  Baker,  vice-president ;  S.  C.  Hatmaker,  secretary  ;  0.  G. 
Shearman,  treasurer.  1871,  Dudley  W.  Dox,  president;  John  N.  Macomb,  jr.,  vice- 
president  ;  John  W.  Stewart,  secretary ;  0.  G.  Shearman,  treasurer.  1872,  D.  W. 
Dox,  president ;  J.  N.  Macomb,  jr.,  vice-president ;  J.  D.  Morgan,  secretary ;  0.  G. 
Shearman,  treasurer.  187.3,  William  J.  Rector,  president;  0.  G.  Shearman,  vice-presi- 
dent :  J.  D.  ilorgan,  secretary';  G.  Y.  Eastman,  treasurer.  1874,  William  J.  Rector, 
president;  0.  G.  Shearman,  vice-president;  J.  D.  Morgan,  secretary;  G.  Y.  Eastman, 
treasurer.  1875,  Rowland  J.  Gardner,  president;  Watkins  Davis,  vice-president; 
.1.  D.Morgan,  secretary;  B.  L.  Hoyt,  treasurer.  1876,  R.  J.  Gardner,  president; 
J.  Warner  Smith,  vice-president;  J.  D.  Morgan,  secretary;  B.  L.  Hoyt,  treasurer. 
1S77,  Watkins  Davis,  president;  S.^muel  B.  Gage,  vice-president ;  J.  D.  Morgan,  secre- 
tary; B.  L.  Hoyt,  treasurer.  1878,  Samuel  B.Gage,  president;  Dr.  Byron  Spence, 
vice  president ;  J.  D.  Morgan,  secretary;  B.  L.  Hoyt,  treasurer.  1879,  Samuel  B. 
Gage,  president;  James  Miller,  vice-president;  J.  D.  Morgan,  secretary  ;  W.  T.  Remer, 
treasurer.  1880,  Ira  Brundage,  president;  Frank  R.  Cole,  vice-president;  W.  S.  Judd, 
secretary  ;  0.  G.  Shearman,  treasurer.  1881  and  1882,  Ira  Brundage,  president ;  F.  R. 
Cole,  vice-president;  James  A.  Thayer,  secretary  ;  O.  G.  Shearman,  treasurer.  1883, 
Ira  Brundage,  president;  A.  C.  Shearman,  vice-president;  J.A.Thayer,  secretary; 
(».  G.  Shearman,  treasurer.  1884,  Frank  R  Cole,  president;  James  C.  Spooner,  vice- 
president  ;  J.  A.  Thayer,  secretary ;  D.  F.  Randolph,  treasurer.  1885,  F.  R.  Cole, 
president ;  J.  C.  Spooner,  vice-president ;  George  C.  Snow,  secretary  ;  D.  F.  Randolph, 
treasurer.  1886,  F.R.Cole,  president;  Abner  Gardner,  vice-president;  Charles  D. 
Davis,  secretary;  O.  G.  Shearman,  treasurer.  1887,  Ira  Brundage,  president;  John  R. 
Gardner,  vice-president;  C.  D.  Davis,  secretary  ;  Charles  W.  Taylor,  treasurer.  1888, 
John  H.  Butler,  president;  II.  C.  Tallmadge,  vice-president  ;  James  A.  Thayer,  secre- 
tary ;  C.  W.Taylor,  treasurer.  1889,  John  H.Butler,  president;  H.  C.  Tallmadge, 
vice-president;  J.  A.  Thayer,  secretary:  E.  C.  (Jillett,  treasurer.  1890  and  1891, 
Reading  B.  Lefterts,  president;  Oscar  Ha/.en.  vice-president;  James  S.  Whitaker,  sec- 
retary;  E.  C.  Gillett.  treasurer. 


1 1 6  HIS  TOR  J  ■  OF  YA  TES  CO  UXT  Y. 

In  January,  i860,  there  appeared  in  the  press  of  the  count\  an  "Early 
Settlers  Notice,"  which  read  as  follows : 

•'A  meeting  of  those  who  were  settlers  of  the  territory'  embraced  in  Yates  County 
prior  to  its  establishment,  February  5,  1823,  and  their  descendants,  will  be  held  at  the 
office  of  John  L.  Lewis,  jr.,  in  Penn  Van,  on  Saturday,  January  i,  i860,  at  one  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon,  for  the  purpose  of  adopting  measures  to  form  a  County  Historical  So- 
ciety, for  the  collection  of  the  memorials  of  the  early  settlement  of  the  towns  in  the 
county  and  of  the  early  settlers,  and  other  kindred  facts  connected  with  the  history  of 
the  county. 

■'  Dated  January  i6th,  i860. 

••  Samuel  G.  Gage,  Abner  Woodworth,  S.  S.  Ellsworth,  \V.  M.  Oliver,  A.  F.  Whit- 
aker,  Charles  Wagener.  Henry  Bradley,  William  S.  Briggs,  Charles  C.  Sheppard, 
John  L.  Lewis,  in,  Josiah  C.  Swarthout,  John  D.  W'olcott,  M.  H.  Lawrence,"'  and 
many  others. 

In  accordance  with  the  notice  a  general  meeting  was  held  at  the  time 
and  place  indicated,  and  for  the  purpose  of  temporary  organization 
Rtissell  A.  Hunt  was  chosen  cliairnian  and  John  L.  Lewis,  jr.,  secretary. 
Then  a  resolution  was  offered  by  William  M.  Oliver  and  unanimously 
adopted,  as  follows: 

"  Resolved^  That  it  is  expedient  to  organize  and  form  a  County  Historical  Society 
for  the  purpose  of  collecting  and  preserving  the  memorials  of  the  early  settlement  of 
the  county  and  of  the  early  settlers,  and  all  other  facts  connected  with  the  history  of 
the  county,  including  Indian  antiquity  and  history,  and  that  the  necessary  measures 
he  taken  for  that  purpose." 

By  another  resolution  adopted  at  this  meeting  John  L.  Lewis,  jr., 
William  S.  Briggs,  and  M.  H.  Lawrence  were  chosen  a  committee  to 
report  articles  of  association  for  tlie  purpose  of  incorporating  the  so- 
ciety tinder  the  general  ciMporation  law.  The  result  was  the  filing  a 
certificate  of  incorporation  on  ihr  4th  of  Februarj-,  i860,  which  certifi- 
cate reads  in  part  as  follows: 

■'We,  the  undersigned,  Samuel  G.  Gage,  William  S.  Hudson,  Martin  Brown,  Squire 
B.  Whitaker,  Horace  B.  Taylor,  George  S.  Wheeler,  David  H.  Buell,  and  Jose])h 
W.  H.  Havens,  of  Benton  ;  James  D.  Morgan,  James  Cooley.  Cornelius  C.  Maslen, 
John  Hatmaker,  Samuel  S.  Ellsworth,  Russell  A.  Hunt,  Darius  A.  Ogden,  Ebenezer 
B.  Jones,  John  Buxton,  Charles  Wagener,  Stafford  C.  Cleveland,  Adam  Hunt,  George 
A.  Sheppard,  Abraham  W.  Shearman,  William  T.  Remer,  Samuel  H.  Wells,  Alexan- 
der F.  Whitaker,  William  S.  Briggs,  Melatiah  H.  Lawrence,  George  D.  A.  Bridgman, 
of  Milo  ;  Uriah  Hanford  and  Seneca  M.  Badger,  of  Jerusalem  ;  John  Mather,  of  Mid- 
dlesex ;  ^niX  Jeptha  A.  Potter,  of  Potter, — being  severally  citizens  of  the  county  of 
Yates,  and  of  the  Stale  of  New  York,  and  of  the  United   States,  and  of  full   age,  do 


THE  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY  ORGANIZED.  117 

hereby  certify  that  we  have  this  day  formed,  and  do  hereby  constitute  a  body  politic 
and  corporate,  for  oiirsehes  and  our  associates  and  successors,  under  the  provisions 
and  in  pursuance  of  the  act  of  the  legislature  of  this  State,  entitled  '  An  Act  for  the  In- 
corjioration  of  Benevolent,  Charitable,  Scientific,  and  Missionary  Societies,"  passed 
April  12,  184S,  and  the  amendments  thereto. 

••  That  the  name  and  title  of  the  said  society  and  corporation,  and  by  which  it  is  to 
be  known  in  law,  is  '  The  Yales  County  Historical  Society'  and  its  place  of  business 
is  to  be  in  the  village  of  Penn  Yan  in  said  county  of  Yates  ;  that  the  particular  busi- 
ness and  objects  of  said  society  and  corporation  are  of  a  literary  and  scientific  charac- 
ter, being  the  collection  and  preservation  of  the  facts  and  materials  connected  with  the 
early  history  and  settlement  of  the  several  towns  in  the  county  of  Yates  and  of  the 
settlers  thereof,  and  with  the  civil,  and  ecclesiastical,  and  general  history  of  said  towns 
and  of  the  county,  and  biographies  of  its  citizens  from  its  settlement  aforesaid  :  and  of 
the  various  benevolent,  charitable,  scientific,  and  missionary  and  other  societies  and  or- 
ganizations which  do  now  exist  and  have  existed  in  the  said  towns  or  county  ;  and  with 
Indian  history,  antiquities,  language,  manners,  and  customs  within  the  bounds  of  said 
county  :  and  with  the  natural  history  and  topography  of  said  county,  and  all  other  mat- 
ters not  herein  enumerated  connected  with  the  history  of  said  towns  and  of  the  county  ; 
and  also  the  collection  and  keeping  of  a  cabinet  of  curiosities  and  such  books,  maps, 
papers,  and  documents,  and  other  articles  as  may  relate  to  or  be  connected  with  the 
business  and  objects  of  the  society.  That  the  number  of  directors  to  manage  said  so- 
ciety and  corporation  is  nine,  and  that  the  names  of  said  directors  for  the  first  year  of 
its  existence  are  Uriah  Hanford,  Alexander  F.  Whitaker,  Meletiah  H.  Lawrence, 
Charles  Wagener,  Darius  A.  Ogden,  William  S.  Briggs,  David  H.  Buell,  Jeptha  A. 
Potter,  and  John  Hatmaker.'' 

Further  the  certificate  was  signed  and  acknowledged  before  a  justice 
of  the  Supretne  Court  by  each  of  the  corporators  heretofore  named, 
and  by  the  filing  of  the  certificate  with  the  proper  officer  the  Vates 
County  Historical  Society  was  brought  into  existence.  On  the  4th  of 
h'fbruary,  i860,  a  meeting  of  the  citizens  friendly  to  the  society  was 
held  at  tlie  court  house  in  Penn  Yan  at  half  past  lO  o'clock  A.  M.,  at 
which  time  the  articles  of  incorporation  were  duly  approved  and  adopted. 
At  2  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  the  society  re-assembled  and  procctded 
to  elect  its  first  officers,  with  the  following  result :  President,  Samuel  G. 
Gage,  of  Benton  ;  vice-presidents,  Jonatlian  Taylor,  of  Harrington,  ILli- 
sha  Doubleday,  of  Italy,  James  Brown,  of  Jerusalem,  John  Mather,  of 
Middlesex,  Samuel  S.  Ellsworth,  of  Milo,  Baxter  Hobart,  of  Potter, 
Waiter  Wolcott,  of  Starkey,  and  Jolin  A.  McLean,  of  Torrey  ;  recording 
and  corresponding  secretary,  John  L.  Le«  is,  of  Penn  Yan  ;  treasurer, 
William  T.  Rettier,  of  Penn  Yan,  now  of  Benton.      Much  other  business 


1 1 8  HIS  TOR  Y  OF  YA  TES  CO  UN  T  Y. 

was  at  tliis  time  transacted  by  the  society,  prominent  in  which  was  the 
appointment  of  committees  for  eacli  town  whose  duty  it  should  be  to 
report  to  the  society  the  names  of  the  pioneer  and  early  settlers  in  each 
locality,  together  with  other  committees  to  inquire  into  and  report  on 
various  subjects  of  the  county's  history. 

This  much  of  the  society's  history  found  its  way  into  a  printed  pam- 
phlet published  during  the  j-ear  i860.  The  history  that  followed  was 
kept  in  the  books  of  the  recording  officer  of  the  society,  and  with  his 
death  and  the  division  of  his  effects  the  records  became  scattered,  were 
taken  in  fact  from  the  county,  and  are  now  lost  to  its  people  and  to  the 
few  surviving  members  of  the  corporation.  From  its  first  meeting 
and  for  fifteen  or  twenty  years  thereafter  meetings  of  the  society  con- 
tinued to  be  held,  but  as  the  original  and  controlling  members  were 
of  older  stock  they  did  not  appear  to  acquire  much  of  tiie  younger 
blood  in  its  membership,  as  their  ways  and  methods  were  hardly  in  ac- 
cord with  the  popular  younger  ideas.  The  result  was  that  after  a  lapse 
of  about  ten  or  twelve  years  the  society  began  to  decline,  meetings  were 
held  less  frequently,  and  the  corporation  became  virtually  extinct. 

In  the  year  1887,  or  about  that  time,  an  efifort  was  made  to  effect  a 
re- organization  of  the  old  society  under  the  name  of  the  Pioneer  His- 
torical Society  of  Yates  County.  The  invitations  and  publications  of 
the  leading  spirits  in  the  mo\ement  met  with  general  favor  and  a  new 
organization  was  the  result.  Hon.  Hanford  Strubie  was  elected  pres- 
ident, and  a  largely  attended  society  picnic  and  re- union  was  held 
in  the  court-house  park.  Judge  Strubie  on  this  occasion  delivered  one 
of  his  most  interesting  and  able  addresses,  and  the  meeting  was  voted  a 
grand  success.  But  even  with  the  young  energy  infused  into  the  pro- 
ject the  society  proved  to  be  short  lived,  and  now  with  the  expiration 
of  but  five  years  no  trace  of  the  organization  is  to  be  found  except  in 
the  memorv  of  a  few  of  tlie  once  active  members. 


GEOLOGICAL  FORMATIONS.  119 

chapti:r  X. 

GEOLOGY  OF  YATES  COUNTY.' 

THE  surface  of  Yates  County  is  divided  by  five  great  ridges  extend- 
ing in  a  nortliuardly  direction.  These  ridges  gradually  decline 
from  a  height  of  600  to  l,8oo  feet  above  Seneca  Lake  to  a  gentle  un- 
dulating region  in  the  towns  of  Torrey,  Benton,  Potter,  and  Middlesex. 
The  first  ridge  is  between  West  River  Hollow  and  Canandaigua  Lake, 
and  ends  in  an  abrupt  promontory  about  i.ooo  feet  above  the  valley 
beneath  it  and  about  1,780  feet  above  the  level  of  Seneca  Lake.  The 
next  ridge  eastward  lies  between  West  River  Hollow  and  Flint  Creek 
or  Italy  Hollow,  ending  near  Potter  Center  and  in  the  southern  portion 
of  the  town  of  Italy,  presenting  almost  perpendicular  sides  and  rising 
quite  as  high  as  the  one  west  of  it.  The  next  is  called  Italy  Hill,  and 
at  its  highest  point,  which  is  very  near  the  middle  of  the  eastern  bound- 
ary of  the  town,  rises  nearly  as  higli  as  those  west  of  it.  West  Hill 
Ridge  is  next  in  order  and  joins  with  Italy  Hill  in  the  southern  por- 
tions of  Jerusalem  and  Italy,  forming  a  large  area  of  high  land.  Cross- 
ing Larzalier's  Hollow,  through  which  the  waters  of  Lake  Keuka  once 
flowed  into  Kashong  Creek,  we  ascend  East  Hill.  This  elevation  is 
short,  terminating  at  the  north  in  level  lands  near  the  northern  boundary 
of  the  town  of  Jerusalem  and  in  Bluf^"  Point  at  the  soutli.  There  is  a 
cutting  through  this  ridge  at  Branchport  to  Kinney's  Corners,  which 
divided  Bluff  Point  from  the  main  land  and  made  an  island  of  it  when 
the  level  of  the  lake  was  seventy-five  feet  higher  than  at  present.  From 
East  Hill  we  descend  into  the  vaile}'  of  another  former  outlet  of  Lake 
Keuka,  but  more  recent  than  the  one  through  Larzalier's  Hollow.  Be- 
tween this  hollow  and  Seneca  Lake  is  an  elevation  which  lerminates  in 
high  lands  in  the  town  of  Barrington. 

The  three  western  ridges  are  capped  with  the  coarse  sandstones  and 
shales  of  the  lower  part  of  the  Chemung  group.  There  are  no  good 
outcroppings  of  this  rock  in  the  county,  but  from  surface  indications  it 

•  By  Berlin  H.  Wright,  of  Penn  Van,  X.  V. 


I20  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

woukl  appear  that  some  of  tlie  strata  are  highly  fossiliferous.  Tlie 
coarse  white  sandstones  have  yielded  us  some  fine  specimens  of  Dictvo- 
pliyton  tnberosicm  (Conrad  D.),  Nodosnin  (Hall),  and  Lepidodendron  corru- 
gatnin  (Dawson).  Contrary  to  statements  heretofore  made  the  Che- 
mung group  does  not  appear  in  either  Starkey  or  Harrington.  Tlie 
coarse,  easily-broken  sandstones  of  the  lower  Chemung  are  readily  dis- 
tinguished from  the  fine-grained  and  tougher  Portage  rock,  even  in  the 
absence  of  fossil  remains;  and  in  Italy  Hollow,  where  the  junction  of 
the  formations  may  be  seen,  the  difterence  is  very  perceptible. 

The  greater  part  of  Yates  County  is  occupied  by  the  Portage  group. 
The  lower  portion  of  the  group  contains  much  iron  pyrites  and  is  divided 
into  thick,  solid  strata  o{  sandstone  separated  hy  slialy  beds.  The  sand- 
stone is  quarried  in  many  places  and  forms  a  valuable  building  material. 
In  the  southern  part  of  Milo,  on  the  farm  of  Mr.  Valentine,  there  is  a 
large  area  of  naked  rock,  or  covered  in  places  with  a  few  inches  of  soil. 
Here  is  a  fine  exhibition  of  glacial  action  in  the  polished  and  grooved 
surface.  Some  of  the  strice  are  of  considerable  depth  and  all  parallel. 
Deposits  Q'i  tnfa  and  travertine  are  found  in  moist  ravines  in  this  group. 
Concretions  of  various  sizes  and  shapes  are  common  and  often  mistaken 
for  petrifactions.  Small  cubical  crystals  of  iron  pyrites  ("  fool's  gold  ") 
are  not  uncommon  in  some  places. 

P"ine  water-falls  occur  in  several  places.  In  Eggelston's  Gully  in  Bai- 
rington  there  is  one  of  lOO  feet  in  one  unbroken  descent.  Some  very 
good  e.xamples  of  ripple-marks  or  mud-waves  may  here  be  seen.  In 
Bruce's  Gully  in  Milo  are  two  falls  of  sixty  and  forty  feet  each.  Here  in 
Bruce's  Gully,  about  forty  feet  from  the  base  of  the  portage.  Dr.  S.  Hart 
Wright  found  a  fossil  which  Dr.  J.  S.  Newberry  pronounces  the  only 
Devonian  representative  of  Agassiz's  genus  Pristocantlins  he  knows  of. 
The  fossil  remains  are  not  plentiful,  and  can  best  be  obtained  in  quar- 
ries and  cuttings.  At  W'hitaker's  quarry  in  Milo  we  have  obtained  fine 
specimens  of  Ortlwecras  atreus  (Hall)  and  0.  thyestes  (Hall).  Within 
the  chamber  of  habitation  of  a  large  specimen  of  the  latter,  which  we 
collected  in  this  locality,  we  found  two  perfect  specimens  of  OrtUoceras, 
each  about  three  inches  long  and  with  chamber  of  habitation  one  inch 
n  diameter.  The  shell  was  broken  off  of  one  side  in  getting  out  the 
specimen,  thus  exposing  the  interior. 


GEOLOGICAL  FOKAfATfOA'S.  121 

At  a  quarry  in  tlie  town  of  Milo  we  obtained  some  specimens  of 
Lepidodendron,  which  seem  to  be  L.  privucvitm  (Rogers),  but  present  tlic 
curious  pecuh'arity  of  having  leaf-bases  depressed  instead  of  being 
prominent.  (See  remarks  on  this  by  Dr.  J.  W.  Dawson  in  the  Quarterly 
Journal  of  the  Geological  Society,  May,  1881.)  In  the  same  quarry 
carbonized  remains  of  immense  fern  petioles  five  inches  broad  and  sev- 
eral feet  long  occur.  Fucoides  graphica  (Hall)  abounds  in  the  argil- 
laceous  strata  and  a  magnificent  specimen  of  Spirophyton,  sp.  /  was  found 
in  the  upper  shales.  Lunilicardium  oriiatnin  (Hall)  occurs  sparingly. 
"  Cone-  in-  cone  "  and  pyritifcrons  nodules  of  curious  shapes  occur  in  the 
Big  Gully.  Cordiopsis  robiista  (Hall)  is  met  witii  quite  frequently. 
William  Buxton,  of  Milo  Center,  has  found  three  fine  specimens  of /"////«- 
alina  pluinaria  (Hall)  in  the  uppermost  shales.  One  of  the  specimens 
is  fourteen  inches  long.  We  have  never  found  Spirifera  hcvis  (Hall), 
though  ever  on  the  lookout  for  it.  At  the  Whitaker  quarry  in  the  town 
of  Milo  we  discovered  a  fern  which  Dr.  Dawson  has  indicated  as  a  new 
genus.  The  following  is  his  description  taken  from  the  Quarterly  Jour- 
nal o{  May,  1881  : 

ASTEROPrERIS    NOVEBORACENSIS. 

"  The  genus  Asleropteris  is  established  for  stems  of  ferns  liaving  the  axial  portion 
composed  of  vertical  radiating  plates  of  scalariform  tissue  imbedded  in  parcnchynin, 
and  having  the  outer  cylinder  composed  of  elongated  cells  traversed  by  lead-bun- 
dles of  the  type  of  those  of  /.ygopteris.  The  only  species  known  to  me  is  represented 
by  a  stem  2.5  centimetres  in  diameter,  slightly  wrinkled  and  pitted  externally,  per- 
haps by  traces  of  aerial  roots  which  have  perished.  The  transverse  section  shows 
in  the  center  four  vertical  plates  of  scalariform  or  imperfectly  retictilaled  tissues, 
placed  at  right  angles  to  each  other,  and  united  in  the  middle  of  the  stem.  At  a  short 
distance  from  the  center  each  of  these  plates  divides  into  two  or  three,  so  as  to  form 
an  axis  of  from  ten  to  twelve  radiating  plates,  with  remains  of  cellular  tissue  filling  the 
angular  interspaces.  The  greatest  diameter  of  this  axis  is  about  1 . 5  centimetres.  Ex- 
terior to  the  axis  the  stem  consists  of  elongated  cells,  with  somewhat  thick  walls,  and 
more  dense  toward  the  circumference.  The  walls  of  these  cells  present  a  curious 
reticulated  appearance,  apparently  caused  by  the  cracking  of  the  ligneous  lining  in 
consequence  of  contraction  in  the  process  of  carbonization.  Imbedded  in  this  outer 
cylinder  are  about  twelve  va.scular  bundles,  each  with  a  dumb-bell  shaped  bundle  of 
scalariform  vessels  enclosed  in  a  sheath  of  thick-walled  fibers.  Each  bundle  is  oppo- 
site to  one  of  the/ays  of  the  central  axis.  The  specimen  shows  about  two  inches  of 
the  length  of  the  stem,  and  is  somewhat  bent,  apparently  by  pressure  at  one  end. 

■■This  stem  is  evidently  that  of  a  small  tree-fern  of  a  type,  so  far  as  known  to  me, 
not  heretofore  described,  and  constituting  a  very  complex  and  symmetrical  form  of  the 
IC 


122  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

group  Palszoic  ferns,  allied  to  the  genus  Zygopteris  of  Schimper.  The  central  axis 
alone  has  a  curious  resemblance  to  the  peculiar  stem  described  by  Unger  ('  Devonian 
Flora  of  Thuringia  ')  under  the  name  of  Cladoxylon  mirabile  :  and  it  is  just  possible 
that  this  latter  stem  may  be  the  axis  of  some  allied  plant.  The  large  aerial  roots  of 
some  hiodern  tree-ferns  of  the  genus  Aiigiopteris  have,  however,  an  analogous  radi- 
ating structure.  The  specimen  is  from  the  collection  of  Berlin  H.  Wright,  of  Penn 
Yan,  N.  Y..  and  was  found  in  the  Portage  group  (Upper  Erian)  of  Milo,  N.  Y.,  where 
it  was  associated  with  large  petioles  of  ferns  and  trunks  o{  Lepidodeiidra,  probably  /.. 
chemungese  and  L.  priinixvuiit. 

'■  In  previous  communications  to  the  society  I  have  described  three  species  of  tree- 
ferns  from  the  Upper  and  Lower  Devonian  of  New  York  and  Ohio  ;  and  this  species 
is  from  an  intermediate  horizon.  All  four  occur  in  marine  beds,  and  were,  no  doubt, 
drift-trunks  from  the  fern-clad  islands  of  the  Devonian  Sea.  The  occurrence  of  these 
stems  in  marine  beds  has  recently  been  illustrated  by  the  observation  of  Prof.  A. 
Agassiz,  that  considerable  quantities  of  vegetable  matter  can  be  dredged  from  great 
depths  of  the  sea  on  the  leeward  side  of  the  Caribbean  Islands.  The  occurrence  of 
these  trunks  further  connects  itself  with  the  great  abundance  of  large  petioles  {Rhaclii- 
opteris)  in  the  same  beds,  while  the  rarity  of  well-preserved  fronds  is  explained  by  the 
coarseness  of  the  beds  and  also  by  the  probably  long  maceration  of  the  plant-remains 
in  the  sea-water." 

Nowhere  in  the  county  does  the  rock  change  in  character  sufficiently 
to  warrant  the  sub-divisions  which  Professor  Hall  gives  to  this  group  in 
Livingston  and  Allegany  Counties.  The  entire  thickness  of  the  group 
in  Yates  County  cannot  be  less  than  1,000  feet. 

The  next  formation  in  the  natural  order  downward  is  the  Genesee 
slate.  This  extends  the  entire  length  of  the  county  from  north  to 
south,  and  there  are  many  fine  exhibitions  of  the  entire  thickness  of  the 
dark,  fissile,  carbonaceous  shales,  but  the  fossil  remains  are  but  sparingly 
distributed.  In  a  ravine  near  Shingle  Point  on  Seneca  Lake  there  is  a 
stiatum  about  two  feet  thick,  and  near  the  middle  of  the  formation, 
which  abounds  in  fossils,  among  which  are  the  following:  Lepidodeiidron 
sp.:'  very  large  and  fine;  Goniatitcs,  sp..'  very  large  and  fine;  Leiorhyn- 
chiis  qnadricostata  (X'anuxeni) ;  Liugula  spatulata  (Vanuxem) ;  Disciua 
/odi'iisis  (VanuKcm) ;  Discina  truncata  (Hall);  and  a  large  number  of 
small  gasteropods.  Septaria  o{  ■s\\  sizes  from  a  few  inches  to  two  feet 
in  diameter  and,  of  many  curious  shapes  occur  plentifully.  The  major 
part  of  them  are  over  ten  inches  in  diameter  and  flattened.  They  usually 
contain  cavities  which  are  lined  with  crj'stals.  Usually  tlie  calcareous 
filling  in  the  scptaria  and  the  body  are  worn  awa)'  unequally,  producing 


GEOLOGICAL  FORMATIONS.  123 

many  curious  forms,   and   many  of  the  people  along  the  exposure  of 
these  shales  possess  tlieir  "  petrified  turtles." 

This  is  the  first  formation  encountered  in  passing  down  the  outlet  of 
Lake  Keuka  (Crooked  Lake).  At  Randall's  mills  these  s/iales  form  an 
abrupt  cliff  seventy  feet  high  and  intensely  black.  They  extend  to  the 
oil-mill,  a  mile  below  where  the  water  tumbles  over  a  cascade  of  four- 
teen feet,  formed  by  the  Tully  limestone. 

It  seems  proper  at  this  point  to  describe  what  we  believe  to  be  a  fault 
which  occurs  in  the  strata  at  the  outlet.  At  theoil-n)ill  the  Tully  lime- 
stone and  Genesee  slate  are  almost  level  in  an  east  and  west  direction, 
and  incline  very  slightly  to  the  south.  This  condition  maintains 
throughout  the  outlet  and  in  the  ravines  leading  thereto  wherever  they 
are  visible.  The  Tully  may  be  traced  for  many  rods  below  the  oil-mill, 
standing  out  in  bold  relief,  while  the  shales  above  and  below  it  crumble 
away.  It  disappears,  having  "run  out,"  and  for  about  one-half  mile 
we  find  the  upper  portion  of  the  Hamilton  group  (the  Moscow  shale) 
filled  with  its  characteristic  fossil  remains.  One  mile  farther  down  and 
forty  feet  lower  we  again  find  the  Tully  with  the  Genesee  slate  above  it 
and  the  fossiliferous  blue  Moscow  shales  beneath,  almost  perfect!)'  Ie\i.l. 
It  is  impossible  to  tell  just  where  the  fault  occurs  and  its  direction,  ow- 
ing to  the  superincumbent  soil.  In  Bruce's  Gully,  a  little  farther  down, 
it  is  quite  apparent  that  the  break  occurs  about  twenty  rods  from  the 
entrance,  and  possibly  by  removing  a  few  tons  of  soil  the  line  could  be 
found.  We  should  say  that  it  followed  the  general  direction  of  the  out- 
let and  was,  perhaps,  its  originating  cause.  Prof  S.  G.  Williams,  of 
Cornell  University,  examined  the  locality  with  me  and  fully  concurs  in 
the  opini<Mi  expressed. 

This  formation  varies  in  thickness  from  eleven  to  fourteen  feet  and  is 
divided  into  from  three  to  five  well  defined  layers,  varying  in  thickness 
from  one  to  four  feet.  The  upper  stratum  is  much  the  thinnest.  The 
upper  surface  of  the  third  layer  at  Bellona  is  covered  with  pits  of  many 
curious  and  suggestive  shapes.  Many  people  believe  them  to  be  veri- 
table tracks,  and  this  belief  has  been  strengthened  of  late  by  reason  of 
sensational  accounts  of  the  wonderful  "  tracks  of  men,  children,  dogs, 
cows,  mastodons,"  etc.,  which  have  been  published  by  a  correspondent  of 
a  Rochester  paper,  who  took  plaster  casts  of  some  of  the  mastodon  and 


1 24  HIS  TOR  \  ■  OF  YA  TES  CO  US  T  V. 

human  (?)  tracks  and  sent  tluni  to  editors  and  scientific  men.  It  is 
evident  tliat  the  "tracks"  are  solely  the  result  of  the  eroding  action  of 
the  elements.  Water  has,  without  doubt,  been  confined  in  its  course 
between  these  layers.  It  is  a  fact  that  these  cavities  do,  in  many  in- 
stances, bear  a  striking  resemblance  to  the  tracks  of  men  and  animals. 
We  have  walked  for  a  rod  or  more  taking  natural  strides  and  stepping 
in  well  fitted  pits  each  time. 

At  several  places  the  Tully  livtcstonc  is  much  flecked  ;  at  Bcllona  the 
dip  to  the  north  is  4^.  In  the  town  of  Starkey  it  is  undulatory.  The 
two  upper  layers  have  a  remarkable  growth  of  corals.  At  Bellona  the 
following  abound  :  Alveolites  goldfitssii  (Bilhngs),  Favosites  argus 
(Hall),  Zaplireutcs  simplex  (Hall),  Heliophyllitm  halli  (Edward  and 
Haime),  and  Cystophyllnm  americanmn  (Edward  and  Haime).  There  is 
also  a  form  that  resembles  the  last  in  structure,  but  is  greatly  flattened 
and  attains  a  length  of-  two  feet.  Where  these  corals  occur  the  lime- 
stone is  so  impure  as  to  be  hardly  worthy  of  the  name,  being  dark,  loose, 
and  "  rotten."  No  brachiopods  or  other  fossils  are  found  with  the 
corals. 

The  third  layer  contains  a  few  fossils;  the  fourth  and  fifth  many.  It 
is  useless  to  look  for  Rhynchonella  vaiiiistula  (Hall)  above  the  lowest 
layer.  They  are  most  frequently  found  within  a  foot  of  tl;e  base,  ac- 
companied by  a  small,  circular,  flattish  species  of  Atrypcx.  This  seems 
to  be  what  Mr.  Vanuxem  named  A.  leiitiformis,  and  which  has  been 
considered  by  more  recent  authors  as  identical  with  A.  reticularis  L. 
Although  the  two  agree  perfectly  in  markings  we  have  never,  among 
thousands  of  the  latter  species,  found  one  that  agreed  with  the  former 
in  siiape.  Nor  have  we  ever  collected  from  the  Tully  a  specimen  of 
Atrypa  larger  than  a  half-grown  A.  reticularis,  such  as  are  found  in  the 
shales  below.  The  A.  lentijormis  (Vanuxem)  is  always  less  ventricose, 
smaller,  and  more  nearly  circular.  Orthis  tullicnsis  (Vanu.xem)  occurs 
with  A',  venustula  also,  but  more  sparingly  than  the  last,  and  we  have 
never  found  either  above  or  below  the  Tully.  Loxoncjiia  uexilis  (Phill.) 
is  not  uncommon.      Proetus  margiualis  (Con.)  has  been  found  here. 

William  Buxton  found  a  very  fine  specimen  at  Bellona  resembling 
Nautilus  luagister  (Hall),  but  it  does  not  enlarge  so  rajiidh' ;  also  a  fine 
Cyrtoceras  sp.  f    William  Coon,  of  Milo  Center,  N.  Y.,  found  the  largest 


GEOLOGICAL  FORAf.lTIOXS.  125 

and  most  perfect  Orthoceras  we  have  ever  seen  from  Devonian  rocks  in 
the  Tiilly  limestone  at  Bellona.  These  are  tlie  only  cephalopods  we  have 
ever  seen  or  known  of  having  been  found  in  the  Tully  limestone  in  this 
county. 

There  is  a  cave  of  considerable  size  in  the  gully  near  the  "  old  Friend 
House  "  in  the  town  of  Torrey.  The  entrance  is  only  large  enough  to 
admit  a  small  boy,  and  children  have  crawled  in  a  distance  of  fifteen  or 
twenty  feet,  projecting  in  front  of  them  a  long  pole  with  a  torch  at  the 
end,  thus  being  enabled  to  see  a  considerable  distance  and  to  observe 
side  chambers.  About  a  rod  from  the  entrance  there  is  a  sudden  con- 
traction of  the  passage  way  which  prevents  further  progress,  but  it  en- 
larges greatly  beyond  this  point.  Some  fine  stalactites  have  been  taken 
from  beneath  the  limestone. 

The  formation  is  finely  exposed  in  Yates  County,  appearing  in  Kasli- 
ong  Creek  in  the  town  of  Torrey,  formeily  the  shore  line  of  Seneca 
Lake,  as  far  south  as  Shingle  Point,  and  cropping  out  in  the  outlet  of 
Lake  Keuka.  Near  Hopeton  is  an  outline  which  was  once  an  island  in 
Lake  Keuka.  This  is  called  the  "  Sugar  Loaf."  On  the  west  and  south 
sides  of  Sugar  Loaf,  which  is  about  sixty  feet  high,  the  rock  is  free  from 
soil  and  certain  fossils  may  be  collected  there  in  abundance.  The  top 
is  capped  with  the  Tully  limestone,  which  projects  several  feet  beyond 
the  shales  beneath.  Frequent  calcareous  layers  about  two  inclies  thick 
occur  here.  These  consist  wholly  of  fossil  remains.  The  following  are 
abundant  at  Sugar  I^oaf:  Atliyris  spiri/efvides  {¥.a.Xon)  \  Athrypa  leti- 
cnlaris  (Linn) ;  Cluetetes  frnticosus  (Mall) ;  Strombodes  distorta  (Hall)  ; 
Streptelasnta  reetuni  (Hall)  ;  Amplexus  sp.  /  Spirifera  granulifera 
(Hall)  ;  5.  viedialis  (Hall);  and  S.mitcronota  (Con.).  The  finest  expo- 
sition of  this  formation  and  also  of  the  succeeding  Encrinal  limestone, 
Ludlowville  and  Marcellus  shales,  is  in  Kashong  Creek  in  the  town  of 
]?enton.  Here  all  the  fossils  found  elsewhere  in  the  county  (below  the 
l^ortage)  occur,  and  many  not  found  in  other  localities.  As  the  re- 
maining formations  of  Yates  County  are  best  .'^een  in  Kashong  Creek 
we  invite  attention  to  that  localit)'. 

This  creek  has  its  source  in  the  swampy  lands  in  the  western  part  of 
the  town  of  Iknton,  and  has  at  two  different  periods  been  the  channel 
.through  which  the  waters  of  Lake   Keuka  have  reached  Seneca  Lake. 


126  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

Bv  the  way  it  will  be  seen  that  it  has  its  origin  in  the  Portage  group 
and  runs  through  all  the  lower  formations  in  the  county.  A  few  rods 
south  of  Rellona  the  Genesee  slate  and  Tully  limestone  appear  near  an 
old  saw  mill.  After  leaving  this  point  on  the  route  to  Seneca  Lake, 
through  Kashong  Creek,  we  first  descend  through  fifty-five  feet  of  nearly 
horizontal  i'/'w/f,  occasionally  interrupted  by  \s.yerso{  sandstone.  In  this, 
and  about  two-thirds  the  distance  down,  we  found  the  spine  or  a  new 
species  of  Ctenacanthns.  This  stratum  terminates  in  a  bed  of  pyritif- 
erous  shales.  This  is  followed  by  eight  feet  of  coarse  shales,  which  are 
remarkably  rich  in  Stropliodonta,  and  is  succeeded  by  another  layer  of 
pyritiferous  nodules  twelve  feet  thick,  and  this  by  seven  feet  of  calcar- 
eous shales,  exceedingly  rich  in  well  preserved  fossil  remains,  though  in 
a  portion  of  this  layer  (the  argillaceous  shales)  fossils  are  abundant  ;  it  is 
difficult  to  obtain  perfect  specimens.  In  the  calcareous  layers,  which 
are  from  two  to  eight  inches  thick,  fossils  are  most  common  and  can 
usually  be  obtained  free  from  gangue.  The  following  are  plentiful  : 
Tropidoleptus  carinatus  (Conrad),  Chronetes  mucronata  (Hall),  Or  thus 
vanuxenii  (Hall),  O.  lencosia  (Hall),  Spirifera  grauulifera  (Hall),  Modio- 
morpha  concentrica  (Conrad),  M.  macilenta  (Hall),  Atrypa  reticularis 
(Linn),  Michclinia  stylopora  (Eaton),  and  Mytilarca  oviformis  (Con  ). 
Several  species  of  undescribed  fossils  in  the  genera  Pcierinea  aviculo- 
pccten,  PlatyostoDia,  Lo.vonema,  Feiiestella,  Fistitlipora,  and  Alveolites. 

Fragmentary  portions  of  Pfacops  rana  (Green)  and  Dabnanites  boothi 
(Green)  are  very  common  also,  but  perfect  specimens  of  the  former  are 
not  common  and  of  the  latter  only  three  have  been  found  here  that  we 
are  aware  of  The  articulations  of  Homalonotus  dekayi  (Green)  are  fre- 
quentlv-  found,  but  Mrs.  B.  H.  Wright  and  William  Bu.xton  have  found 
the  only  heads  (two)  that  we  know  of  from  this  locality.  This  stratum 
continues  to  the  brink  of  the  first  fall,  where  the  character  of  the  rock 
changes  from  a  loose,  calcareous  shale  to  solid,  compact  layers  of  a  lighter 
color.  Here  occur  several  pot-holes,  one  of  which  is  two  feet  in  diam- 
eter and  the  same  in  depth.  These  are  near  the  brink  of  a  fall  of  nearl\- 
thirty  feet.  In  the  lower  portion  of  this  layer  are  some  fine  Cypricard- 
ites,  with  most  of  the  species  found  above.  Then  follows  a  calcareous 
stratum  seven  feet  thick  containing  many  crinoidal  fragments.  This 
rests  upon  the  encrinal  limestone,  which  is  about  three  feet  thick  and 


GEOLOGICAL  FOKMATIOXS.  127 

forms  tlie  brink  of  the  middle  fall  of  twenty-nine  feet.  This  rwm/rt/ 
liiiustonc  is  quite  hard,  takes  an  excellent  polish,  and  being  made  up 
almost  wholly  of  crinoidal  stems  and  rays  makes  a  fine  polished  slab. 
There  is  but  one  brachiopod  which  is  plentiful  in  this  limestone. 

Peittanierella  papilionensis  (Hall),  Eridopliyllnm  verueuilianum  (Ed 
and  H.),  and  Diphyphyllnm  gigas  (Rominger)  are  very  plentiful  also. 
Among  the  crinoids  are  several  undescribed  species, — see  Dolatocrinus 
liratus  (Hall)  and  Megistocrtniis  depiessns  {WkW).  Fine  gasteropods  are 
plentiful  throughout  this  and  the  preceding  formations,  but  are  best  pre- 
ser\cd  and  obtained  in  best  condition  in  this  limestoue.  Among  the 
commonest  are  Pliterotoinoria  filitexta  (Hall),  P.  itys  (Hall),  Macroeliei- 
lits  hamiltoniee  (Hall),  platyostoma  lineata  (Conrad),  Platyceras  thetis 
(Hall),  P.  syniinctrictim  (Hall),  and  P.  cariiiatmn  (Hall).  After  making 
a  detour  around  the  falls  it  is  at  once  apparent  that  we  are  in  a  differ- 
ent formation  by  the  greenish  color  of  the  shales.  We  believe  that  all 
the  fossils  found  in  this  formation,  the  Ludlowville  shale,  are  found  in 
the  higher  beds,  but  the  reverse  is  far  from  being  true.  Brachiopods  are 
quite  scarce  and  there  is  a  general  thinning  out  of  representatives  of  all 
the  orders.  These  shales  are  succeeded  by  darker  ones,  thirty-five  feet 
thick,  containing  nearlj'  the  same  fauna.  These  continue  to  the  lower 
fall,  which  marks  the  beginning  of  the  dark  Marcellus  shales,  which 
continue  to  Seneca  Lake.  The  only  fossil  which  is  here  plentiful  in  the 
Marcellus  shales  is  Orthoceras  siibulatuvi  (Hall). 

The  thickness  of  these  formations  was  obtained  by  taking  a  series  of 
levels  from  Bellona  to  Seneca  Lake.  The  results  cannot  be  far  from 
correct,  as  the  dip  in  that  direction  is  scarcely  appreciable.  My  father. 
Dr.  S  Hart  Wright,  a  practical  surveyor  and  engineer,  assisted  me  in 
the  work,  and  the  results  may  be  relied  upon  as  correct. 


128  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

CHAPTER  XI. 
YATES  COUNTY  IN  THE  WAR  OF   1861-65. 

THERE  are  times  in  the  history  of  nations  when  the  voice  of  rea- 
son is  unheeded;  when  the  laws  are  trampled  upon;  when  the 
counsels  of  the  wise  are  disregarded  and  the  dictation  of  statesmen 
ignored.  It  grows  out  of  the  struggles  of  men  for  power,  in  the  race 
for  political  preferment,  in  contests  for  personal  recognition  witli  a  de- 
termination to  triumph  regardless  of  expressed  wishes  of  majorities,  and 
to  secure  success  at  a  sacrifice  of  the  rights  of  others  ;  there  is  but  one 
natural,  legitimate  outcome  of  such  revolts — revolution.  This  genera- 
tion has  witnessed  and  been  participants  in  the  crucial  period  of  our  na- 
tion's existence,  when  no  settlement  of  the  vexed  questions  was  possible 
save  by  the  arbitrament  of  the  sword. 

From  the  hour  that  man  first  learned  that  it  was  possible  to  take  the 
life  of  his  brother  the  stronger  has  reached  the  goal  of  liis  ambition  at 
the  cost  of  blood  ;  some  nations  have  gone  out  in  the  smoke  of  battle 
while  others  have  enlarged  their  territory  and  brightened  their  civiliza- 
tion by  victorious  armies.  Many  are  looking  for  the  coming  of  a  time 
when  reason  will  so  far  sway  the  human  mind  as  to  make  war  no  longer 
a  necessity  ;  such  may  be  the  case  and  is  earnestly  hoped,  yet  it  is  hardly 
expected  until  man  has  gone  at  least  one  round  higher  on  the  ladder 
of  evolution.  For  many  years  prior  to  i860  strong  antagonism  had 
existed  in  this  country  between  two  sentiments — the  South  was  the 
enemy  par  exce/Ze/ice  of  hee  labor  and  the  North  of  slave  labor.  Advo- 
cates of  these  principles  were  earnest  and  determined,  and  their  respect- 
ive views  enlarged  until  the  remotest  corners  of  our  territorial  limits 
became  more  or  less  impregnated  with  the  prevailing  ideas.  The  po- 
litical contest  of  the  year  was  fevered  and  exciting.  Never  before  had 
so  much  depended  upon  the  result  of  the  ballot.  There  were  murmur- 
ings  so  significant  that  they  could  be  felt,  and  preparations  of  a  char- 
acter that  carried  alarm  to  a  nation  that  had  devoted  all  her  energies 
and  resources  to  the  fertile  labors  of  peace.     Then  followed  an  assault 


YATES  COUNTY  IN  THE  REBELLION.  129 

upon  the  integrity  of  the  ballot  and  the  will  of  the  majorit)-,  an  innova- 
tion which,  if  successful,  must  of  necessity  destroy  our  republican  form 
of  government.  The  voice  of  reason  was  drowned  in  the  thunder  of 
cannon.  The  question  to  solve  was,  Sliould  liberty  and  union  no  longer 
walk  hand  in  hand,  and  if  either  was  to  go  out,  vvhicii  ?  How  sudden 
the  transformation  of  the  peaceful  citizen  to  the  uniformed  soldier! 
Volunteers  were  furnished  in  every  county,  town,  and  neighborhood  of 
the  great  North.  Nearly  every  citizen  realized  that  it  was  his  duty  to 
be  loyal  and  to  ser\e  his  country  in  the  way  he  best  could. 

The  county  of  Yates  was  no  exception  to  the  rule.  She  freely  sent 
her  sons  and  their  blood  crimsoned  the  soil  of  a  hundred  battlefields. 
They  fell  at  Gettysburg  and  Lookout  Mountain,  in  the  Wilderness  and 
at  Cold  Harbor,  at  Petersburg  and  in  the  valley  of  the  Shenandoah. 
The  Spartan  mothers  gave  their  sons  with  a  heroism  that  has  been  the 
admiration  of  the  world  since  those  chivalric  days,  but  they  did  not 
excel  the  mothers  of  America  in  their  unselfish  sacrifice  of  their  house- 
hold idols. 

The  hardships  incident  to  soldier  life,  suffering  from  wounds  and  dis- 
ease and  the  surrendering  of  young  lives,  presents  a  chapter  of  patriot- 
ism that  warms  the  heart  of  every  American  citizen  in  its  contempla 
tion,  but  the  years  and  months  that  came  and  went,  while  the  father, 
and  the  mother,  and  the  wife,  and  the  sister  waited  in  their  homes;  when 
the  heart  stood  still  as  the  hurried  stranger  knocked  at  the  door;  wiien 
the  hands  trembled  as  the  message  was  opened  ;  and  when  in  luislied 
words  they  expressed  a  doubt  whether  the  wound  would  kill  or  hatl 
already  killed  the  soldier  in  whom  so  much  of  their  interests  centered. 
Who  did  the  most  or  suffered  the  most  when  the  shadows  of  war  dark- 
ened our  land  ?  who  can  say  ? 

Little  Yates  was  as  strong  in  her  devotion  to  the  Union  cause  as  any 
locality  in  State  or  nation.  There  were  a  few  exceptions  where  stu- 
pidity, ignorance,  and  a  lack  of  self-respect  warped  men  out  of  line  and 
let  them  sink  from  respectable  notice;  their  influence  then  was  lighter 
than  air,  and  since  they  have  not  been  trusted  by  either  those  who 
fought  for  or  against  the  flag.  Over  $600,000  were  raised  to  recruit 
the  army,  or  about  one  tenth  of  the  assessed  valuation  of  the  entire 
property  of  the  county.  Names  of  vast  numbers  of  men  and  women 
n 


1 30  H/S  TOR  Y  OF  YA  TES  CO  UN  T  Y. 

could  be  mentioned  who  did  not  go  bej'ond  the  county  limits  during 
the  years  of  the  Rebellion  who  struggled  as  earnestly  for  the  preserva- 
tion of  the  Republic  as  the  soldier  at  the  front,  but  we  refrain  from 
entering  upon  the  list  for  fear  of  doing  injustice  to  many  who  might  be 
overlooked  or  for  want  of  space  whose  deeds  could  be  only  meagerly 
narrated.  Tiiey  all  did  well  their  part.  Who  can  do  more  ?  The  cost 
was  great,  but  no  more  than  commensurate  with  what  was  secured.  A 
restored  nationality!  A  free  people!  An  enduring  government!  To 
the  eye  of  man  the  future  is  hidden  in  deep  obscurity,  but  we  feel  as- 
sured that  the  storm  of  war  with  its  destructive  forces  \\i\\  never  again 
break  upon  our  fair  inheritance.  We  have  learned  the  full  meaning  of 
patriotism  ;  we  have  shown  to  the  world  that  we  know  how  to  take  care 
of  our  rights  as  a  people,  and  that  those  rights  will  be  maintained,  let 
the  cost  be  never  so  great. 

THIRTY-THIRD    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  V. 

Devotion  to  the  Union  and  loyalty  to  the  national  government  were 
evinced  in  a  conspicuous  manner  by  the  great  northern  uprising  in  186 1. 
And  in  this  movement  no  small  part  was  taken  by  the  patriotic  citizens 
of  Yates  and  the  neighboring  counties.  The  Thirty-third  New  York- 
Volunteers,  which  was  then  raised  in  this  part  of  the  State,  was  one  of 
the  first  regiments  to  go  to  the  front.  The  regiment  was  recruited  by 
companies  as  follows:  A,  C,  and  K  in  Seneca  Count}';  B  in  Wayne 
County  ;  D  and  H  in  Ontario  County  ;  E  and  F  in  Livingston  County  ; 
G  in  Erie  County;  and  I  in  Yates  Count)'.  Of  the  latter  a  particular 
account  will  be  gixen. 

An  the  19th  of  April,  1861,  three  days  after  the  attack  on  Fort  Sum- 
ter, was  issued  the  President's  proclamation  calling  for  75,000  men. 
Immediately  after  the  news  of  such  proclamation  reached  Penn  Yan  a 
war  meeting  was  called  in  Washington  Hall.  Gen.  Alexander  F.  Whit- 
aker  presided  and  George  R.  Cornwell  was  secretary.  Several  ad- 
dresses were  made  and  the  session  continued  till  a  late  hour.  A  roll 
was  presented  and  thirty-four  names  were  obtained.  A  much  larger 
gathering  was  held  on  the  evening  of  April  25th,  with  bands  of  music 
parading  the  streets  and  playing  national  airs.  Resolutions  were 
adopted   to   raise  a  company  of  volunteers   and  recruits  came  forward 


THIRTY-THIRD  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  V.  131 

freely.  The  Republican  and  Democratic  Central  Committees  combined 
in  a  call  for  a  county  mass  meeting  and  union  assembly,  which  took 
place  in  the  court  house  park  on  Saturday,  April  27th.  A  procession 
was  formed  under  the  direction  of  Gen.  A.  Y.  VVhitaker,  aided  by  Gen. 
George  Wagener,  and  led  by  martial  and  brass  bands.  Morris  Brown, 
esq.,  was  president  of  the  day  and  over  5,000  persons  were  in  attend- 
ance on  this  occasion.  Stirring  addresses  were  delivered  by  Hon.  Darius 
A.  Ogden,  Hon.  Henry  Spence,  Gen.  A.  F.  Whitaker,  and  Abraham  V. 
Harpending,  esq.  At  that  meeting  was  appointed  a  finance  committee 
consisting  of  Messrs.  Farley  Holmes,  Ebenezer  B.  Jones,  Darius  A. 
Ogden,  and  diaries  C.  Sheppard,  nvIio  circulated  a  subscription  to  raise 
funds  to  provide  for  die  families  of  volunteers. 

The  military  companj'  now  recruited,  and  which  at  this  time  was 
known  as  the  "  Keuka  Rifles,"  assembled  on  the  9th  of  May  in  Wash- 
ington Hall,  and  was  there  inspected  by  Maj.  John  E.  Bean,  of  Gene\a, 
and  mustered  into  the  State  service.  An  election  was  held  for  officers 
on  the  same  day,  resulting  in  the  following  being  chosen  :  Captain,  James 
M.  Letts;  first  lieutenant,  Edward  E.  Root;  second  lieutenant,  Will- 
iam H.  Long.  The  company  continued  to  drill  under  its  officers  until 
orders  were  received  to  go  into  camp  at  Elmira  on  the  19th  of  Ma)-. 
On  that  day  the  company  departed  and  was  escorted  to  the  railroad 
depot  by  the  Penn  Yan  firemen  in  uniform  and  a  vast  crowd  of  citizens. 
The  compan\-  was  presented  by  the  ladies  of  Penn  Yan  with  a  beautiful 
flag,  and  was  addressed  on  its  departure  by  Hon.  D.  A.  Ogden  and  E.  B. 
Jones.  A  testament  was  also  presented  to  each  member.  The  men  on 
their  arrival  at  Elmira  were  quartered  in  Rev.  Thomas  K.  Beecher's 
church  and  on  the  24tli  of  May  became  Company  I  of  the  Thirty-third 
New  York  Volunteers,  and  with  the  history  of  this  regiment  from  that 
date  the  history  of  the  company  is  identified.  Eight  of  the  companies 
previously  mentioned  had  already  arrived  in  Elmira,  then  an  ordinary 
place  of  rendezvous  for  troops  going  to  the  front.  The  officers  of  these 
companies  met  on  May  17th  and  decided  upon  forming  themselves  into 
a  regiment,  the  two  other  companies  afterward  joining  them.  The  or- 
ganization of  the  new  regiment  was  retidercd  complete  by  the  election 
of  officers  on  the  2 1st  of  May.  Robert  F.  Taylor,  of  Rochester,  a 
gentleman  of  warlike  taste  and  ability,  who  had  served  in  Mexico,  was 


132  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

appointed  colonel.  The  other  field  and  staff  officers  then  elected  were  : 
Lieutenant-colonel,  Calvin  Walker,  Geneva;  major,  Robert  J.  Mann, 
Seneca  Falls  ;  adjutant,  Charles  T.  Sutton,  New  York  city  ;  quarter- 
master, H.  G.  Suydam,  Geneva  ;  chaplain,  Rev.  G.  N.  Cheney,  Roch- 
ester ;  surgeon,  T.  Rush  Spencer. 

The  Thirty-third  Regiment,  when  organized,  was  assigned  to  barracks 
in  Southport,  where  it  remained  until  the  departure  for  Washington. 
An  interesting  event  of  the  sojourn  in  Elmira  was  the  reception  of  a 
regimental  flag  from  the  patriotic  ladies  of  Canandaigua.  The  regi- 
ment being  formed  in  a  hollow  square  Mrs.  Chesebro,  with  a  few  felicit- 
ous remarks,  presented  the  banner  to  Colonel  Taylor,  who  in  a  brief 
speech  expressed  the  thanks  of  himself  and  command  for  the  beautiful 
gift,  promising  that  it  should  ne\er  be  dishonored  or  disgraced.  Chap- 
lain Cheney  also  in  response  delivered  an  able  and  eloquent  address 
to  the  delagation.  This  flag  was  made  of  the  finest  blue  silk,  bearing 
upon  one  side  the  coat-of-arms  of  the  State  of  New  York  and  on  the 
reverse  the  seal  of  the  county  of  Ontario  adopted  in  1790.  Over  this 
seal  appeared  in  bold  gilt  letters  the  words:  "Ontario  County  Volun- 
teers." Surmounting  the  staff  was  a  highly  finished  carved  eagle  with 
extended  pinions,  the  whole  forming  one  of  the  most  elegant  battle- 
flags  ever  wrought  by  fair  hands.  On  the  3d  of  July  the  regiment  was 
mustered  by  companies  in  the  United  States  service  for  two  j-ears  by 
Captain  Sitgreaves,  a  regular  officer.  Five  days  later  the  command 
started  for  Washington  and  was  assigned  on  arrival  to  Camp  Granger, 
about  two  and  one-half  miles  from  the  city.  While  the  regiment  was 
here  encamped  there  occurred  the  disastrous  battle  of  Bull  Run,  Jul)- 
21,  1 86 1.  The  distant  sound  of  cannon  all  that  day  was  distinctlj- 
heard  in  the  camp.  Toward  evening  the  Thirty-third,  along  with  sev- 
eral other  regiments,  received  marching  orders,  but  had  proceeded  no 
farther  than  the  Treasury  Department,  when  the  orders  were  counter- 
manded. William  Riker,  sergeant,  Company  I,  died  at  Camp  Granger 
on  August  28th.  The  regiment  took  up  a  new  position  at  Camp  Lyon 
near  Chain  Bridge,  and  was  here  brigaded  for  the  first  time,  being 
placed  together  with  the  Third  Vermont  and  the  Sixth  Maine  under 
the  command  of  Gen.  W.  F.  Smith.  On  the  3d  of  September  the  en- 
tire brigade  crossed  the  Long  Bridge  into  Virginia.     The  Thirty- third 


THE  THIRTY-THIRD  IN  ACTIVE  SERVICE.  133 

first   occupied    Camp   Advance,  clianging   soon  after  for  Camp   Kthan 
Allen.     While   at  the  latter  camp   the  regiment  had    its   first   skirmisli 
with  the  enemy.      Camp  Griffin   was  the   next   place  of  residence,  and 
while  here   occurred   at   Bailey's  Cross- Roads   a   grand   review   of  the 
army   by  General  McCIellan,  attended  also  by  President  Lincoln  and 
other  distinguished  personages.      James   M.  Letts  resigned  December 
31st  and  was  succeeded  by  Edward  E.  Root  as   captain  of  Company  L 
An  advance  on  Richmond  along  the  peninsula  between  the  York  and 
James  Rivers   having  been   decided    upon    the  Thirty-third   Regiment 
embarked    at    Alexandria    on    March    23,     1862,    and    proceeding    by 
steamer  reached  Old  Point  Comfort  the  ne.xt  morning.      Here  the  com- 
mand disembarked  and  went  into  camp  about  four  miles  distant  on  the 
James  River.      Yorktown  was  invested   on  the  4th  of  A|)ril,  but  hardly 
had  the  siege  commenced   when   contrabands  brought  the  intelligence 
that  the  enemy  had  evacuated   the  place.     The  Army  of  the  Potomac 
followed  in  pursuit  of  the  retreating  Confederates,  and  on  Monday,  May 
5th,  was  fought  the  battle  of  Williamsburg.      In   the  beginning  of  the 
action  three  companies  of  the  Thirty-third  (Company  A,  Capt.  George 
M.  Guoin,  afterward  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Forty- 
eighth   Regiment    N.   Y.   V.;    Company  D,    Lieut.  George  W.   Brown, 
commanding;  and  Company  F,  Capt.  James  M.  McNair),  with  regimen- 
tal   colors  and   color-guard,  were  ordered   to  occupy  a  redoubt  a  short 
distance  from  the  enemy.     This  was   quickl\'  done  amid  a  heavy  fire  of 
artillery  and  musketr}',  and  the  beautiful  banner  remained  waving  from 
the  battlements  throughout  the  fierce  conflict,  torn  and  tattered  for  the 
first  time  by  shot  and    shell.      Company   C,   Capt.   Chester  H.   Cole  ; 
Company  E,  Capt.  Wilson  E.  Warford  ;   Company  H,  Capt.  Alexander 
H.  Drake  (born  in  Yates  County)  ;  and  Company  L  Capt.   Edward  E. 
Root  were  deployed  by  Colonel  Taylor  as  skirmishers.     The  remaining 
companies  of  the  regiment  (Company  B,  Capt.  Josiah  J.  White;   Com 
pany  G,  Capt.  Theodore  B.  Hamilton  ;  and  Company  K,  Capt.  I'atrick 
McGraw)  were  stationed  on  guard  duty  under  the  command  of  Lieut.- 
Col.  Joseph  W.  Corning.      All  day  tiie  fight  continued  and  toward  niglit 
a  sudden  and   furious  attack  was  made  by  the  enemy  upon   Hancock'.s 
position,  then  occupied  in  part  by  the  Thirty- third.      Companies  A,  D, 
and    F  were  ordered  out  of  the  redoubt  into  line  of  battle  as  the  Con- 


J34  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

federates  came  rushing  on,  shouting  "Bull  Run  !  Bull  Run  I  That  flag 
is  ours  !  "  The  enemy's  flying  artillery  also  moved  forward  and  dis- 
charged shot  and  shell  in  quick  succession.  The  Federal  lines  wavered 
and  all  seemed  lost  when  the  lieutenant- colonel,  turning  to  Colonel 
Taylor,  remarked  "  Nothing  but  a  charge  can  check  them."  "  A  charge 
it  shall  be,"  he  replied,  and  waving  his  sword  aloft  shouted  "  Forward, 
men!"  "Charge  bayonets!"  added  Lieutenant-Colonel  Corning  and 
the  Thirty-third  sprang  forward  on  the  double-quick,  when  its  gallant 
action  was  imitated  by  several  regiments  along  the  line.  Alarmed  at 
this  sudden  counter- charge  the  enemy  turned  and  ran  in  confusion, 
while  the  Thirty- third  poured  voUev  after  volley  upon  the  Confederates 
as  they  rapidly  retreated  over  the  plain.  This  daring  exploit  of  the 
regiment  decided  the  fprtunes  of  the  day  and  changed  a  seeming  defeat 
into  a  substantial  victory.  Company  I,  commanded  by  Captain  Root, 
and  which  with  Companies  C,  E,  and  H  was  on  the  skirmish  line,  at 
this  time  encountered  and  fired  upon  a  party  of  Confederates,  who,  sup- 
posing our  soldiers  to  be  friends,  cried  out,  "  Don't  fire,  you  are  shoot- 
ing your  own  men."  Captain  Root  ordered  them  to  surrender,  and 
they  were  all  made  prisoners,  much  to  their  surprise  and  chagrin.  One 
of  their  officers  attempted  to  escape,  but  Captain  Root  started  after  him 
and  compelled  him  to  deliver  up  his  sword.  On  the  evening  of  May 
7th  General  McClellan  rode  into  camp  on  his  favorite  bay  charger, 
"  Dan  Webster,"  and  thus  addressed  the  regiment  while  drawn  up  in 
line: 

■'  Officers  and  Soldiers  of  the  Thirty-third :  I  have  come  to  thank  you,  in  person,  for 
gallant  conduct  OJi  the  field  of  battle  on  the  5th  inst.  I  will  say  to  you  what  I  have 
said  to  other  regiments  engaged  with  you.  All  did  well — did  all  that  I  could  CNpect. 
But  you  did  more  ;  you  behaved  like  veterans  ;  you  are  veterans  ;  veterans  of  a  hun- 
dred battles  could  not  have  done  better.  Those  on  your  left  fought  well ;  but  you  won 
the  day  ;  you  were  at  the  right  point,  did  the  right  thing,  and  at  the  right  time.  You 
shall  have  Williamsburg  inscribed  on  your  banner." 

The  regiment  was  next  engaged  (May  24th)  in  battle  at  Mechanics- 
ville  and  on  the  2Sth  of  June  at  Golden's  Farm.  Here  its  capture  was 
attempted  by  an  overwhelming  force  of  the  enemy,  consisting  of  the 
Seventh  and  Eiglith  Georgia  Regiments,  but  in  the  effort  the  Confed- 
erates were  repulsed  with  great  loss.  The  Thirty- third  was  highly 
complimented  for   its  bravery  by  General  Davidson,  a  loyal  Virginian, 


THE  THIR  T 1 '-  THIRD  A  T  MAL  I  'ERA-  HILL.  1 35 

ill  his  report  of  the  action.  An  attaci<  of  the  enemy  was  also  success- 
fully resisted  (June  29th)  at  White  Oak  Swamp  durinj;  the  retreat  to 
the  James.  Colonel  Taylor  there  commanded  the  Third  Brigade  (to 
which  the  Thirty- third  belonged),  the  regiment  itself  being  in  command 
of  Maj.  John  S.  Platner. 

On  the  1st  of  July  occurred  the  engagement  at  Malvern  Hill.  The 
Thirty- third  was  here  posted  with  others  of  our  forces  among  lines  of 
batteries,  which  the  Confederates  several  times  fiercely  attacked,  but  in 
vain.  Charge  after  charge  was  made  by  the  enemy,  only  to  be  repulsed 
with  fearful  slaughter.  The  determined  bravery  of  the  Confederates 
evoked  cheers  from  the  Unionists  themselves.  But  to  carry  the  Federal 
position  was  beyond  their  power.  "  In  several  instances,"  says  General 
McClellan,  "  our  infantry  withheld  their  fire  until  the  attacking  column, 
which  rushed  through  the  storm  of  canister  and  shell  from  our  artillery, 
had  reached  within  a  few  yards  of  our  lines.  They  then  poured  in  a 
single  volley  and  dashed  forward  with  the  bayonet,  ca])turing  prisoners 
and  colors  and  driving  the  routed  columns  in  confusion  from  the  field. 
The  result  was  complete  victory."  In  the  afternoon  of  July 
3d  the  regiment,  which  all  through  the  retreat  had  formed  a  portion 
of  the  rearguard  of  the  army,  reached  Harrison's  Landing.  Afterward 
going  by  transport  it  arrived  and  went  into  camp  (August  24th)  at 
Alexandria,  from  there  marching  to  the  battlefield  of  Antietam.  In 
this  fight,  W'hich  was  on  the  17th  of  September,  the  Thirty-third  was 
foremost  in  action,  losing  alone  fifty  men  in  killed  and  wounded. 
Among  the  former  was  Sergeant- Major  George  W.  Bassett,  of  Yates 
County,  a  brave  and  popular  officer.  He  was  shot  through  the  head 
on  returning  to  the  front,  after  having  carried  Lieut.  Lucius  C.  Mix, 
who  had  been  severely  wounded,  from  the  field.  First  Lieut.  William 
Hale  Long,  of  Company  I,  was  promoted  November  25th  to  captain 
and  assistant  adjutant-general  and  on  the  ist  of  December  George 
Brennan,  orderlj'-sergeant  of  the  same  compan}',  was  promoted  to  first 
lieutenant.  The  regiment  crossed  the  Rappahannock  on  December  12th 
on  pontoon  bridges  laid  by  the  Fiftieth  New  York  Engineers,  and  next 
day  was  in  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  where  its  loss  in  killed  and 
wounded  amounted  to  over  200.  Having  remained  in  camp  near  White 
Oak  Church  during  the  first  four  months  of   1863  the  command  on  the 


1 36  HIS  TORY  OF  YA  TES  CO  UN  T  Y. 

2d  of  May  participated  in  the  storming  of  Marye's  Heights.  These 
were  gallantly  carried,  and  on  the  summit  the  regimental  colors  were 
iinfuiled  in  triumph  to  the  breeze.  In  the  charge  up  the  heights  many 
of  the  regiment  were  killed  and  wounded,  among  the  latter  being  Cap- 
tain Root,  of  Company  I.  The  battle  of  Salem  Heights,  fought  May 
4th,  was  the  last  in  which  the  Thirty- third  was  engaged. 

On  Tuesday,  May  12,  1863,  Colonel  Taylor  informed  the  men  in  his 
command  that,  their  term  of  service  iiaving  expired,  they  were  to  go 
home  on  the  coming  Friday.  The  order  for  their  departure  was  ac- 
companied by  parting  addresses  from  the  corps,  division,  and  brigade 
generals,  each  address  containing  a  graceful  acknowledgment  of  the 
past  services  of  the  regiment.  P'arewells  were  uttered  by  members  of 
other  regiments  who  had  fought  side  by  side  with  the  Tliirty-third,  and 
on  the  17th  of  May  the  regiment  arrived  at  Elmira.  The  Saturday 
following  the  Thirty-third  came  to  Geneva,  where  an  address  of  wel- 
come was  delivered  by  Hon.  Charles  J.  Folger.  A  bountiful  repast 
was  also  served  at  Camp  Swift  to  the  returned  soldiers  by  the  ladies  of 
Geneva.  On  Monday,  May  25th,  the  regiment  proceeded  to  Canan- 
dai"ua,  where  a  splendid  ovation  was  received  from  the  citizens.  The 
buildings  were  handsomely  decorated  with  the  national  colors  and  tri- 
umphal arches  spanned  the  principal  streets.  The  veterans,  together 
with  the  Canandaigua  firemen,  formed  in  procession  and  marched  to 
the  Court- House  Square  and  were  here  addressed  by  Hon.  Elbridge 
G.  Lapham.  The  procession  again  formed  and  passed  through  various 
streets  to  the  fair  grounds,  where  the  regiment  gave  an  exhibition  of 
ihe  manuel  of  arms.  J.  P.  Faurot,  esq.,  made  a  brief  speech  of  congrat- 
ulation, to  which  Lieutenant- Colonel  Corning  responded.  Colonel  Tay- 
lor then  returned  to  the  ladies  of  Canandaigua  the  regimental  banner 
received  from  them  two  years  before.  Handing  the  flag  to  the  com- 
mittee he  remarked  that  it  had  been  given  to  his  command  with  the 
pledge  that  it  should  never  be  sullied  by  cowardice  or  a  dishonorable 
act,  and  it  had  never  been.  It  was  a  beautiful  flag  when  presented  to 
the  regiment,  but  was  now  torn  and  soiled,  but  to  him  and  the  regi- 
ment it  was  all  the  dearer.  He  had  no  doubt  it  would  be  dearer  to 
those  who  gave  it  as  a  relic  of  the  bravery  and  patriotism  of  the  men 
of  the  Thirty-third,  who,  when  he  assumed  command,  were  800  strong. 


THE  THIRTY-THIRD  MUSTERED  OUT.  137 

but  now  less  than  400  remained.  On  receiving  back  the  banner  tlie 
ladies  presented  an  address,  which  was  read  by  A.  H.  Howell,  esq.  A 
parting  speech  to  the  regiment  was  delivered  by  Chaplain  Augnstiis  II. 
Lung.  A  sumptuous  banquet,  served  at  the  Canandaigua  House  by  the 
ladies  of  the  village,  closed  the  services.  The  same  evening  the  Thirty- 
third  returned  to  Geneva  and  on  Tuesday,  June  2,  1863,  was  assembled 
on  the  green  in  front  of  the  barracks,  by  Captain  Beirn  of  the  regular 
army,  and  there  mustered  by  companies  out  of  the  service.  On  the 
20th  of  June  a  grand  reception  was  given  at  Penn  Van  to  the  members 
of  Company  I.  Led  by  Lieutenant  Brennan  as  senior  officer  they 
marched  to  the  sound  of  martial  music  through  the  principal  streets  and 
were  served  with  a  collation  at  the  Henham  House.  The  flag  presented 
to  the  company  two  years  before  was  returned  to  the  ladies  of  Penn 
Yan  and  appropriate  addresses  were  made  by  Hon.  D.  A.  Ogden  and 
Rev.  Frederick  Starr.  Several  who  had  belonged  to  Company  I,  and 
to  other  companies  in  the  I'hirty  third  Regiment,  subsequently  re- 
enlisted   in  other  commands. 

The  following  is  the  muster  roll  of  Company  I  of  the  Thirty-third 
Regiment,  added  to  which  is  a  list  of  the  regimental  and  line  officers  at 
the  time  of  muster  out : 

Officers  of  Company  I. — .Jame.s  M.  Letts,  captain;  Etlwanl  E.  Root,  lieutenaiil  ; 
William  H.  Lons,  ensign;  Charles  Howe,  first  sergeant;  William  Riker,  sergean: ; 
Edward  S.  Rice,  sergeant ;  Henry  Atwater,  sergeant;  Richard  J.  Harford,  corporal; 
Peter  V.  Mead,  corporal  ;  David  A.Cook,  corporal;  .John  Dunliam,  corporal ;  Lanii^n 
Morse.  John  Oliver,  musicians. 

Privates. — Joseph  Agins,  Patrick  Ambrose,  John  Ashley,  Daniel  G.  Baker,  Olivir 
Baker,  James  Ball,  Dorr  Barber,  Charles  Bishop,  James  J.  Boyd,  Cornelius  Bonm-y, 
Freeman  M.  Brazee,  George  Brennan,  Patrick  Brennan',  Charles  Brown,  Charles  Chap- 
man, Angnstus  A.  Chidsey,  Archibald  Coleman,  Charles  Comstock.  Thomas  Conway, 
Bruen  Cooley,  George  W.  Corey,  James  W.  Corey,  Daniel  Daily,  John  Davis,  William 
Decker,  Putnam  Demming,  John  Durham,  William  H.  Eddy,  James  Firmin,  John  For- 
shay,  Charles  Forshay,  Sylvester  Fredenburgh,  Charles  Gage,  William  Gates,  John  Gor- 
don, George  W.  Goundry,  Jonah  Hartwell,  Josiah  Holcomb,  John  A.  Holmes,  Lewis 
B.  Holmes,  Martin  Hope,  Lewis  G.  Horton,  Delos  C.  Hubbard,  William  Humphrey, 
William  W.  Hunt,  Eugene  Hunt,  Thomas  Hunter,  Charles  Hyatt,  Fenlon  C.  Hylnnd, 
William  Johnson,  William  H.  Keane,  Clement  W.  Kidder,  George  Madden,  Michael 
Mahar.  Hackett  Merritt,  Charles  Miller,  Augustus  Murdock,  Christopher  Nash,  John  E. 
Neary,  John  Xewlove,  Jeremiah  S.  Pierce,  William  F.  Pierce,  William  Plaisted,  Charles 
P.  Quick,  George  Quick,  Byron  F.  Randolph,  Oliver  Raplee,  Henry  M.  Reppenger, 
18 


1 38  HIS  TOR  y  OF  YA  TES  CO  UX  T  \ '. 

Georpe  Reynolds,  James  Royce,  Lewis  Shaw,  George  Shearman,  Nehemiali  Sliuhz, 
Charles  Shuter,  William  V.  R.  Sloan,  Owen  Smith,  Jeremiah  Sprague,  Georpe  S. 
Wells,  Peter  S.  Wheaton,  Samuel  Wheaton,  Edward  Wheeler,  James  White,  Menzo 
Wixson,  John  G.  Wolcott,  John  Woodrufi',  George  Youngs. 

Regimfntal  and  Line  Officers. — Colonel,  Robert  F.  Taylor;  lieutenant-colonel,  Joseph 
W.  Corning ;  major,  John  S.  Plainer ;  adjutant,  John  W.  Corning ;  quartermaster, 
Henry  N.  Alexander ;  chaplain,  Augustus  H.  Lung;  surgeon,  D'Estaing  Dickinson; 
assistant  surgeon,  Duncan  MacLachlin. 

Company  A:  Captain,  Edwin  J.  Tyler;  first  lieutenant.  Prince  Wesley  Bailey;  sec- 
ond lieutenant,  Thomas  H.  Sibbalds.  Company  B  :  Captain.  Henry  J.  Draime :  first 
lieutenant,  Lucms  C.  Mix;  second  lieutenant,  John  J.  Carter.  Company  C:  Captain, 
Chester  H.  Cole;  first  lieutenant,  Robert  H.  Brett;  second  lieutenant,  James  E.  Steb- 
bings.  Company  D :  Captain,  Henry  J.  Gifibrd  ;  second  lieutenant,  William  E.  Roach. 
Company  E:  Captain,  Wilson  E.  Warford;  first  lieutenant,  John  Gummer.  Company 
F:  Captain,  James  Isl.  McNair;  first  lieutenant,  Henry  A.  Hills;  second  lieutenant, 
John  F.  Winship.  Company  G  :  Captain,  George  A.  Gale;  first  lieutenant,  George  W. 
Marshall;  second  lieutenant,  Byron  F.  Brain.  Company  H:  Captain,  Alexander  H. 
Drake;  first  lieutenant,  Otis  Cole;  second  lieutenant,  Sylvester  Porter.  Company  I: 
Captain,  Edward  E.  Root;  first  lieutenant,  George  Brennan.  Company  K:  Captain, 
Patrick  McGraw :   first  lieutentant,  Barnard  Byrne;  second  lieutenant,  Edward  Carey. 

ONE    HUNDRED    AND    TWENTY- SI.KTH    REGIMENT   N,  Y.  Y. 

Abraliam  Lincoln,  President  of  the  United  States,  received  on  the 
last  of  June,  1862,  a  communication  signed  by  seventeen  of  the  war 
governors  of  the  North  recommending  him  to  "fill  up  all  military  or- 
ganizations then  in  the  field  that  had  become  reduced  by  the  unavoid- 
able casualties  of  the  service,  and  to  create  new  regiments  for  the 
defence  of  positions  gained,  by  calling  on  each  State  for  its  quota  of  a 
bod)'  of  men  sufficient  for  such  purposes."  The  President's  reply  in  part 
was  as  follows : 

"  P^ully  concurring  in  the  wisdom  of  the  views  expressed  to  me  in  so 
patriotic  a  manner  by  you  in  the  communication  of  the  28th  of  June 
I  have  decided  to  call  into  the  service  an  additional  force  of  300,000 
men.  I  suggest  and  recommend  that  the  troops  should  be  chiefly  of 
infantry.  I  trust  they  may  be  enrolled  without  delay,  so  as  to  bring 
this  unnecessary  and  injurious  civil  war  to  a  speedy  and  satisfactory 
conclusion." 

The  call  for  troops  made  as  above  by  the  President  was  dated  July 
1st  and  on  the  2d  a  proclamation  was  issued  by  Hon.  Edwin    D.  Mor- 


ONE  HUNDRED  AND   TWENTY-SIXTH  N.  Y.  V.  139 

gan,  governor  of  New  Yoik,  for  the  raising  of  tlie  quota  of  the  State. 
Governor  Morgan  subsequently  issued  an  order  fixing  the  quotps  of  the 
several  counties,  and  requiring  a  regiment  to  be  raised  in  each  senato- 
rial district,  which  for  the  time  was  re-named  "  Regimental  District." 
For  each  district  a  war  committee  was  appointed  to  take  charge  of  the 
recruiting  of  the  regiment  of  that  district  and  to  recommend  the  proper 
persons  to  otificer  such  regiment.  The  war  committee  appointed  by  the 
governor  for  tiie  Twenty-sixth  Senatorial  District  held  the  first  meet- 
ing at  Geneva  on  the  iith  of  July,  said  committee  being  composed  of 
certain  prominent  citizens  from  tlie  counties  of  Ontario,  Seneca,  and 
Yates.  From  the  last  named  county  the  members  of  the  war  com- 
mittee were  as  follows  :  Hon.  WiUiani  S.  Briggs,  county  judge,  Morris 
Brown,  esq.,  Stafilbrd  C.  Cle<'elancl,  editor  of  the  Yates  County  Chroni- 
cle, Charles  S.  Hoyt,  M.D.,  Meletiah  M.  Lawrence,  esq.,  Hon.  Darius  A. 
Ogden,  and  Gen.  Alexander  F.  Wiiitaker. 

Recruiting  immediately  commenced,  and  on  tlie  4th  of  August  the 
rendezvous  for  the  regiment  to  be  raised  in  this  district  was  opened  at 
Camp  Swift,  Geneva.  The  position  of  commandant  of  this  post  was 
first  offered  to  Hon.  Charles  J.  Folger,  of  Geneva,  and  then  to  Hon. 
Darius  A.  Ogden,  of  Penn  Yan.  Each  having  in  turn  declined  Hon. 
Eliakim  Sherrill,  of  Geneva,  was  chosen  and  was  commissioned  colonel 
of  tlie  legiment  upon  its  organization.  War  meetings  were  held  in  all 
parts  of  the  senatorial  district,  particularly  in  our  county  of  Yates, 
where  great  enthusiasm  was  manifested,  and  recruiting  went  on  rapidh-. 
Company  A,  recruited  entirely  in  Yates  County,  was  the  first  compan}' 
in  the  new  regiment  to  rendezvous  at  Camp  Swift.  The  second  was 
Company  B,  recruited  principally  in  Yates  County.  Recruits  from  this 
county  were  also  in  Companies  C,  D,  E,  F,  G,  H,  and  K.  On  August 
20th  the  regiment,  which  was  called  the  One  Hundred  and  Twent)- 
sixth  New  York  Volunteers,  was  organized  and  on  the  22d  it  was 
regularly  mustered  into  the  United  States  service. 

On  that  date  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty  sixth  Regiment  com- 
prised 39  officers  and  956  enlisted  men,  or  a  total  of  995.  The  regi- 
mental and  line  officers  at  the  time  were  as  follows : 

Officers. — Colone],  E.  Sherrill,  Geneva  ;  lieutenant-colonel,  James  M.  Bull,  Canandai- 
gua;   major.  \V.  H.   Baird.  Geneva;  quartermaster,  J.  K.  Loring,   Waterloo;  surgeon, 


I40  HISTORY  OF  YATES  CO  US  TV. 

Fletcher  M.  Hammond,  Pemi  Yan ;  first  assistant- suigeon,  Charles  S.  Hoyt,  Potter; 
second  assistant-surgeon,  Pierre  D.  Peltier,  Canandaigua ;  chaplain,  T.  Spencer  Harri- 
son, Dundee;  sergeant-major,  D.  C.  Farrington,  Geneva;  quartermaster-sergeant,  John 
Stevenson,  Seneca  Falls;  commissary-sergeant,  Richard  Macey,  Geneva;  sutler,  J.  D. 
Cobb,  Geneva. 

Line  Officers. — Company  A;  Captain,  T.  N.  Burrill ;  first  lieutenant,  S.  A.  Barras; 
second  lieutenant.  G.  D.  Carpenter.  Company  B:  Captain,  W.  A.  Coleman;  first  lieu- 
tenant, R.  A.  Bassett;  second  lieutenant,  M.  H.  Lawrence,  jr.  Company  C:  Captain, 
W.  Scott;  first  lieutenant,  T.  R.  Lounsbury ;  second  lieutenant,  A.  W.  Porter.  Com- 
panj-  D:  Captain,  P.  D.  Phillips;  first  lieutenant,  C.  A.  Richardson;  second  lieutenant, 
S.  F.  Lincoln.  Company  B;  Captain,  H.  D.  Kipp ;  first  lieutenant.  Geoige  C.  Pritch- 
elt;  second  lieutenant,  J.  H.  Brough.  Company  F:  Captain,  Isaac  Shimei' ;  fir.>-t  lieu- 
tenant, Ira  Munson  ;  second  lieutenant,  T.  E.  Munson.  Company  G  :  Captain,  J.  F. 
Aikins;  first  lieutenant,  Frederick  Stewart ;  second  lieutenant,  S.  H.  Piatt.  Company 
H:  Captain,  O.J.  Herendeen;  first  lieutenant,  G.N.  Redfield  ;  second  lieutenant,  A.  R. 
Clapp.  Company  I:  Captaii\,  B.  F.  Lee;  first  lieutenant,  G.  Skaats;  second  lieuten- 
ant, G.  L.  Yost.  Company  K  :  Captain,  Charles  M.  Wlieeler ;  first  lieutenant,  H.  C. 
Lawrence ;  second  lieutenant,  I.  A.  Seamans. 

The  regiment  left  Geneva  for  the  front  August  26,  1862,  and  arrived 
at  Baltimore  the  next  day.  By  orders  given  by  the  veteran  general, 
John  E.  Wool,  who  commanded  the  middle  department,  the  One 
Hundred  and  Twenty-si.xth  proceeded  to  Harper's  Ferry,  reaching 
there  the  28th.  The  regiment  had  been  directed  to  report  for  instruc- 
tion and  duty  to  Col.  D.  H.  Miles,  then  commanding  at  Harper's  Ferrj', 
and  which  on  its  arrival  was  already  occupied  by  the  Thirty- ninth  and 
One  Hundred  and  Eleventh  Regiments  N.  Y.  V.,  the  Thirtj'-second 
Ohio  Volunteers,  the  Twelfth  New  York  State  Militia,  the  First  Rhode 
Island  Battery,  and  a  portion  of  the  Fifth  New  York  Heavy  Artillery. 
On  the  13th,  I4tli,  and  15th  of  September  Harper's  Ferry  was  invested 
by  three  divisions  of  the  Confederate  army  commanded  respectively 
by  Generals  McLaws,  Walker,  and  "Stonewall"  Jackson.  Early  in  the 
morning  of  the  13th  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-sixth  Regiment  ad- 
vanced from  Harper's  Ferry  to  Maryland  Heights.  It  there  received 
the  main  force  of  the  enemy's  attack,  and  made  under  very  disadvanta- 
geous circumstances  a  brave  and  creditable  defence.  Its  loss  in  this 
engagement  was  thirteen  killed  and  forty-two  wounded.  Among  the 
latter  was  Colonel  Sherrill,  who,  receiving  a  severe  wound  in  the  face, 
was  for  some  time  disabled  from  active  service.  On  the  15th  the  gar- 
rison at   Harper's    Ferry  surrendered   on   parole.      Any  of  the  causes 


ONE  HUXDRED  A.\D   TlVEXTy-SI.MM  .\.   I'.'/'.  141 

which  are  said  to  have  brought  about  this  disastrous  result  need  not 
here  be  stated.  Having  marched  to  Annapohs  the  One  Hundred  and 
Twenty- sixth  Regiment  was  transferred  to  Camp  Douglas,  Ciiicago. 
At  this  place  were  located  for  two  months  its  far  from  desirable  quar- 
ters, where  the  accommodations  and  sanitary  arrangements  were  alike 
injurious  to  the  health  of  all  and  fatal  to  many.  Adjutant  J.  Smith 
Brown,  of  Colonel  Bcrdan's  United  States  Sharpshooters,  here  joined  on 
the  17th  of  November  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-sixth,  having  ac- 
cepted the  adjutancy  of  the  same.  The  regiment  was  exchanged  No- 
vember 19th  and  proceeding  to  Washington  was  re  armed.  The  winter 
of  1862-63  was  passed  in  camp  at  Union  Mills,  Va.,  doing  picket  duty 
along  the  banks  of  the  famous  Hull  Run.  On  the  27th  of  Januarj-, 
1863,  Colonel  Sherrill,  having  sufficiently  rccoxered,  rejoined  the  rc"i- 
ment,  which  during  his  absence  had  been  under  the  command  of  Lieut  - 
Col.  James  M.  Bull.  The  camp  was  moved  March  2d  to  Centerville, 
Va.,  where  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-sixth  united  with  the  bal- 
ance of  a  brigade  comprising  the  Thirty- ninth,  the  One  Hundred  and 
Eleventh,  and  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fifth  New  York  Volun- 
teers, and  commanded  by  Brig.-Gen.  Alexander  Ha\s,  who  had  won 
distinction  in  the  Peninsular  Campaign.  On  the  24th  of  June  the  reg- 
iment joined  the  Arm\-  of  the  Potomac,  then  marching  to  intercept 
Lee,  who  was  making  a  second  attempt  to  invade  the  North.  The  One 
Hundred  and  Twenty-si.xth  now  became  a  part  of  the  Third  Brigade  of 
the  Third  Division  of  the  Second  Army  Corps  under  Hancock.  Brig- 
adier-General Hays  was  at  this  time  assigned  to  the  command  of  tlie 
Third  Division,  and  was  succeeded  as  commander  of  the  brigade  bj' 
Col.  George  Lamb  Willard,  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Eleventh  N.  Y.  V. 
After  a  most  fatiguing  march  from  Centerville  the  One  Hundred  and 
Twenty-sixth  arrived  in  the  early  morning  of  July  2d  on  the  battlefield 
of  Gettysburg.  Toward  night  it  took  part  along  with  the  brigades  in  a 
glorious  charge  that  resulted  in  the  defeat  and  dispersion  of  the  oppos- 
ing forces  of  Southerners.  As  this  charge  was  being  made  Colonel  Wil- 
lard, the  brigade  commander,  was  killed,  while  on  the  side  of  the  enemy 
fell  Barksdale,  who  had  commanded  a  Confederate  brigade  at  the  taking 
of  Harper's  Ferry.  During  the  terrific  cannonading  between  the  two 
armies  with  which   began   the  engagement  of  the  day  following  volun- 


142  HIS  TORY  OF  J  'A  TES  CO  UN  T  V. 

teers  from  tlie  One  Hundred  and  Twenty- sixth  Regiment  came  forward 
and  manned  the  guns  in  the  batteries  where  the  regular  artillerj'men  had 
been  icilled  or  wounded.  When  in  the  afternoon  a  grand  assault  was 
made  by  the  Confederates  against  the  Federal  lines  the  One  Hundred 
and  Twenty- sixth  acted  well  its  part  toward  the  repulse  of  the  foe. 
Five  stands  of  colors  were  taken  by  the  regiment  on  this  occasion. 
Capt.  Morris  Brown,  jr.,  of  Yates  County,  captured  with  his  own  hands 
one  of  these  standards,  on  which  was  inscribed  "  Harper's  Ferr)-  "  and 
the  names  of  eleven  other  battles.  The  surrender  of  Harper's  Ferry 
was  redeemed  at  Gettysburg.  The  brave  Colonel  Sherrill,  who,  when 
Colonel  Willard  fell,  had  succeeded  to  the  command  of  the  Third  Brig- 
ade, was  mortally  wounded,  expiring  the  next  day,  and  most  fittingly 
on  the  anniversary  of  American  independence.  Five  other  ofiicers  and 
fifty  five  enlisted  men  belonging  to  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-sixth 
Regiment  were  killed  in  this,  one  of  the  most  important  battles  of  the 
war,  while  seven  officers  and  i6i  enlisted  men  were  wounded.  Among 
the  slain  officers  was  Color-Sergeant  Erasmus  E.  Bassett,  of  Yates 
County,  who  fell  during  the  first  da)''s  fight  while  bravely  carrying  the 
regimental  colors.  An  active  part  was  taken  by  the  regiment  after  the 
battle  in  the  pursuit  of  the  enemy. 

From  Gettysburg  until  the  close  of  the  war  the  One  Hundred  and 
Twenty-sixth  participated  in  twenty  different  battles  and  skirmishes. 
In  the  autumn  of  1863  the  regiment  won  additional  honor  for  its  con- 
spicuous gallantry  in  the  battles  of  Auburn  Ford  and  of  Bristow  Sta- 
tion, which  were  fought  respectively  in  the  morning  and  afternoon  of 
October  14th.  Severe  skirmishing  also  took  place  at  Mine  Run  on  the 
27th,  28th,  29th,  and  30th  of  November.  The  services  of  the  regiment 
were  again  called  upon  in  the  grand  reconnaissance  made  February  6, 
1864,  by  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  at  Morton's  Ford  on  the  Rapidan. 
On  the  24th  of  March  Lieut.- Gen.  U.  S.  Grant  arrived  and  established 
his  headquarters  at.  Culpepper  Court  House.  The  regiment,  having 
been  transferred  to  Barlow's  division,  entered  the  spring  campaign  of 
1864  with  less  than  300  men,  of  whom  100  were  on  duty  as  provost- 
guarJ  at  corps  headquarters.  The  Army  of  the  Potomac  crossed  the 
Rapidan  on  the  4th  of  May  and  was  afterward  engaged  in  the  follow- 
ing battles,  in  all  of  which  the  One   Hundred  and  Twenty-sixth  Regi- 


OXE  HUNDRED  AND   TWENTV-SIXrH  N.  Y.  V.  143 

ment  took  part :  May  6tli  and  7th  in  the  Wilderness  (in  this  battle 
Brevet  Maj-Gen.  Alexander  Hays  was  killed  while  gallantly  rallying 
his  brigade) ;  May  loth  at  Po  River;  May  12th  to  the  i8th  at  Spottsyl- 
vania,  where  the  Second  Corps,  to  which  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty- 
sixth  Regiment  belonged,  made  a  grand  charge  on  the  enemy's  works, 
capturing  400  prisoners,  20  guns,  and  30  stands  of  colors,  together  with 
the  Confederate  Generals  Edward  Johnson  and  G.  H.  Stewart,  wlio  were 
taken  to  the  rear  and  put  under  guard  of  colored  soldiers.  From  the 
23d  to  the  31st  sharp  skirmishing  occurred  along  the  North  Anna  and 
Tolopotomy  Rivers.  The  One  Hundred  and  Twenty  sixth  Regiment 
then  took  part  in  the  terrible  battle  of  Cold  Harbor  from  the  1st  to  the 
I2th  of  June.  On  the  16th  the  regiment  moved  to  the  front  of  Peters- 
burg and  in  the  engagement  on  that  day  Col.  William  H.  Baird  was 
killed.  Heavy  fighting  also  occurred  here  on  the  17th  and  i8th.  The 
Second  Corps  on  the  21st  advanced  to  the  left  of  Petersburg  and  on 
the  22d  was  attacked  by  the  enemy  in  force  and  on  the  left  flank.  The 
One  Hundred  and  Twenty-sixtii  Regiment  was  at  this  time  commanded 
by  Capt.  Morris  l?rown,  jr.,  of  Yates  Count}',  who  fell  with  others  of 
merit  in  the  heat  of  the  action. 

On  the  26th  of  July  the  regiment  was  engaged  in  battle  at  Deep  Bot- 
tom on  the  James  and  from  the  14th  to  the  20th  of  August  at  Straw- 
berry Plains.  Having  aided  effectually  in  the  destruction  of  the  Wei- 
don  Railroad  the  regiment  was  attacked  on  the  25th  at  Reams  Station. 
\\\  the  following  spring  (jf  1865  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty- sixth 
Regiment  participated  in  the  assault  made  March  2Sth  on  the  lines 
around  Petersburg,  just  after  the  attack  by  Lee  upon  Fort  Steadman. 
From  the  29th  to  the  31st  the  regiment  was  engaged  on  the  skirmish 
line  along  the  Bo\-dton  plank  road.  When  the  retreat  of  Lee's  army 
began  the  Third  Brigade,  in  which  was  included  the  One  Hundred  and 
Twenty-sixth  Regiment,  was  particularly  active  in  the  pursuit,  and  led 
by  the  gallant  Gen.  C.  D.  MacDougall  charged  (April  2d)  and  carried 
the  enemy's  entrenchments  at  Southerland's  Station.  The  Confederates 
were  again  encountered  April  7th  at  Farmville  and  at  Appomattox  on 
the  9th,  where  on  that  day  Lee  surrendered  to  Grant,  The  One  Hun 
dred  and  Twent)'- sixth  Regiment,  having  resumed  its  march,  passed  on 
the  7th  of  May  through  Richmond.      Here  it  was  greeted  by  the  One 


144  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

Hundred  and  Forty- eiglith  New  York  Volunteers,  in  which  regiment 
Companies  B,  F,  and  I  had  been  recruited  in  Yates  County.  This  was 
the  first  time  the  two  regiments  had  met  while  in  the  service.  The  One 
Hundred  and  Twenty- sixth  Regiment  proceeded  to  Washington  and 
toolv  part  in  the  grand  review  held  in  that  city  on  the  23d  of  May. 
Orders  were  received  June  2d  for  tlie  regiment  to  be  mustered  out  and 
sent  to  theState  rendezvous,  and  on  the  3d  the  regiment  was  mustered  out. 
The  next  day  the  men  left  W'ashington  for  Elmira,  N.  Y.,  arriving  at 
that  place  on  the  6th,  and  there  meeting  their  former  colonel,  James  M. 
Bull.  The  One  Hundred  and  Twenty  sixth  Regiment,  numbering  at 
this  time  221  men,  received  final  pa\'ment  and  discharge  at  Elmira,  June 
i6th  and    17th,  1865. 

The  following  is  the  muster  roll  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty- 
si.xth  on  the  mustering  out  of  the  regiment : 

QlHcers. — Major,  J.  Smith  Brown,  Penn  Yan  ;  adjutant,  John  F.  Randolph,  Penn 
Yan  ;  quartermaster,  John  C.  Stanton,  Geneva;  surgeon,  Fletcher  H.  Hammond,  Penn 
Yan;  assistant-surgeon,  Ferdinand  M.  Pasco.  Red  Creek;  chaplain,  T.  Spencer  Harri- 
son. Dundee.  Company  A  :  Captain,  Ira  Hart  Wilder;  first  lieutenant,  Samuel  Hughe-s. 
Company  B:  first  lieutenant,  Milo  II.  Hopj]er ;  second  lieutenant;  Charles  A.  Garling- 
liouse.  Company  C  :  Captain,  John  B.  Geddis;  first  lieutenant.  Thomas  R.  Lounsbury  ; 
second  lieutenant,  Jordan  Snook.  Company  D:  Captain,  Ten  Eyke  ilunson  ;  first  lieu- 
tenant, Charles  W.  Watkins.  Company  E:  first  lieutenant,  Henry  M.  Lee;  second 
lieutenant,  Clinton  E.  Pasco.  Sergeant-major,  Albert  S.  Andrews;  quartermaster-.ser- 
geant,  John  Davis;  commissary-sergeant,  Charles  R.  Lisk;  hospital  steward,  George  W. 
Becker ;   principal  musician,  Lyman  E.  Jacobus. 

Muster-in  roll  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-sixth  Regiment 
New  York  \'olunteers: 

Company  A. — Truman  N.  Burrill,  captain;  Samuel  A.  Barras,  first  lieutenant; 
George  D.  Carpenter,  second  lieutenant;  Morris  Brown,  jr.,  orderly ;  Samuel  Wilson, 
first  sergeant ;  Charles  Forshay,  second  .sergeant;  Wallace  Betts,  third  sergeant;  0.  M. 
Paris,  fourth  sergeant;  Daniel  Kelly,  first  corporal;  Smith  Fuller,  second  corporal; 
Barnard  Gelder,  third  corporal;  Charles  Stebbins,  fourth  corporal;  David  H  Gofl'.  fifth 
corporal;  Smith  Stelihin.s,  si.xtli  corporal;  Lot  W.  Rogers,  seventh  corporal;  Charles 
Noi'cott,  eighth  corporal;  William  Beebe,  drummer;  James  McAllister,  fifer.  Privates: 
Richard  M.  Allen,  Warren  Allen,  William  Axtill,  Oliver  Baker,  William  Baker,  Daniel 
J.  Beyea,  Henry  Bilson,  Levi  P.  Brizee,  George  Burch,  James  Burns,  George  A.  Bying- 
ton,  Alvah  B.  Chissom,  Levi  Cole,  John  Conklin,  John  Cummings,  Kben  B.  Danes, 
William  H.  Dubois,  A.  R.  Feagles,  Daniel  W.  Finch,  John  H.  Frost,  John  H.  Garri-son, 
Barnard  F.  Gelder,  William  Hainer,  Francis  A.  Harford,  John  Harris,  James  Henderson, 
Abner   Herries,    Willlaiu   Heriies,  James   R.  Hibliard,   William  P.  House,  Neil   Kelly, 


i 


ONE  HUNDRED  AND   TWENTY-SIXTH  N.  V.  V.  145 

Russell  A.  Lincoln,  Orson  R.  Linkletter,  David  Little,  John  C.  Mace,  Patrick  Manly, 
John  D.  Maynard,  George  W.  McKnight,  Arthur  W.  Middleton,  George  Millis,  Cliarles 

E.  Moore,  Henry  0.  Moore,  Alexander  Mosher,  Lewis  Murphy,  Charles  M.  Nicholson, 
John  J.  Oakley.  Alfred  C.  Olds,  David  H.  Paris,  Peter  F.  Paris,  John  VV.  Parker,  Har- 
low F.  Parsons,  Lewis  T.  Partridge,  Francis  E.  Pool,  Roliert  H.  Pool,  William  J.  Pool, 
Charles  H.  Power,  Calvin  L.  Reed,  Sidney  E.  Rice,  William  Robinson,  James  Ryan, 
Albion  C.  Sheppard,  Cyrus  Sherwood,  William  H.  Shoemaker,  Spencer  Shngerland, 
Charles  W.  Sterling,  George  T.  Stevens,  William  W.  Strobridge,  Charles  P.  Strong, 
David  D.  Taylor,  David  E.  Taylor,  James  Taylor,  David  0.  Tears,  Thomas  Tobin,  Isaac 
Traverse,  Spencer  Turner,  Alexander  Turner.  Phineas  Tyler,  William  R.  Tyndall,  Thad- 
deus  B.  Twitchell,  John  Vauglin.  James  E.  Warner,  Charles  E.  Waters,  Martin  Young.s 

Company  B. —  William  A.  Coleman,  captain;  Richard  A.  liassett,  first  lieutenant; 
Melatiah  H.  Lawrence,  second  lieutenant  ;  Oscar  C.  Squire,  first  sergeant;  T.  Spencer 
Harrison,  .second  sergeant;  Erasmus  E.  Bas.sett.  third  sergeant ;  Henry  P.  Cook,  fourth 
sergeant ;  Henry  0.  Childs,  fifth  sergeant ;  Edwin  Jessop,  first  corporal ;  Edward 
Knapp,  third  corporal ;  Martin  V.  McCarrick,  fourth  corporal ;  George  Hays,  fifth  cor- 
poral :  George  Chapman,  si.Kth  corporal ;  Samuel  A.  Nichols,  seventh  corporal ;  Henry 
S.  Nichols,  eighth  corporal.  Privates:  William  H.  Armstrong,  Charles  W.Austin, 
Melvin  Bunce,  RoUin  G.  Beach,  William  P.  Bowen,  James  F.  Butler,  James  Badger, 
Oren  Bates,  Ansel  Brace,  Reuben  Bullock,  Nathan  D.  Beeden,  John  Blan.^ett.  James  M. 
Booth,  Moses  U.  Booth,  Isaac  Bellis,  William  Cassion,  Edwin  Coryell.  Benjamin  F. 
Chase,  Isaac  P.  DePew,  Charles  H.  Dunning,  George  W.  Davis.  Oren  Edgett,  Rowlan<l 
LeRoy  Emliree,  Horace  F.  Elli.s,  John  W.  Finger,  Mortimer  Garrison,  Charles  W.  Gay- 
lord,  James  H.  Griggs,  James  K.  P.  Iluson.  Christopiier  Houghtailing,  Will  L.  Hobart. 
William  A.  Hays,  .\mos  V.  Houghtailing,  Charles  M.  Hyatt,  Elsworth  Haight,  Egbert 
C.  Hopkins,  Frank  R.  Hamlin,  Alexander  H.  Houghtailing,  Charles  C.  Hicks,  James  K. 
Hicks,  Jo.seph  HoUowell,  James  H.  Lathy,  Luther  C.  Lott,  Richard  H.  Miles,  Nelson 
Millis,  James  H.  Moshier,  Edgar  F.  Millard,  William  McAllister,  Anson  Matthews, 
Thomas  T.  McCarrick,  George  Moore,  Elias  A.  Norris,  Peter  M.  Norman,  John  H.  Os- 
born.  Caleb  J,  Osborn,  Charles  R.  Pinneo,  Franklin  J.  Pettingill.  David  Perigo,  Stephen 
C.  Purdy,  Orin  Potter,  Amos  J.  Potter,  Andrew  Putnam,  Albert  A.  Quick,  Willinrn 
Raymond,  John  N.  Roney,  Joseph  B.  Snyder,  Orlando  B.  Smith,  Albert  S.  Spragiie, 
Wilber  F.  Stanton,  Robert  B.  Sutton,  Charles  P.  Steven.s,  Asa  Sherwood,  Charles  A. 
Seward,  Albert  Thomas,  Lewis  Trimmer,  George  Tyler,  Joseph  R.  Tuttle,  John  R.  Tut- 
tle,  William  H.  Thomas,  James  W.  Updike.  James  E.  Walker,  Jerry  Wall,  Josiah  Wolf, 
Richard  Wheaton,  David  J.  Wilkin,  Luther  Weaver. 

Company  C. —  .\lbert  F.  Dow  and  Myron  C.  Morse,  both  transferred  from  Com- 
pany A. 

Company  Z).— Henry  W.  Bradt.  Charles  W.  Ford,  Decatur  A.  Hedges,  Albert  A.  Mur- 
dock,  Eugene  M.  Smith. 

Company  E. — John  H.  Brough,  second  lieutenant ;  Fayette  Green,  first  sergeant ;  John 

F.  Randolph,  enlisted  private  and  luonioted  corporal,  sergeant,  sergeant-major,  first 
lieutenant,  and  adjutant,  Charles  E.  Raymond,  musician.  Privates:  Aaron  II.  Abeel. 
Jewett  Benedict.  Roliert  D.  Blaurett,  Albert  L.  Botrart.  Jerome  Brink,  Taylor  Brink, 

19 


1 46  HIS  TOR } '  OF  YA  TES  CO  UN  T  V. 

J.inies  A.  Creed,  Jonathan  Creed,  Theron  T.  Dunn,  Alonzo  Harris,  Franklin  R.  Knapp, 
John  Olf,  Edwin  Palmer,  Henry  Runyan,  Sherman  W.  Robinson,  Stephen  Walker. 
Henry  Wilson. 

Compan;/  F. — James  M.  Barden,  Eli  R.  Hazlet,  and  A.  W.  Shearman. 

Company  O. — Frederick  Stewart,  first  lieutenant  ;  De  Witt  C.  Farrinjjton.  sergeant- 
major.  Privates:  AVilliam  Bain,  John  Barron,  Patrick  Bulger,  James  Collirs,  John  P. 
Culver,  Daniel  Day,  John  Dunnagan,  Frank  Dunnagan,  John  Duffy,  Jacob  Goodsell, 
George  Henry,  David  J.  Hoffman.  Daniel  Mead.  James  Place,  A.  J.  Ralph,  Milfred 
Rector,  John  Rector,  James  Snyder,  Charles  B.  Shaw,  James  Toms. 

Company  H. — Justus  Cooley,  jr.,  corporal;   Aliijah  De  Pew,  private. 

Company  H. — William  L,  Criscaden.  corporal;  privates,  George  W.  Erwin,  James 
Norman,  Hiram  Wilson. 

ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FORTY   EIGHTH    REGIMENT   N.  V.  V. 

Important  service  to  the  nation  was  rendered  during  the  great  Civil 
war  by  the  One  Hundred  and  Forty-  eighth  Regiment  New  York  Volun- 
teers, which  was  raised  in  the  counties  of  Yates,  Ontario,  and  Seneca, 
and  organized  Septemb-r  14,  1862.  At  the  time  of  its  organization 
the  field  and  staff  officers  were  as  follows  :  Colonel,  William  Johnson, 
Seneca  Falls;  lieutenant-colonel,  George  M.  Guyon,  Seneca  Falls; 
major,  John  B.  Murray,  Seneca  Falls  ;  adjutant,  Henry  T.  Noyes, 
Starkey  ;  quartermnster,  Albert  Woodruff,  Lodi  ;  surgeon,  Henry  Sim- 
mons, Canandaigua;  first  assistant- surgeon,  C.  H.  Carpenter,  Phelps; 
second  assistant- surgeon,  Frank  Seeleye,  Rushville. 

In  Yates  County  were  recruited  Companies  B,  F,  and  I.  Of  these 
the  following  were  the  line  officers:  Company  B:  Captain,  Hiram 
T.  Hewitt;  first  lieutenant,  Hiram  Struble ;  second  lieutenant,  George 
W.  Waddell.  Company  T:  Captain,  Harvey  G.  Gardner ;  first  lieuten- 
ant, Melvin  D.  Wilson  ;  second  lieutenant,  Aaron  J.  Cook.  Company 
I :  Captain,  Martin  S.  Hicks  ;  first  lieutenant,  Morgan  D.  Tracy  ;  sec- 
ond lieutenant,  John  Cooley. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Forty- eighth  left  the  place  of  rendezvous  at 
Camp  Swift,  Geneva,  on  the  22d  of  September.  The  regiment  when  it 
departed  consisted  of  twelve  companies.  Ten  being  the  lequired  num- 
ber orders  were  received  on  the  arrival  of  the  command  (by  steamer  via 
Seneca  Lake)  at  Watkins  directing  two  of  the  companies  to  return  to 
Geneva.  The  two  companies  that  returned  became,  on  the  3d  of  Oc- 
tober, part  of  the  Forty-fourth  Regiment  N.  Y.  V.     One  of  these  two  had 


ONE  HUNDRED  AND  FORTY-EIGHTH  N.  Y.  V.  147 

been  raised  in  Yates  County  and  was  at  first  Company  M  of  the  One 
Hundred  and  Forty- eighth  and  later  Company  C  of  the  Forty- fourth. 
Its  line  officers  were  as  follows  :  Captain,  Bennett  Miinger;  first  lieu- 
tenant, Elzer  B.  James  ;  second  lieutenant.  Charles  Kelly.  The  One 
Hundred  and  Forty- eighth  Regiment  proceeded  from  Watkins  by  rail, 
arriving  at  Baltimore  the  next  morning,  and  was  there  served  with  an 
excellent  breakfast  by  the  ladies  of  the  city.  The  command  went  vn 
to  Washington,  where  it  continued  to  drill  for  several  da}'s  on  Capitc  1 
Hill.  It  then  left  Washington,  and  going  by  transport  by  way  of  Fort- 
ress Monroe  landed  at  Portsmouth,  Va.  From  Portsmouth  the  reg- 
iment went  by  rail  through  the  Dismal  Swamp  to  Suffolk  and  was  tliere 
stationed  on  guard  duty  in  the  rifle  pits.  Suffolk  was  then  being  put 
into  a  state  of  defence  by  the  Union  forces  commanded  by  General 
Peck,  of  Syracuse.  The  One  Hundred  and  Forty  eighth  after  a  few 
weeks  moved  from  the  entrenchments  and  encamped  on  Paradise  Creek 
near  Portsmouth.  The  whole  regiment  then  relieved  the  Nineteenth 
Wisconsin  and  moved  and  went  into  camp,  part  in  Portsmouth  and  part 
across  the  river  in  Norfolk.  The  different  companies  composing  the 
One  Hundred  and  Forty- eighth  were  for  a  considerable  time  on  de 
tached  duty,  but  were  again  collected  together  and  were  all  encamped 
in  the  court-house  yard  in  Norfolk  and  in  other  parts  of  the  town. 
Here  they  remained  until  the  opening  of  the  spring  campaign  of  1864. 
The  regiment  then  moved  toYorktown  and  became  part  of  the  Second 
Brigade  of  the  Second  Division  of  the  Army  of  the  James,  under  the 
chief  command  of  Gen.  B.  F.  Butler. 

The  advance  of  this  army  up  the  James  River  began  on  the  4th  of 
May,  1864.  The  One  Hundred  and  Forty- eighth  Regiment,  going  by 
transport,  arrived  and  landed  with  the  rest  of  the  troops  at  Bermuda 
Hundred.  Skirmishes  with  the  enemy  occurred  at  Clover  Hill  on  the 
8th  and  at  Swift  Creek  on  the  I2th.  Early  in  the  morning  of  the  l6th, 
during  a  heavy  fog,  a  sudden  and  sharp  attack  was  made  upon  our 
forces  in  front  of  Drury's  Bluff  by  the  Confederates  under  Beauregard. 
The  Union  troops  fought  bravely  and  obtained  some  advantage,  but 
Butler,  evidently  under  a  misapprehension,  ordered  a  retreat.  Another 
skirmish  in  which  the  One  Hundred  and  Forty- eighth  took  part  oc- 
curred on    the  26th  at  Port  Walthall  Junction.     The  whole  army   re- 


148  HISTORy  OF   YATES  COUATV. 

turned  to  its  entrenchments  at  Bermuda  Hundred,  from  which  position 
no  offensive  movements  in  the  direction  desired  could  possibly  be  at- 
tempted. As  General  Grant  in  his  official  report  says:  "This  army, 
while  here,  though  in  a  position  of  great  security,  was  as  completely 
shut  off  from  further  operations  against  Richmond  as  if  it  had  been 
in  a  bottle  strongly  corked.  It  required  but  a  comparativel)'  small 
force  of  the  enemy  to  hold  it  there."    . 

The  position  at  Bermuda  Hundred  could,  on  the  other  hand,  in  Gen- 
eral Grant's  opinion,  be  held  by  a  less  force  than  Butler  had  under  him; 
therefore  on  the  24th  of  May  the  Eighteenth  Corps,  in  which  was  in- 
cluded the  One  Hundred  and  Forty  eighth  Regiment,  was  ordered  to 
join  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  The  corps  commander  at  that  time  was 
Gen.  W.  F.  Smith,  familiarly  known  as  "  Baldy  "  Smith,  and  who  had 
formerlj'  commanded  a  brigade  of  which  the  Thirty-third  New  York 
Volunteers  had  formed  a  part.  The  One  Hundred  and  Forty-eighth 
joined  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  by  way  of  the  White  House,  to  which 
place  it  arrived  by  transport,  passing  down  the  James  and  up  the  York 
Rivers.  On  the  3d  of  June  the  regiment  participated  in  the  battle  of 
Cold  Harbor.  In  the  sanguinary  contest  in  front  of  Petersburg  a  prom- 
inent part  was  taken  by  the  One  Hundred  and  Forty-eight,  particularly 
in  the  fight  at  Rowlett's  House  on  the  15th.  At  the  mine  explosion  in 
the  morning  of  July  30th  the  regiment  with  its  division  was  ordered 
forward  to  the  support  of  the  attacking  column  that  charged  into  the 
crater.  On  the  29th  of  September  the  very  strong  fortifications  and  en- 
trenchments below  Chapin's  Farm,  on  the  north  side  of  the  James  and 
known  as  J^ort  Harrison,  were  carried  in  an  attack  by  the  Eighteenth 
Corps  led  by  Gen.  E.  O.  C.  Ord.  The  regiment  distinguished  itself  in 
this  action  and  proved  to  all  that  its  designation  as  "  the  gallant  One 
Hundred  and  Forty-eighth"  was  well  deserved.  In  the  assault  on  Fort 
Gillmore,  however,  on  the  same  day,  a  repulse  followed.  At  the  battle 
of  Fair  Oaks,  fought  October  27th,  the  regiment  suffered  severely  in 
killed  and  wounded.  In  the  beginning  of  November  the  larger  part  of 
the  One  Hundred  and  Forty-eighth  Regiment  was  detailed  with  other 
forces  to  accompanj'  General  Butler  to  New  York  city  for  the  purpose 
of  keeping  order  on  election  daj',  as  it  was  anticipated  that  a  riot  would 
take  place  on  that  occasion. 


OiXE  HUNDRED  A.\D  FORTY-EIGHTH  N.  Y.  V.  149 

On  the  2d  of  April,  1865,  occurred  the  decisive  conflict  (participated 
in  by  the  One  Hundred  and  Forty-eighth)  which  resulted  in  the  final 
defeat  of  Lee  and  the  evacuation  of  Petersburg  and  Richmond.  The 
next  morning,  "  amid  blazing  roofs  and  failing  walls,  smoke  and  ashes, 
and  the  deafening  reports  of  explosions,"  the  soldiers  of  the  Union  en- 
tered the  latter  city  in  triumph.  The  very  remarkable  scene  which  was 
on  that  morning  presented  is  thus  described  by  E.  A.  Pollard,  the  South- 
ern historian  : 

"By  10  o'clock,  when   several  thousand   of  the  [Federal]  enemy  had 
marched  into  the  city,  the  scene  had  become  fearfully  sublime.      It  was 
a  scene  in  which  the  horrors  of  a  great  conflagration  struggled  for  the 
forepart  of  the  picture,  while  the  grand  army,  brilliant  with  steel  and 
banners,  breaking  into  the  circle  of  fire  with   passionate  cheers,  and  the 
crash  of  triumphant  martial  music,  dazzled  the  spectator  and  confounded 
his  imagination.     The  flames  liad  already  spread  over  the  chief  business 
portion  of  the  city,  brands  were  flying  toward  thecapitol,  and  it  seemed 
at  one  time  as  if  the  whole  of  Richmond  would  be  destroyed — that  the 
whole  wicked  city  would  rush  skyward  in  a  p\-ramid  of  fire.      A  chanoe 
in  the  wind,  however,  drove  back  the  fire  from  the  high   plateau  above 
Franklin  street,  where,  if  the  flames  had  once  lodged,  the}-  would  soon 
have  traversed  the  length   and  breadth  of  the  city.     .      .     .      All  that 
was  terrible    in  sounds  was   added   to  all    that   was  terrible   in  sights. 
While  glittering  regiments  carried  their  strong  lines  of  steel  through  the 
smoke;   while  smoke-masked   robbers  fought  for  their  plunder ;   while 
the  lower  streets  appeared  as  a  great  pit  of  fire,  the  crater  of  destruc- 
tion ;    wliile  alarmed  citizens  who  had  left  their  property  a  ruin  or  a  spoil 
found  a  brief  repose  on  the  sward  of  the  Capitol  Square,  whose  emerald 
green  was  already  strewn  with  brands — the  seeds  of  fire  that  the  merci- 
less wind   had  sown  to  the   very  door  of  the  capitol  ;   while  the  length- 
ening arms  of  the  conflagration  appeared  to  almost  reach  around  tho.se 
who  had  fled  to  the  picturesque  hill  for  a  breath  of  fresh  air, — sounds  as 
terrible,  and  more  various  than  those  of  battle,  assailed  the  ear  and  smote 
the  already  overta.xed  imagination.     There  were  shells  at  the  Confed- 
erated arsenal  exposed  to  the  fire,  from  the  rapid  progress  of  which  they 
could  no  longer  be    rescued,  and  for  hours  the  explosion   of  these  tore 
the  air   and    shook   the  houses  in   their  vicinity.      Crowds  of  negroes 


ISO  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

roamed  through  the  streets,  their  wild,  coarse  voices  raised  in  h)'nins  of 
jubilation,  thanking  God  for  their  freedom,  and  a  few  steps  farther  might 
be  heard  the  blasphemous  shouts  of  those  who  fought  with  the  red- 
handed  fire  for  their  prey."  ^ 

The  regiment  on  April  2d  took  part  in  the  charge  by  which  Fort 
Gregg,  south  of  Petersburg,  was  captured,  and  in  the  engagement  on 
the  6th  at  Rice's  Station.  On  the  9th  of  April  Lee  surrendered  at  Ap- 
pomattox Court  House.  While  in  Richmond  after  the  surrender  the 
One  Hundred  and  Forty-eighth  had  the  pleasure  of  greeting  (May  7th) 
the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-sixth  New  York  Volunteers,  in  which 
regiment  a  large  proportion  of  the  members  were  from  the  county  of 
Yates.  The  One  Hundred  and  Forty- eighth  Regiment  was  mustered 
out  at  Richmond  on  the  .20th  of  June.  The  veterans  who  had  com- 
posed the  command  then  went  by  transport  to  Baltimore,  where  they 
took  their  departure  for  their  several  homes,  having  performed  for  their 
country  a  service  that  will  ever  stand  high  in  public  estimation. 

The  field  and  staff  officers  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Forty-eighth 
Regiment  at  the  time  it  was  mustered  out  wei  e  as  follows  : 

o 

Ofiicers. — Colonel,  John  B.  Murray,  Seneca  Falls:  lieutenant- colonel,  Fred  L.  Man- 
ning, Seneca  Falls;  major,  John  Cooley,  Penn  Yan  ;  adjutant,  D.  C.  Wilber,  Seneca 
Falls ;  quartermaster,  Charles  J.  Martin,  Waterloo  ;  surgeon,  C.  H.  Carpenter,  Seneca 
Falls'  chaplain.  Ferris  Scott,  Phelps;  hospital  steward,  James  M.  Smith,  Penn  Yan. 
Company  B  :  Captain,  H.  H.  Hopkins.  Company  F :  Captain,  Aaron  J.  Cook ;  first 
lieutenant,  Fred  P.  Coolc.  Company  I:  Captain,  Edward  Cole;  second  lieutenant, 
Luther  Meeker. 

The  muster- in  roll  of  the  regiment,  by  companies,  is  as  follow's : 
Company  B. — Hirrm  T.  Hewitt,  captain  ;  Hanford  Struble,  first  lieutenant :  George  W. 
Waddell.  second  lieutenant;  R.  G.  Bacon,  orderly;  James  M.  Shoemaker,  second  ser- 
geant; George  Beebe,  third  sergeant;  Le  Grand  Terry,  fourth  sergeant;  Myers  T. 
Webb,  fifth  sergeant;  Anson  A.  Raplee,  Byron  Beam,  Charles  Smith.  Leroy  Green, 
David  Griswold,  Perry  W.  Danes.  James  H.  Coons,  John  Debolt,  corporals.  Privates : 
Henry  N.  Armstrong.  Samuel  S.  Benham,  Alfred  Brown,  Charles  W.  Bush,  Andrew 
Bradley,  Henry  F.  Buckley,  Joseph  Conklin.  George  W.  Chamberlain,  Daniel  Cook, 
Foster  P.  Cook,  Richard  Chapman,  Charles  Chambers,  William  H.  Chambers.  Harmon 
O.  Chambers,  John  Clark,  George  Coons,  Joseph  B,  Clark,  William  B.  Davis,  David 
Dunham,  James  M.  Egerton,  Alvin  B.  Eaves,  James  S.  Ellis,  Charles  H.  Ehvood,  Jamt  s 
E.  Foster,  George  G.  Fulkerson,  Luidla  C.  Foster.  BenjaminGrace,  Alfred  Griswold, 
Charles    W.  Gabriel,  Myron  A.  Guthrie,  Samu-el  Headley,  Albert  Headley,  Alexander 

'  Life  of  Jefferson  Davis,  with  a  Secret  History  of  the  Confederacy,  page  496- 


ONE  HUNDRED  AND  FORTY-EIGHTH  N.  Y.  V.  151 

P.  Hoiightailing,  Freeman  L.  Hilligrass,  Francis  L.  Hall,  John  L.  Headlev,  David 
Houghes.  Volney  S.  Haff,  John  Kean,  John  H.  Knapp,  Georpe  Katterer,  Jerome  B. 
Lefaver,  Thomas  H.  Little,  Elisha  Lackey,  Warren  McDuffee,  Theodore  Marsh,  John 
Morrison,  Samuel  Minard,  Andrew  Morrison,  Adam  S.  Miller,  Theodore  J.  Murray, 
Thomas  E.  Raplee,  Charles  F.  Rentz.  Ira  H.  Robinson,  Cliarles  F.  Ross.  Charles  Sliick 
Lyman  A.  Stoll.  Peter  G.  Swans,  Charles  M.  Swarlhout,  James  M.  Smith,  Thomas  J. 
Strait,  Squire  V.  Straway,  Mason  Spink,  Samuel  R.  Tennant,  George  R.  Tulbs,  James 
Tuttle,  John  H.  Tymerson,  Nelson  E.  Woodrub,  James  M.  Witter,  George  M.  Wjnans. 
Musicians,  Stephen  K.  Hallock,  Edward  A.  Tennant. 

Company  F. — Harvey  R.  Gardner,  captain;  Melvin  D.  Wilson,  first  lieutenant- 
Aaron  J.  Cook,  second  lieutenant:  William  S.  Vorce,  orderly;  Nathaniel  H.  Green 
first  sergeant ;  Frank  C.  Fairchild.  second  sergeant ;  William  H.  Kelsey.  third  serjeant : 
Deroy  J.  Harkness,  fourth  sergeant:  Robert  Mills,  John  Earl,  William  S.  Huie,  Oiarles 
W.  Peters,  William  N.  Reddout,  James  M.  Gates,  Charles  G.  Van  N«ss,  David  Criss 
corporals;  Philip  A.  Waltliein,  jr..  and  Henry  A.  Sayre,  musicians  ;  Ezra  Prouty,  wagoner. 
Privates :  James  G.  Ansley.  George  A.  Ansley,  Jonas  Austin,  George  Broadbooks, 
Lansford  0.  Babbit,  John  W.  Barnes,  Hiram  H.  Barnes,  John  H.  Benedict,  Georire  W. 
Benedict,  Lewis  R.  Carvey,  Owen  Conway,  John  Conway,  Albert  W.  Clark,  William 
H.  Cole,  John  J.  Conley,  William  A.  Carr,  John  S.  Caton,  William  H.  Crocker,  Daniel 
Davis,  Cludius  Farr,  George  W.  Fisher,  Joseph  C.  Foster,  George  W.  Ford,  Jacob  W. 
Fountain,  William  J.  Fountain,  William  H.  Francisco,  John  C.  Fox,  Francis  Farr,  Fred- 
erick Green.  Benjamin  Gleason,  Lyman  Gray,  William  Ginder,  Nathan  A.  Goff.  Lvman 
D.  Green,  Myron  F.  Hawley.  William  T.  Hawley,  John  Headley,  George  W.  Hall  Jer- 
ome S.  Johnson.  Jacob  Korb,  John  J.  Lawtou,  Alan.son  E.  Lyon,  William  Lomereaux. 
Wilber  Loomis.  Daniel  McGinniss,  William  M.  Monagle,  Ashley  McDonald,  George  N. 
Miller,  Lawrence  McCumber,  Willis  Nicholson,  Martin  W.  Parsons,  Ezra  P.  Prichard, 
George  H.  Parson.=,  John  Pierce,  Jacob  H.  Radley,  Josiah  Reed,  Barney  C.  Ross,  Al- 
bert I.  Sharp,  Charles  W.  Stark,  Theodore  M.  Stearns,  Samuel  Salisbury,  Jo.seph 
Sprague,  John  Slater.  Loyal  C.  Twitchell,  ifanlius  L.  Taylor.  Franklin  Thompson.  Nor- 
man Taylor,  Jonathan  G.  Twitchell,  Robert  Underbill.  Aliraham  R.  Voorliees.  William 
A.  Wilson,  William  H.  Wolvin,  Levi  Water.s,  Emory  N.  Wilson,  George  Wright.  Isaac 
Wilkins.  Thomas  F.  Wells,  Charles  E.  Welles,  Abram  Youngs,  jr. 

Company  /.—Martin  S.  Hicks,  captain;  Morgan  D.  Tracy,  2d,  first  lieutenant;  John 
Cooley, -second  lieutenant :  Edward  Cole  orderly.  Privates:  George  B.  Alvord,  Leon- 
ard M.  Bohall.  Robert  Brown,  Lucius  B.  Bennett,  Walter  W.  Becker,  Franklin  Becker. 
Isaac  D.  Blood,  Martin  Butler,  Isaac  Benson,  William  B.  Bloum,  Stephen  Coon,  Lorenzo 
Capell,  Lawrence  Cooney,  jr.,  Peter  J.  Coiiklin,  Clark  Castner,  Ward  Campbell,  John 
Carr,  James  B.  Crouch,  Albert  E.  Dean,  William  A.  Dunning,  Patrick  Duffy,  Henry 
M.  Dunbar,  Jourdan  Davis,  William  H.  Fries,  Peter  Finger,  Oliver  M.  Finger,  William 
D.  Frey,  Edward  L.  Granger,  George  S.  Gardner„'James  German,  Abraham  Houghtail- 
ing,  Isaac  Hounsond,  Sidney  House.  William  Huber.  Benjamin  F.  Hood.  Robert  Holme.o. 
jr.,  George  Hillier,  Luther  S.  Hayes.  John  J.  Jack.«on,  Caleb  G.  Jackson,  Richard  M. 
Jones,  John  Keating.  Stephen  H.  Kitch,  Dennis  Lewis,  Simeon  Lackey,  Damon  Lav. 
Oliver   F.  Long,  Charles   C.   Miller.  William    Matthews,   Luther   S.  Meeker,  Abraham 


152  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

Miller,  Lewis  B.  Moon,  Seeley  E.  Palmatier,  John  D.  Poole,  Lorenzo  W.  Pettit,  Oliver 
Preestler,  Andrew  Phelps,  Willie  E.  Pierce,  John  L.  Potter,  Otis  B,  Ryall,  George  Rob- 
ertson, Aaron  D.  Robertson.  J.  Harvey  Randall,  Jarvis  W.  Randall,  Lewis  B.  Randall, 
Charles  H.  Reno,  George  Scofield,  Gideon  C.  Spink.  Isaac  Spink.  Luther  Sisson,  Alonzo 
F.  Spears,  Samuel  Strong,  David  Sand.s,  Philip  L.  Shaw,  Daniel  T.  Shaw,  Elizer  B. 
Tears,  Augustus  Whitaker,  David  P.  Wilcox,  William  Wright,  Charles  E.  Willis,  Charles 
W.  Wheeler,  Lemuel  Wheat,  Alva  H.  Wheat,  William  Welcher,  John  C.  Youngs. 

Company  M.  Utter  Company  C  of  the  Forty-fourth  Regiment. —  Bennett  Munger,  cap- 
tain ;  Elzer  B.James,  first  lieutenant;  Charles  Kelly,  .«econd  lieutenant ;  O.  L.  Mun- 
ger, first  sergeant;  R.  G.  Kinner,  George  E.  Henderson,  Samuel  J.  Powell,  and  John 
O'Neil,  sergeants ;  Harvey  Ackley,  Fred  D.  Hills,  Robert  F.  Shipley,  Charles  Pelton, 
Matt  Fitzpatrick.  George  W.  Hobart,  James  Barron,  and  Elnathan  Mead,  corporals; 
John  T.  Johnson  and  Sylvanus  Eaton,  musicians;  James  Powell,  wagoner.  Privates: 
William  Adams,  Edgar  Adams,  D.  C.  Bassett,  Samuel  Covell,  Philo  H.  Conklin,  A.  J. 
Cole,  William  Criscadon,  Thomas  Donnelly,  Stejihen  T.  Dye,  John  Devlin,  Cyrus  H. 
Davis,  James  Dansenburg,  William  Ehvell,  George  W.  Francisco.  Joseph  H.  Fletcher, 
Thomas  Frunnman,  Marion  F.  Graham,  Emory  C.  Green,  Josiah  H.  Gardner,  Francis 
M.  Grinold,  Andrew  A.  Gidding,  John  K.  Giddings,  Peter  Haines,  Moses  F.  Hardy, 
William  A.  Herrick,  Norman  Harrington.  Harrington  Houghton,  Peter  H.  Hibbard, 
Andrew  J.  Horton,  George  R.  Hunter,  James  Kneeskern,  J.  H.  Mandeville,  Fred  Mitchell 
John  McLaughlin,  Elisha  Moon,  John  McGough,  John  McBride,  Richard  McElIigott, 
David  0.  Mapes,  Philip  Morse,  William  N.  Norris,  Lucius  L.  Osgood,  William  O'Neil, 
Richard  C.  Phillip,  Alexander  Perry,  Clark  Reynolds,  George  C.  Raymond,  Peter  J. 
Strail,  Reuben  Sisson,  Thomas  R.  Southerby,  Hiram  M.  Squire,  George  W^.  Snyder, 
Albert  Sturdevant,  Jacob  Stroup,  Noah  Shultz,  William  W.  Smith,  Myron  Smith, 
Jacob  Traber.  C.  W.  Taylor,  Patrick  Taben,  George  W.  Wing,  Orrin  E.  Watkins,  Al- 
bert  W.  West,  Jerome  Wheaton,  Martin   R.  Westcoti,  Alden  D.  Whitney. 

ONE    HUNDRED    AND    SEVENTY-NINTH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  V. 

Among  the  many  regiments  which  during  the  war  were  furnished  by 
the  Empire  State  the  One  Hundred  and  Seventy-ninth  New  York 
Volunteers  is  entitled  to  prominence  for  the  bravery  and  the  patriotism 
that  this  command  in  several  engagements  displaj'ed.  The  ten  com- 
panies of  infantry  composing  the  One  Hundred  and  Seventy-ninth 
were  raised  in  the  following  places:  Company  A  in  Horseheads  ;  Com- 
pany B  in  Elmira  ;  Company  C  in  Hornellsville  ;  Company  D  in  Dun- 
kirk ;  Company  E  in  Buffalo  ;  Company  F  in  Penn  Yan  ;  Company  G 
in  Buffalo ;  Company  H  in  Elmira  ;  Company  I  in  Newfield ;  and 
Company  K  in  Binghamton.  The  following  were  the  field  and  staft 
officers  of  the   regiment  at   the  time   of  its  organization  on  the  5th  of 


OXE  HUNDRED  AND  SEVENTY-NINTH  N.   Y.  V.  153 

Aprii,  1S64:  Colonel,  William  I\I.  Gregg  ;  lieutenant- colonel,  Frank- 
lin R.  Doty;  major,  J.  Barnet  Sloan;  adjutant,  George  W.  Cook ; 
quartermaster,  Nathaniel  P.  T.  Finch  ;  surgeon,  Joseph  \V.  Robinson  ; 
assistant- surgeon,  William  C.  Bailey  ;   chaplain,  Edwin  A.  Taft. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Seventy-ninth,  liaving  been  organized,  was 
sent  into  the  field  by  companies  from  the  place  of  rendezvous  at  Elmira. 
Companies  A,  B,  and  C  went  on  in  April,  1864,  ^'id  arrived  in  Balti- 
more on  the  29th  of  that  month.  Companies  A  and  C  proceeded  via 
New  York  city  and  Company  B  by  the  Northern  Central  Railroad,  the 
three  companies  meeting  in  Baltimore.  From  there  they  went  to 
Washington  and  encamped  on  Arlington  Heights,  opposite  the  city. 
They  were  here  joined  about  the  first  of  May  by  Companies  D  and  E. 
Lieut. -Col.  Franklin  B.  Doty  also  at  this  time  reached  the  camp  and 
assumed  command.  From  Arlington,  about  the  last  of  May,  they  pro- 
ceeded to  White  House  Landing  on  the  Pamunkey  River,  Va. 

Compan\'  F,  with  Maj.  J.  Barnet  Sloan,  left  Flniira  on  the  1st  of 
June  and  joined  the  regiment  at  White  House  Landing.  The  One 
Hundred  and  Seventy-ninth  remained  here  until  June  loth,  when  it 
united  with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  at  Cold  Harbor  wiiile  the  battle 
of  that  name  was  going  on.  The  regiment  was  attached  to  the  First 
Brigade,  Colonel  Pierre  of  the  First  Division,  General  Ledlie  of  the 
Ninth  Corps,  commanded  by  General  I^urnside.  The  position  in  front 
of  Cold  Harbor  was  evacuated  as  the  army  moved  down  the  Peninsula, 
the  One  Hundred  and  Seventy-ninth  Regiment  being  the  last  to  lea\e 
the  skirmish  line.  The  James  River  was  crossed  at  Wilson's  Landing 
and  a  forced  march  was  made  to  the  front  of  Petersburg,  where  the  reg- 
iment arrived  on  the  i6th.  The  Ninth  Corps  the  same  evening  sup- 
ported the  Second  Corps  as  it  advanced  on  the  Confederate  position. 
At  6  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the  following  day  the  Ninth  Corps  as- 
sailed the  enemy's  works.  In  this  assault  the  One  Hundred  and 
Seventy- ninth  lost  half  its  number  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing. 
Maj.  J.  Barnet  Sloan,  of  Yates  County,  while  bravely  leading  his  regi- 
ment in  the  charge,  received  a  mortal  wound.  Capt.  Daniel  Blatchford 
of  Company  E  was  also  killed  and  Lieut.-Col.  Franklin  B.  Doty,  Cap- 
tains  Robert  T.  Stewart,  of  Company  B,  and  William  Bird,  jr.,  of  Com- 
pan)'  D,  were  wounded.  Capt.  John  Barton  of  Company  C  was  pro- 
20 


154  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

rnoted  to  be  major  July  I4tli  in    the  place  of  Major  Sloan,  who  died  of 
his  wound  on  the  i<Sth  of  June. 

It  will  be  proper  to  here  give  some  account  of  the  young  and  gallant 
ofificer  last  named,  who  fell  while  in  the  service  of  iiis  country.  John 
Barnet  Sloan  was  born  in  PennYan,  January  17,  1839.  In  1S61,  while 
a  resident  of  New  York  cit)',  he  enlisted  for  two  years  in  the  Thirty- 
first  Regiment  N.  Y.  V,,  with  the  rank  of  first  lieutenant.  When  the 
Thirty-first  was  ordered  from  an  island  in  the  harbor  of  New  York  to 
proceed  to  Washington  some  violent  characters  connected  with  this 
regiment  refused  to  go,  and  it  was  only  by  the  energy  of  Lieutenant 
Sloan  and  considerable  coercion  that  a  mutiny  was  prevented  while 
they  were  passing  through  the  city  of  New  York.  By  this  simple  oc- 
currence was  awakened  in  the  minds  of  these  desperadoes  the  most 
deadly  hatred  and  revenge.  Soon  after  they  arrived  in  Washington 
one  of  them  made  a  furious  assault  on  the  lieutenant.  He  defended 
himself  and  thrust  liis  sword  through  the  body  of  the  ruffian,  who  died 
instantly.  The  companions  of  the  soldier  thus  justl)'  killed  were  more 
than  ever  incensed,  and  two  or  three  days  later  another  of  the  insur- 
gents rushed  with  musket  and  bayonet  at  Lieutenant  Sloan,  who,  draw- 
ing a  revolver,  shot  him  dead.  The  lieutenant  immediately  surrendered 
himself  and  asked  for  an  investigation.  A  court  .martial  was  appointed 
and  after  a  patient  hearing  of  three  days  acquitted  him  from  all  blame. 
General  McClellan,  to  whom  the  verdict  of  the  court  had  been  sub- 
mitted for  approval,  asked  "to  see  the  young  lieutenant  who  had  been 
tried."  When  Lieutenant  Sloan  presented  himself  General  McClellan 
remarked,  "  Lieutenant,  you  are  acquitted  ;  you  were  born  to  be  a  sol- 
dier. I  see  that  you  have  but  one  bar  upon  your  shoulder;  jou  are 
worthy  to  wear  two."  The  lieutenant  shortly  afterward  received  by 
order  of  the  general  a  captain's  commission.  His  comrades  in  the 
company  in  which  he  first  enlisted,  on  learning  that  he  was  about  to  be 
assigned  to  the  command  of  another  company,  petitioned  that  he  might 
remain,  and  he  became  their  captain.  Shortly  after  the  seige  of  York- 
town  Captain  Sloan's  company  with  others  was  sent  out  to  reconnoitcr 
and  became  entirely  surrounded  by  the  enem}'.  After  making  a  de- 
tour of  about  ten  miles,  and  being  all  this  while  in  the  most  imminent 
danger,  Captain  Sloan  with  a  number  of  his  men  succeeded  in  reaching 


ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SEVENTY-NINTH  N.  V.  V.  155 

the  Federal  lines,  but  while  approaching  they  were  mistaken  for  Con- 
federates and  a  shell,  which  fortunatel}'  failed  to  explode,  fell  in  their 
midst.  At  the  battle  of  Gaines's  Mill  Captain  Sloan  engaged  in  single 
combat  with  a  Confederate  cavalryman,  whom  he  shot  through  the 
iiead,  but  not  until  the  trooper  had  severely  wounded  him  in  the  foot. 
Although  wounded  he  fought  to  the  close  of  that  day's  conflict  and 
during  the  next  two  days  in  the  battles  of  Savage  Station  and  of  Fair 
Oaks.  His  foot  had  now  become  swollen  to  such  an  extent  that  he 
could  not  walk.  Our  forces  were  in  full  retreat,  and  Captain  Sloan 
was  following  after  as  he  best  could  on  one  foot,  supporting  himself  by 
a  stout  stick  cut  from  the  White  Oak  Swamp.  The  Confederates  were 
in  plain  view  and  he  would  have  been  taken  prisoner  had  not  the  lieu- 
tenant-colonel noticed  the  peril  he  was  in  and  sent  his  own  horse  with 
directions  to  mount  and  repair  to  the  hospital.  Here  Captain  Sloan's 
wound  first  received  medical  attention.  He  was  then  furloughed  and 
coming  North  was  appointed  a  recruiting  officer,  and  for  several  months 
acted  in  that  capacity.  He  afterward  returned  to  his  regiment  and 
was  at  the  storming  of  the  heights  of  F"redericksljurg,  where  he  was 
again  wounded,  this  time  by  a  minie-ball  in  the  leg.  The  Thirty- 
first  Regiment  was  mustered  out  in  May,  1863,  and  Captain  .Sloan,  for 
meritorious  services  on  the  field  of  battle,  received  a  commission  as 
major,  bearing  date  and  back  pay  from  the  previous  month  of  Januar)'. 
Major  Sloan,  having  re-enlisted,  left  Elmira  on  June  i,  1864,  witii  Com- 
pany 1'"  of  his  regiment,  the  One  Hundred  and  Seventy-  ninth.  After  his 
departure  for  the  front  a  large  number  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  ^'atcs 
County,  wishing  to  express  their  high  appreciation  of  Major  Sloan's 
military  and  soldier!)'  qualities,  assembled  on  June  4th  in  front  of  the 
Benham  House  in  Penn  Yan  to  witness  the  presentation  of  a  beautiful 
sword,  pistols,  and  belt  which  had  been  contributed  by  them  as  a  testi- 
monial of  the  esteein  and  respect  which  they  held  toward  the  young 
and  brave  major.  Hon.  Darius  A.  Ogden  made  the  presentation 
speech,  and  in  behalf  of  Major  Sloan,  who  was  then  absent  in  the  field 
of  duty,  John  D  Wolcott,  esq.,  the  district  attorney  of  Yates  County, 
responded  and  passed  the  beautiful  implements  of  war  into  the  hands  of 
John  Sloan,  esq.,  who  was  to  forward  them  to  his  son.  The  following  is 
the  inscription  on  the  sword  : 


156  HJSTOKV  OF   YATES  COOWTV. 

"  Presented  to  Major  John  Barnet  Sloan,  June  4,  1864,  as  a  testimonial  of  their  ap- 
preciation of  services  rendered  in  defence  of  otir  imperrilledcouiitry,  and  his  energy 
in  raising  the  179th  Regt.  N.  Y.  S.  V.,  by 

■'  Hon.  D.  A.  Ogden,         Col.  H.  C.  Robbins,  S.  C.  Cleveland, 

Wm.  Watts.  F.  Holmes,  C.  Hewins. 

J.  S.  Jillelt,  N.  R,  Long.  L.  O.  Dunning. 

Wm.  T.  Remer,  Geo.  H.  Lapham,  F.  E.  Smith, 

And  others. 
"  Gen.  a.  F.  Whitaker.  Chairman." 

Major  Sloan  received  the  published  accounts  of  this  meeting,  but  be- 
fore he  received  the  beautiful  and  appropriate  gifts  themselves  he  fell  in 
battle,  June  17th,  as  before  stated.  His  remains  were  brought  to  Penn 
Yan  and  there  interred  \Vith  due  honors,  tlie  Rev.  Frederick  Starr,  jr., 
pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  preaching  the  funeral  dis- 
course. The  post  of  the  Grand  Ainiy  of  the  Republic  at  Penn  Van  was 
named  in  honor  of  Major  Sloan  on  its  organization  in  1S69.  He  was 
married  September  24,  i860,  to  Miss  Marx'  A.  Bradley,  a  sister  of  Lieut. 
Uavid  A.  ]5radlcy,  of  Conipan_\'  F,  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Seventy- 
ninth    Regiment.      Their  children   are   Mary  Barnet,  the  wife  of  F'rank 

E.  Wright,  of  Lewiston,  Fergus  County,  Mont.,  and  Martha  F^,  the  wife 
of  the  Hon.  John  D.  Waite,  of  Utica,  Fergus  County,  Mont. 

Company  G  joined  the  command  July  29,  1864.  The  explosion  of 
the  mine  under  a  portion  of  the  Confederate  entrenchments  occurred 
the  next  morning  An  assault  was  then  made  by  the  Ninth  Corps,  with 
the  First  Division  taking  the  lead,  and  the  One  Hundred  and  Seventy- 
ninth  lost  in    killed    Major  Barton,  Capt.  Allen  T.  Farwell  of  Company 

F,  Capt.  James  H.  Day  of  Company  G,  and  wounded  Lieut.  B.  L.  Sex- 
ton of  Company  D.  I'^ifty  enlisted  men  belonging  to  the  regiment  were 
killed,  wounded,  and  taken  prisoners.  Private  John  H.  Carley  of  Com- 
pany F  was  among  the  killed.  The  One  Hundred  and  Seventy-  ninth 
•did  constant  fighting  in  the  trenches  until  the  19th  of  August.  During 
the  whole  time  the  men  were  exposed  to  the  most  hair-breadth  escapes 
and  harrassing  dangers,  but  the  regiment  escaped  with  only  a  few 
wounded.  On  the  above  date  it  moved  round  to  the  \\'eldon  Railroad, 
which  had  been  captured  by  the  Fifth  Corps,  and  which  would  have 
been  lost  again  liad  it  not  been  for  the  timely  support  of  the  Ninth 
Corps.     The    two   corps,  now   united,   attacked    the   Confederates   and 


ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SEVENTY-NINTH  N.  V.  V.  157 

forced  them  to  retreat  a  considerable  distance.  In  this  advance  the  One 
Hundred  and  Seventy-ninth  Regiment  had  onl\-  three  officers  and  fifry- 
six  men  fit  for  duty,  so  greatly  had  the  officers  and  men  been  worn 
down  by  their  duties  in  the  trenches.  The  loss  in  the  above  engage- 
ment was  small.  On  August  27th  Albert  A.  Terrill.  captain  of  Com- 
pany A,  was  made  major  in  place  of  Major  Barton  killed. 

Lieutenant- Colonel  Doty,  who  had  been  wounded  and  absent  in  con- 
sequence for  sixty  days,  rejoined  his  command  August  23d.  Compa- 
nies H,  I,  and  K  reached  the  regiment  at  Park's  Station  in  September. 
On  the  30th  of  tiiat  month  the  One  Hundred  and  Seventy- ninth  took 
part  in  the  engagement  at  Poplar  Springs  Church,  in  which  Lieut. 
James  Booker,  of  Company  K,  acting  adjutant,  was  mortally  wounded. 
The  next  engagement,  in  which  the  losses  were  very  slight,  occurred  Oc 
tober  27th  at  Hatcher's  Run.  After  this  the  regiment  was  generally  in 
the  trenches  until  April,  1865,  occasionally  changing  positions  from  Fort 
Welsh  to  Fort  Davis.  The  One  Hundred  and  Seventy-ninth  Regiment 
having  now  reached  its  maximum  number  Col.  William  M.  Gre"'^. 
about  the  1st  of  October,  1864,  was  mustered  in  and  took  command. 

During  the  first  part  of  December,  at  the  time  of  the  celebrated  raid 
of  the  Hfth  Corps  to  the  Notaway  River,  the  Second  Division  to  which 
the  regiment  was  attached  was  sent  out  in  pursuit  and  to  give  support 
if  required.  It  performed  a  forced  march  of  twenty  miles  and  back 
within  twenty-four  hours.  On  the  night  of  April  i,  1865,  the  One 
Hundred  and  Seventy- ninth  Regiment  alone,  b)' a  splendid  flank  move- 
ment, assaulted  the  whole  picket  line  on  its  brigade  front,  capturin" 
about  four  times  its  number  with  only  slight  losses,  and  held  its  posi- 
tion until  morning.  It  then  took  position  on  the  front  line  for  a  gen- 
eral assault  on  the  enemy's  works,  which  were  subsequently  taken  with 
an  overwhelming  victory  that  completely  broke  up  the  Confederate 
lines  of  fortifications.  Colonel  Gregg  in  this  assault  received  a  scalp 
wound  from  the  fragment  f)f  a  shell,  which  rendered  him  senseless  for 
some  time,  and  disabled  him  for  one  week  from  commanding.  The 
lamented  Lieutenant-Colonel  Doty  fell  shot  through  the  lungs  and  sur- 
vived only  two  days.  As  an  officer,  a  courteous  gentleman,  a  brave 
soldier,  among  the  bravest  of  the  brave,  he  had  few  equals.  Captains 
Albert  A.  Pierson  of  Company  D  and  Giles  H.  Holden  of  Companj-  F, 


158  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUXTY. 

and  Lieutenants  Samuel  G.  H.  Musgrove  of  Company  H  and  Stephen 
Compton  of  Company  A,  were  wounded,  Captain  Pierson  severely 
through  the  left  leg  and  the  rest  slightly. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Seventy-ninth  participated  in  the  pursuit  of 
Lee  as  far  as  ]3urkesville  and  after  his  surrender  it  returned  to  City 
Point,  from  which  place  it  went  by  transport  to  Alexandria  and  near 
there  encamped.  On  the  23d  of  May  the  regiment  took  part  along  with 
the  rest  of  the  ever  renowned  Army  of  the  Potomac  in  the  grand  re- 
view at  Washington.  No  words  can  adequately  describe  the  grandeur 
of  this  parade.  Over  200,000  veterans — the  heroes  of  many  a  fierce 
battle — marched  in  an  apparently  endless  stream  up  Pennsylvania  ave- 
nue and  past  the  Presidential  mansion,  while  the  air  was  filled  with 
strains  of  music  and  the  acclamations  of  innumerable  spectators,  the 
whole  forming  a  scene  of  unparalleled  splendor,  of  which  the  partici- 
pants still  speak  with  enthusiasm.  General  Grant  expressed  it  as  "a 
sight  varied  and  grand,"  but  it  was  more  so;  it  was  a  sight  but  once  seen 
in  a  life- time,  and  in  one  respect  a  magnificent  exhibition  of  the  tremen- 
dous power  of  our  arms. 

"Yet  sublime  as  was  this  spectacle,"  says  the  celebrated  historian,  J.  T. 
Headley,  "it  sunk  into  insignificance  before  the  grandeur  of  the  one  pre- 
sented a  few  days  after,  when  this  army,  strong  enough  to  conquer  a  hem- 
isphere, melted  suddenly  away  into  the  mass  of  the  people  and  was  seen 
no  more.  Its  deeds  of  renown  had  filled  the  civilized  world  and  Euro- 
pean statesmen  looked  on  and  wondered  what  disposition  could  be  made 
of  it,  and  where  it  would  choose  to  go  or  what  it  would  do.  It  was  one  of 
the  grandest  armies  that  ever  bore  on  its  bax'onet  points  the  destinies  of 
a  king  or  a  nation — a  consolidation  and  embodiment  of  power  seldom 
witnessed  ;  and  yet,  while  the  gaze  of  the  world  was  fi.xed  upon  it,  it  dis- 
appeared like  a  vision,  and  when  one  looked  for  it  he  saw  only  peaceful 
citizens  engaged  in  their  usual  occupations.  The  major-general,  whose 
martial  achievements  had  been  repeated  in  almost  every  language  under 
the  sun,  was  seen  among  his  papers  in  his  old  law  office,  which  he  had  left 
at  the  call  of  his  country;  the  brave  colonel,  who  had  led  many  a  gallant 
charge,  was  in  his  counting-house  acting  as  though  he  had  been  absent 
only  a  few  days  on  business;  while  the  veterans  of  the  rank  and  file, 
whose  battle  shout  had  rung  over  scores  of  bloody  fields,  could  only  be 


ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SEVENTY-NINTH  N.   Y.  V.  159 

found  by  name,  as  one  bent  over  his  saw  and  plane  and  another  s\\  ung 
his  scythe  in  the  harvest- field  or  phed  liis  humble  toil  along  the  streets. 
It  was  a  marvelous  sight,  the  grandest  the  world  ever  saw.  It  had  been 
the  people's  war — the  people  had  carried  it  on,  and,  having  finished 
their  own  woik,  quietly  laid  aside  the  instruments  with  which  they  had 
accomplished  it  and  again  took  up  those  of  peaceful  industry.  Never 
did  a  government  on  earth  exhibit  such  stability  and  assert  its  superi- 
ority over  all  other  forms  as  did  this  republican  government  of  ours  in 
the  wa)'  its  armies  disappeared  when  the  struggle  was  over." 

The  One  Hundred  and  Seventy- ninth  Regiment  was  mustered  out 
at  its  place  of  encampment  near  Alexandria  on  June  8,  1865,  by  special 
order  of  the  War  Department.  Going  by  way  of  Washington  the  regi- 
ment proceeded  to  Elmira,  which  it  reached  on  Sunday  morning  the 
iith.  It  was  met  at  the  depot  by  prominent  citizens  and  the  commit- 
tee of  arrangements,  antl  escorted  to  the  William  Street  Hospital  build- 
ing, where  a  warm  breakfast  was  served  to  the  members  of  the  command. 
After  breakfast  tlie  veterans  marched  down  toward  the  foot  of  Church 
street  and  encamped  on  a  vacant  lot  on  the  south  side  near  the  stone 
ware  factory.  Here  they  remained  until  the  22d  and  23d  of  June, 
when  they  received  final  payment  and  discharge. 

Inscribed  on  the  banners  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Seventy-ninth  are 
the  names  of  noted  battles  in  which  the  regiment  took  a  most  noble 
part,  viz.:  "  Petersburg,  June  17th  and  Jul)' 30,  1864;  Weldon  Railroad; 
Poplar  Springs  Church;  Hatcher's  Run;  and  Petersburg  on  April  ist 
and  2d,  1865."  On  account  of  the  great  bravery  evinced  in  capturing 
the  enemy's  picket  line  and  in  the  final  assault  before  Petersburg  Col. 
William  M.  Gregg  was  afterward  promoted  to  brevet  brigadier-general 
and  Capt.  Samuel  G.  H.  Musgrove  to  brevet-major. 

The  following  is  the  roster  of  the  regimental  and  line  officers  at  the 
time  of  the  mustering  out  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Seventy-ninth 
Regiment : 

OJlcers. — Colonel,  William  ^t.  Grewg;  lieutenant-colonel,  Albert  A.  Terrill;  major, 
Giles  H.  Holden  :  adjutant,  Geor<;e  W.  Cook ;  ciiiaiterniasler,  Nathaniel  P.  T.  Fincli ; 
surgeon,  Joseph  \V.  Itobinson;  as8istaiit-.surgeon,  I'hineas  S.  Rose;  chaplain,  Edwin  A. 
Tatt. 

Line  Officers. — Company  A:  Captain,  George  D.  Carpenter:  first  lieutenant,  Jame.<' 
A.  Farr ;  second  lieutenant,  Stephen  Complon.  Company  B  :  Captain.  Martin  V.  Doty  ; 
first  lieutenant,   Edward  Lounsljury.     Company  C :  Captain,  Levi  Force:  second  lieu- 


i6o  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

tenant,  Tlionias  C.  Smith.  Company  D  :  Captain.  Albert  A.  Pierson  ;  first  lieutenant, 
John  T.  Andrews,  2cl ;  second  lieutenant,  Henry  Mapes.  Company  E :  Captain,  Sam- 
uel G.  H.  Musgrove;  first  lieutenant,  Charles  Carr ;  second  lieutenant,  James  Prevost. 
Company  F :  Captain,  James  Griswold ;  first  lieutenant,  David  A.  Bradley  ;  second  lieu- 
tenant, Charles  F.  Hager.  Compan3'G:  Captain,  lienry  Messing;  second  lieutenant, 
James  Lewis.  Company  H  :  First  lieutenant,  Fitz  E.  Calver,  second  lieutenant, 
Henry  Spreese.  Company  I :  Captain,  Edwin  C.  Bowen ;  first  lieutenant,  Charles 
Blackmar ;  second  lieutenant,  Oscar  Jennings.  Company  K:  Captain,  Moses  M.  Van 
Benschotten  ;  first  heutenant,  Robert  Hooper ;  second  lieutenant,  William  C.  Foster. 

Muster-in  roll  of  Company  F  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Seventy-ninth 
Regiment  ; 

Company  F. — Allen  T.  Farwell,  captain  ;  David  A.  Bradley,  first  lieutenant;  Giles  H. 
Holden,  second  lieutenant.  Privates:  Joseph  Brown.  Eleazer  Baldwin,  jr.,  Albert  Ben- 
nett, Amos  J.  Bonney,  Daniel  R.  Bacon,  Josiah  C.  Baker,  Charles  Baker,  John  Banks, 
John  H.  Carley,  Orlando  V.  Crans,  Julius  F.  Cotton.  Francis  M.  Campfield.  Festus 
Demorest,  Tuthill  Dense,  Edward  S.  Dunn,  John  W.  Durham,  James  Decker,  Thomas 
Dannaby,  John  Day,  John  Felan,  Karl  Frederick,  Richard  Fitzgerald,  Daniel  Guinea, 
Abrani  0.  Gray,  George  W.  Green,  Andrew  Hurd,  Samuel  B.  Hyatt,  Martin  Hope, 
Geoige  \V.  Heck,  John  Hall,  Frederick  Harris,  James  A.  James,  David  Kennedy,  John 
Kelly,  Edwin  Knapp,  John  Kennedy,  Carmi  Loveless,  William  B.  Larzelere,  Lewis  R. 
Little,  William  Lounsbury,  Charles  Lounsbury,  James  B.  Luce,  Andrew  McConnell, 
Michael  McCarty,  John  Martin,  John  McCann,  Varnum  J.  Northup,  Ezra  M.  Northup, 
William  L.  Norton,  Charles  C.  Owen,  John  Oakley,  John  Post,  James  Patterson,  John  B. 
Patrick,  Ransom  0.  Reraer,  Daniel  P.  Rigby,  Charles  E.  Releyea,  George  M.  Releyea, 
John  Riley,  Timothy  Shaw,  Newton  B.  Spencer,  Henry  C.  Seofield,  David  .Sherman, 
Norton  A.  Sage.  Aaron  R.  Sherman,  William  Stephens,  Patrick  Stapleton,  Wilbert 
Simmons,  Michael  Shanahan,  James  Story,  Robert  Thompson,  George  Wilson,  Robert 
P.  Walker,  Daniel  Weldon,  George  Williams,  Abel  Webb,  Martin  Wilkin.  George 
White,  Frederick  F.  Winangle,  George  W.  West. 

ONE    HUNDRED   AND    EIGHTY-EIGHTH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  V. 

Company  I). — Privates:  Judson  C.Albright.  Thomas  V.Brown,  Chaile>s  Donnelly, 
Wellington  Graham,  Charles  W.  Haverly,  Edward  F.  Jones,  Joseph  R.  Potter,  Serel- 
low  Travis,  Samuel  Van  Dyke. 

Company  C. — Privates  :  William  Burke,  Charles  Beenian,  Rice  Barker,  John  M. 
Bennett,  Hiram  Ellis,  John  Everett,  Danford  Ellsworth,  Adelbert  Genung,  Charles  F. 
Grenall.  Theodore  D.  Gillett.  Nelson  Hunt,  Matthew  Kennedy.  David  Kennedy,  Smith 
McLoud.  William  Mahan,  Edward  P.  Porter,  Nirani  B.  Squires,  Horace  Stoddard, 
Michael  Wallace. 

Company  E. — Privates :  Zenas  G.  Bullock,  Newton  Colgrove,  Ebenezer  B.  Clark,  An- 
drew A.  Granger,  William  F.  Harkness,  Henry  Pitt,  Charles  H.  Spencer. 

Company  F. — Privates:  Albert  Van  Dusen,  Norman  Wyant. 


OTHER  REGIMENTS.  i6i 

Company  (?.— Privates:  Peicival  A,  Conklin,  Cornelius  Demorest,  Charles S.  Dailey 
Alexander  Kastiiian,  William  W.  French,  Mark  Hazen,  William  W.  Hoyt,  William  F. 
Kelsey,  Uzel  Marlett,  Philip  McGinnis,  David  S.  Miller,  Trumbull  Magee,  Philip  Packard, 
Reuben  Rockwell,  Daniel  Rockwell,  James  Soles,  John  H.  Simmons,  John  T.  Smith, 
Ira  M.  Smith,  Robert  Shedden,  Luther  Smith,  Joseph  Scott,  Elijah  Scott,  John  Scott. 
Ezra  Tyler,  William  Wolvertou,  Horace  11.  Watrous,  George  Wooden. 

FIFTIETH   REGIMENT   NEW    YORK    ENGINEERS. 

C'om-pany  A. — James  L.  Robbins,  second  lieutenant;  Francis  M.  Ilalloran,  sergeant; 
Daniel  M.  Hulse,  sergeant;  Joseph  Campbell,  corporal;  John  II.  Harrison,  corporal. 
Privates  :  Moitimer  Adams,  James  P.  Ansley,  fieorge  Beeman.  Kingsbury  M.  Bennett, 
John  Brown,  John  Burns,  John  A.  Butler,  Orrin  A.  Burrill,  John  Campbell,  Rowland 
Champlain,  Roswell  S.  Clark,  Robert  N.  Coons,  Theodore  Criscadon,  Hugh  Criscadon, 
William  C.  Davenport,  James  Dunham,  James  H.  Dunham,  Thomas  Evans,  Daniel  J. 
Fitzer,  Abram  Fredenburg,  Sylvester  Fredenburg,  Charles  G.  (iotifried,  Michael  Ilal- 
loran, Zachariah  S.  Helm,  Witsall  M.  Henderson,  James  H.  Kelly,  James  F.  Lake,  Ed- 
ward Lewis,  Philip  Loder,  Jesse  Lott,  Alonzo  T.  Lyon,  James  Mace,  Nelson  Madison, 
John  W.  McFarlaud,  Stephen  Matterson,  Thomas  Miller,  James  M.  Miller,  Edwin  Mil- 
ler, Asa  C.  Phelps,  William  Poyneer,  John  R.  Robinson,  Joel  Tomer,  Richard  M.  Turner, 
John  Turner,  Henry  Turner,  Cornelius  Van  Huysen,  Joseph  Walking,  R.  Wesley 
Welch,  Leander  S.  Whiteboru,  Henry  Williams,  Joseph  W.  Worden,  Charles  Wright. 

Company  A".- -Privates :  John  II.  Brewer,  Andrew  H.  Carr,  Arnold  Dawes,  Hiram 
W,  Lawliead. 

Company  0. —  Melville  D.  Miller,  private. 

ONE    HUNDRED    AND   NINETY- FOURTH    REGI.MENT   N.  V.  V. 

Company  D. — Richard  B.  Mahar,  captain:  Charles  Stark,  first  lieutenant;  Theodore 
G.  Ross,  second  lieutenant.  Privates:  Henry  N.  Ashliy,  Henry  J.  Ackley,  George  W. 
Austin,  George  S.  Ackley,  James  A.  Briggs,  Hugh  Bulger,  George  H.  Beamish,  Cliarles 
Britton,  John  F.  Beebe,  Abram  Brown,  Coradon  II.  Beebe,  Eli  Barrett,  John  W.  Boothc, 
John  Baker,  Wolcott  Cole,  Lewis  Clark,  Lester  Crandall,  Edward  Courtney,  Edwin  L. 
Corey.  Thomas  Creed,  Jerome  H.  Carey,  Edgar  D,  Carey.  George  Davis,  Charles  A. 
Darrow,  Roderick  Dingman,  Dvi-ight  W.  Dickinson,  Timothy  Driscoll,  Leonard  E.  Du- 
fur,  George  A.  Durham,  Lucas  Enos,  David  H.  Fitzwater,  Elijah  Fowler,  Patrick  Gill, 
Mordecai  Goodwin,  Moses  R,  Gage,  William  A.  Gray,  Mortimer  Ilotchkiss,  Daniel 
Houghtailing,  Lewis  Halstead,  Delos  C.  Hubbard,  Joseph  Ilam,  Thomas  Harland,  Thomas 
Hackett,  John  Homer,  William  H,  Hand,  George  Hennery,  John  Hall,  James  Hough- 
tailing,  Hervey  Jero,  Lyman  P.  Johnson,  Frank  M.  Lacy,  Josiah  B.  Lyon,  John  Lenhart, 
Michael  McAlpine,  William  Mitchell,  John  H.  Parsons,  Orrin  W.  Place,  Whitfield  H. 
Peck,  George  Peck,  Wallace  Polmanteer,  John  H.  Ryall,  Joseph  Steele,  James  Steele, 
Albert  W.  Small,  Pliilip  Slater,  Richard  Sutfin,  Edward  Salslmry,  Simeon  Spink, 
Thomas  Tunney.  Joliii  Theis,  Henry  Tomyon,  Smith  Tupptr,  David  0.  Tears,  Charles 


1 62  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

Gr.  Watkins,  Cornelius  Webber,  Jolin  P.  Williams.  Charles  Wright.  Bertram  A.  Whit- 
more,  Samuel  C.  Wales. 

Company  B. — Private,  George  W.  Randall. 

Company  C  — Private.  George  B.  Barden. 

FIRST    UNITED   STATES   SHARPSHOOTERS. 

Officers. — Colonel,  II.  Berdan  ;  adjutant,  J.  Smith  Brown. 

Company  B. — William  Elmendorf,  second  lieutenant;  William  Chidsey,  orderly-ser- 
geant. Privates:  George  Barber.  Nelson  Bennett,  Charles  Bogart,  Robert  Bogart, 
Ervin  Chid.sey.  Harrison  De  Long,  James  Densmore,  George  Downing,  Gideon  Draper, 
Frank  Elwin.  Lewis  Gage,  John  Gannon,  Henry  Gannon,  David  Gannon,  George  Gris- 
wold,  Michael  Hallon,  Frank  Kellogg,  Lewis  Ketchum,  David  Philbrook,  John  Phil- 
brook,  Nelson  Rector,  James  Robinson,  George  Russell,  William  Stapleton.  William 
Stokes,  Benjamin  F.  Warner,  James  Warner. 

EIGHTY-FIFTH    REGIMENT   N.  Y.  V. 

Company  0. — George  W.  Morgan,  first  lieutenant;  Alonzo  S.  Miller,  first  sergeant; 
Charles  II.  Hayes,  John  H.  Lafler,  and  Dewitt  C.  Farrington.  sergeants;  George  Haines, 
John  G.  Watkins,  and  Joseph  Tinney,  corporals  ;  Ebenezer  Inscho,  wagoner.  Privates  : 
Aaron  Beard,  Robert  Briggs,  George  Barnes,  Hiram  Corey,  Joseph  S.  Crouse,  Alexan- 
der P.  Campbell,  Martin  Davis,  Franklin  Daines,  Ebenezer  Finch,  John  W.  Green,  Au- 
gustus Gordon,  D.  Martin  Inscho,  Amos  Jones,  Hazard  Jones.  Samuel  Lurch,  Nelson 
lilatthews,  James  Sherman.  George  S.  Wells. 

MISCELLANEOUS    REGIMENTS. 

Company  B,  Third  Reijiment  Artillery  X  Y.  V. —  Delos  C.  Hubbard,  corporal.  Pri- 
vates: Lee  Bookstaver,  Warren  Brenensthul,  James  H.  Eckerson,  William  F.  Edgett, 
Nelson  Elliot,  Michael  Farrell.  David  Fingar,  Harlow  Fingar,  James  H.  Greening, 
George  J.  Greening,  Thomas  Griswold,  Aaron  Griswold,  Johnson  Henryes,  Albert  Hen- 
ryes  John  Hughes.  Patrick  Lahan,  E.  M.  Lester,  John  Light,  Andrew  J.  Matthews, 
Darius  MatUiews.  Edward  Matthews,  Vosburgh  McLaughlin,  George  H.  McLaughlin, 
Warren  Miller,  William  H.  Miller,  John  G.  Phelps.  John  F.  Robin.sou,  James  M.  Smith, 
Albert  Travis,  Edward  A.  Travis,  John  Travis,  Robert  H.  Wilson.  Company  E. —  Pri- 
vate, Charles  Hammond. 

Compani/  0,  One  Hundred  and  Forty-fourth  Regiment  Artillery  N.  Y.  V. — Privates: 
Samuel  Andrew.s,  James  E.  Almy,  George  H.  Blakesley,  Dewitt  C.  Bassett.  Levi  Bassett, 
John  A.Bailey,  Lee  Bookstaver,  Rol)ert  Bell,  George  W.  Carr,  Daniel  Daily,  George  Davis, 
James  A.  Dayton,  Llewellyn  Dunn,  George  B.  Dunn,  William  Fowler,  George  N.  Ford, 
Adelbert  Haight,  Michael  Holland,  John  Hunter,  Mason  Lang,  Amos  McLaughlin, 
Michael  Mahar,  John  M.  Mahar,  Matthew  Maddox,  C.  L.  Paris,  Patrick  Quinan,  Benja- 
min Rhodes,  George  Reynolds,  George  Sprague,  Charles  Shuter,  Eugene  L.  Smith,  Mar 
tin  Schiem,  Seymour  H.  Shultz,  Jeremiah  Sprague,  Lee  Thomas,  Oliver  Wyman,  Haz 
Ard  Wheeler. 


ar- 


THE  BENCH  AND  BAR.  163 

Company  A,  Seventy-nixth  Regiment  K.  T.  K— Ilershel  W.  Pierce,  second  lieutenant. 
Privates:  George  A.  Allen,  Theodore  Beach,  Marvin  Bejington,  William  Condon,  Ly- 
man Culver,  Benjamin  F.  Carpenter,  Martin  P.  Campbell,  Samuel  Higgins,  Alonzo  Har- 
ris, Albert  L.  Hilton,  Jesse  Iloiightailinpr,  Charles  E.  Stamp. 

Company  11,  One  Hundred  and  Second  Reyiment  N.  Y.  V. — Peter  K.  Deyo,  first  lieu- 
tenant ;  Aaron  C.  Frost,  first  sergeant ;  Cliarles  L.  Nichols,  second  sergeant.  Privates  : 
Morris  Bartlett,  Edward  Beardsley,  James  J.  Fox,  I.arimore  Graham,  Anson  Matthews, 
James  Sander,  Charles  H.  Wlieeler. 

Company  I,  Fifteenlh  Engineers. — Privates  :  Barrett  A.  Boyd,  John  L.  Bronson,  Harlan 
P.  Bush,  Joseph  B.  Lewis,  Asa  Phelps,  James  Spencer,  Albert  T.  Wil.von.  Company  A". 
— Privates :    Able  Briggs,  J.  M.  Connolly,  Joseph  Eaves,  S.  B.  Parshall,  James  Warner. 

Company  L,  Fourteenth  Regiment  Artillery  X.  Y.  V. — Privates:  Nathaniel  S.  Brigg.s, 
Stanford  Bigelow,  Dewitt  C.  Bell,  Patrick  Barrett,  Henry  0.  Briggs,  Isaiah  Brockway, 
John  S.  Constantin,  John  Coovert,  Henry  Carey,  Charles  E.Downing,  Andrew  Dunn,  John 
B.  Dunn,  George  Hunter,  Thomas  Hunter,  George  A.  Jamison,  Darwin  Kiqg,  John  Kill- 
cullen,  Robert  B.  Lewis,  George  McDonald,  George  D.  Moore,  John  Moxcey,  jr.,  Melvin 
Perry,  John  C.  St.  John,  Gideon  C.  Skiuk,  William  D.  Semans,  Samuel  0.  Wheaton, 
John  W.  Woodrufl',  Joseph  Woolf.      Company  M. — George  Brennan,  first  lieutenant. 

Company  O,  Sixteenth  Artillery  N.  Y.   V. — Morris  F.  Sheppard,  captain. 

Company  A,  Twenty-second  Cavalry  N.  Y.  V. —  Henry  P.  Starr,  second  lieutenant; 
Amos  E.  Wheeler,  corporal.  Privates  :  George  Barrett,  Frederick  Eaves,  Joseph  Ham, 
Miles  B.  Hodge,  Truman  Slater,  Miles  A.  Terrill. 

Company  F,  Twenty-third  Regiment  N.  Y.  V.  — Privates:  William  H.  Dunn,  Charles 
Lewis,  Oscar  Nelson. 

Company  1.  Thirty-fourth  Regiment  N.  Y.  V. — John  Finegan,  sergeant;  Samuel  C. 
Benham,  sergeant.  Privates:  Harrison  Clark,  Orlando  M.  Crofoot,  David  Finegan, 
George  Leddick,  James  E.  Northup,  James  A.  McCarrick,  Frederick  B.  St.  John,  Jacob 
Speers. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

THE    BENCH    AND    IJAK    OF    VATES   COUNTY. 

THE  sentiment  has  been  commonly  expressed  that  the  judicial  sys- 
tem of  the  State  of  New  York  is  largely  copied  or  derived  from 
the  common  law  of  England  and  slightly  from  the  civil  law  of  the  Con- 
tinent. This  is  true  in  many  respects,  and  resemblances  may  be  traced 
therein.  There  are  certain  changeless  principles  running  throughout 
the  laws  of  every  nation  and  people  from  Moses  to  Victoria.      But  these 


1 64  HIS  TOR  y  OF  YA  TES  CO  UA"  T  5 '. 

principles  are  few  and  often  obscured  by  tlie  varying  manifestations 
given  to  them  by  different  law-makers  ;  and  although  a  close  study  of 
the  laws  and  judicial  practice  in  this  State  will  disclose  the  possession 
of  some  principles  in  common  with  Enghsh  and  Continental  laws,  yet 
the  same  study  will  reveal  the  fact  that  in  spirit  and  form  the  judicial 
system  of  the  State  of  New  York  is  an  original  growth  and  radically 
differs  from  the  old  system  of  Europe.  The  difference  in  the  germinal 
idea  which  underlies  and  gives  character  to  the  S)'stems  is  strikingly 
manifested  in  the  simple  act  of  entitling  a  criminal  u  rit.  It  this  State 
it  is  The  People  versus  the  Ciiminal;  in  England  it  is  Rex  7'crsiis  The 
Criminal,  In  the  genius  of  the  one  the  requirement  is  an  independent 
judiciary  responsible  directly  to  the  people  only;  in  the  other  it  is  a 
court  subservient  to  the  king.  But  this  great  idea  of  the  sovereigntj'  of 
the  people,  even  over  the  laws,  has  had  a  slow,  conservative,  yet  pro- 
gressive and  systematic  unfolding  of  the  germ  into  organism.  In  the 
early  history  of  the  State  the  governor  was  in  efTect  the  makvr,  inter- 
preter, and  enforcer  of  the  laws.  He  could  veto  any  enactment  of  the 
legislature.  He  was  tlie  chief  judge  of  the  court  of  final  resort  and 
those  who  sat  in  council  with  him  were  generally  his  obedient  follow- 
ers. The  execution  of  the  English  and  Colonial  statutes  rested  with 
him  as  did  the  exercise  of  the  royal  authority  and  wishes  in  the  colony. 
It  was  not  until  the  first  constitution  in  1777  that  the  governor  ceased 
to  contend  for  these  prerogatives  and  to  act  as  though  the  only  func- 
tions of  the  courts  and  councillors  were  to  do  his  bidding  as  servants  and 
helpers,  and  the  legislature  to  aid  in  preparing  such  laws  as  he  a])proved. 
By  that  constitution  he  was  entirely  stripped  of  the  judicial  power  which 
he  possessed  under  the  Colonial  rule,  and  such  power  was  vested  in  the 
lieutenant-governor  and  Senate,  the  chancellor  and  justices  of  the  Su- 
preme Court,  the  former  to  be  elected  by  the  people  and  the  latter 
appointed  by  the  Council.  But  even  this  restriction  was  soon  felt  to  be 
incompatible.  With  the  spirit  of  the  Commonwealth  and  by  the  con- 
stitution of  1846  the  last  connection  between  the  purely  political  and 
judicial  parts  of  the  State  government  was  abolished,  and  with  it  disap- 
peared the  last  remaining  relic  of  the  Colonial  period.  From  this  time 
on  the  judiciary  became  more  directly  representative  of  the  people  in 
the  election.     The  development  of  the  idea    of  the  responsibility  of  the 


THE  COURT  OF  APPEALS.  165 

courts  to  the  people,  from  the  time  when  all  their  members  were  at  the 
beck  and  nod  of  one  well  nigh  irresponsible  master  to  the  time  when 
all  judges,  even  of  the  court  of  final  resort,  are  voted  for  directly  by  the 
people,  has  been  remarkable.  Yet  through  all  this  change  the  idea  of 
one  ultimate  tribunal  from  whose  decision  there  can  be  no  appeal 
has  prevailed. 

Let  us  look  at  the  present  arrangement  and  power  of  the  courts  of 
the  State  and  then  at  the  elements  from  which  they  have  grown.  The 
whole  scheme  is  involved  in  the  idea  of  first  a  trial  before  a  magistrate 
and  jury,  arbiters  respectively  of  law  and  fact,  and  then  a  review  by  a 
higher  tribunal  of  the  facts  and  law,  and  ultimately  of  the  law  by  a 
court  of  last  resort.  To  accomplish  the  purpose  of  this  scheme  there 
have  been  devised  and  established,  first,  the  present  Court  of  Appeals, 
the  ultimate  tribunal  of  the  State,  ]jerfected  in  its  present  form  by  the  con- 
ventit)ns  of  1S67  and  1868  and  ratified  by  the  people  in  1866,  and  takin<T 
the  place  of  the  old  court  for  the  trial  of  impeachments  and  the  correc- 
tion of  errors  to  the  extent  of  correcting  errors  of  law.  As  first  organ- 
ized under  the  constitution  of  1846  the  Court  of  Appeals  was  composed 
of  eight  judges,  four  elected  by  the  people  and  the  remainder  chosen 
from  the  justices  of  the  Supreme  Court  and  having  the  shortest  time  to 
serve.  The  chief  judge  was  he  who  was  elected  by  the  people  and  had 
the  shortest  time  to  serve.  As  re-organized  in  1869  and  now  ex- 
isting the  court  consists  of  a  chief  judge  and  six  associate  judges,  who 
hold  office  for  the  term  of  fourteen  years  from  the  first  day  of  January 
after  their  election.  Under  this  arrangement  the  fir.'t  judges  were 
chosen  at  a  special  election  held  in  April,  1S70.  This  court  has  power 
to  correct  or  reverse  the  decisions  of  all  inferior  courts  wlien  properly 
before  it  for  review.  Five  judges  form  a  quorum  and  four  must  concur 
to  render  judgment.  Four  not  concurring  after  two  re-hearings  the 
judgment  of  the  court  below  must  stand  affirmed.  The  legislature  has 
provided  how  and  when  the  proceedings  and  decisions  of  inferior  tri- 
bunals may  be  reviewed  in  the  Court  of  Appeals,  and  may  in  its  dis- 
cretion alter  and  amend  the  same.  The  judges  are  prohibited  from 
holding  any  other  ofl[ice  or  place  of  public  trust,  or  exercising  any  power 
of  appointment  to  such  place,  from  practicing  as  attorney,  or  acting  as 
referee.     They  are  removable  by  concurrent  resolution  of  both  Houses 


1 66  HIS  TORY  OF  YA  TES  CO  UN  T  Y. 

of  the  legislature  upon  a  two-thirds  vote  of  each  House.  Judges  of  the 
Court  of  Appeals  and  of  tlie  Supreme  Court  can  hold  office  only  till 
seventy  years  of  age. 

Second  to  the  Court  of  Appeals  in  rank  and  jurisdiction  stands  the 
Supreme  Court,  which,  as  it  now  exists,  is  made  up  of  many  and  widely 
different  elements.  It  was  originally  created  by  legislative  enactment 
May  6,  1691,  and  finally  by  ordinance  of  thcGovernor  and  Council,  May 
15,  1699,  and  empowered  to  try  all  issues,  civil,  criminal,  or  mixed,  to 
the  same  extent  as  the  English  Courts  of  King's  Bench,  Common 
Pleas,  and  E.xchequer,  except  in  the  exercise  of  equity  powers.  It  had 
jurisdiction  in  actions  involving  $100  or  upwards,  and  to  reverse  and 
correct  the  decisions  of  inferior  courts.  An  appeal  lay  from  it  to  the 
Governor  and  Council.  The  judges  annually  made  a  circuit  of  the 
counties  under  a  commission  issued  by  the  governor,  and  giving  them 
nisi  prills,  oyer  and  terminer,  and  jail  delivering  powers.  At  first  there 
were  five  judges.  The  court  was  re-organized  by  the  constitution  of 
1777,  under  which  the  judges  were  to  be  named  by  the  Council  of  Ap- 
pointment and  the  term  of  their  office  was  limited  to  the  age  of  sixty 
years.  All  proceedings  were  directed  to  be  entitled  in  the  name  of  the 
people  instead  of  that  of  the  king.  In  1786  a  law  was  passed  requiring 
the  court  to  try  all  causes  in  the  county  where  they  arose,  unless  they 
should  be  ordered  to  be  tried  at  the  bar  of  the  court.  The  constitution 
of  1 82  I  made  many  and  important  changes  in  the  character  and  meth- 
ods of  the  court.  The  judges  were  reduced  to  three  and  appointed  by 
the  governor,  with  the  consent  of  the  Senate,  to  hold  during  good  be- 
havior or  until  sixty  years  of  age.  They  could  be  removed  upon  a 
two  thirds  vote  of  the  Assembls'  and  a  majority  of  the  Senate.  The 
judges  were  exempt  from  military  duty,  could  hold  no  other  office, 
could  receive  no  fees,  could  not  practice  as  attorney  or  counselor,  and 
could  not  sit  in  any  case  where  they  were  interested  or  take  part  in  the 
review  of  a  case  passed  upon  by  them  in  any  other  court.  Four  times 
a  year  the  full  court  sat  in  review  of  their  decisions  upon  questions 
of  law. 

By  the  constitution  of  1846  the  Supreme  Court  as  it  then  existed  was 
abolished,  and  a  new  court  of  the  same  name  and  having  general  juris- 
diction in-law  and  equity  was  established.     This  court  was  divided  into 


THE  SUPREME  COURT.  167 

General  terms,  Circuits,  Special  terms,  and  Oyer  and  Terminer.  Its 
members  were  composed  of  thirty- three  judges,  to  be  elected  by  the 
people,  and  to  reside  five  in  the  first  and  four  in  each  of  the  seven  other 
judicial  districts  into  which  the  State  was  divided.  By  the  judiciary 
act  of  1847  General  terms  were  to  be  held  in  each  county  in  the  State 
having  over  40,000  inhabitants  at  least  once  in  each  year  and  in  other 
counties  at  least  once  in  two  years,  and  at  least  two  Special  terms  and 
two  Circuit  Courts  were  to  be  held  yearly  in  each  county  except  Ham- 
ilton. Since  1882  the  Oyer  and  Terminer  consists  of  a  single  justice  of 
the  Supreme  Court.  By  an  act  of  the  legislature  adopted  in  1848,  and 
entitled  the  Code  of  Procedure,  all  distinctions  between  actions  at  law 
and  suits  in  equity  were  abolished  so  far  as  the  matter  of  commencing 
and  conducting  is  concerned,  and  one  uniform  method  of  practice  in  all 
actions  was  provided.  Under  this  act  appeals  lay  to  the  General  term 
of  the  Supreme  Court  from  judgments  rendered  in  Justice,  Mayor's,  or 
Recorder's  and  County  Courts,  and  from  orders  and  decisions  of  a  justice 
at  Supreme  term  or  Circuit,  and  from  judgments  rendered  at  any  trial 
term  of  the  Supreme  Court. 

In  1869  the  judiciary  article  of  the  constitution  of  1846  was  amended, 
but  continued  the  existing  Supreme  Court  with  the  same  jurisdiction. 
By  this  amendment  it  was  provided  that  the  legislature  should,  from 
time  to  time  and  not  more  often  than  once  in  five  years,  provide  for  the 
organization  of  General  terms,  consisting  of  a  presiding  justice  and  not 
more  than  three  associates.  It  also  directed  the  holding  of  General 
terms  in  each  of  the  districts.  Tiie  justices  were  to  be  elected  by  the 
voters  of  their  respective  districts. 

Bj' chapter4o8  of  the  laws  of  1870  the  then  organization  of  the  General 
terms  was  abrogated  and  the  State  divided  into  four  departments,  and 
provisions  made  for  holding  tiie  General  terms  in  each.  By  the  same 
act  the  governor  was  directed  to  designate  from  among  the  justices  of 
the  Supreme  Court  a  presiding  justice  and  two  associates  to  constitute  a 
General  term  in  each  department.  The  presiding  justice  was  to  hold" 
his  place  during  his  official  term  and  the  associates  for  five  years.  The 
justices  of  each  department  once  in  two  years  were  to  prepare  appoint 
ments  of  Circuits,  Oyer  and  Terminer,  and  Special  terms  and  designate 
the  justices  to  hold  each.      In  June,  1877,  the  legislature  enacted   the 


i68  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

Code  of  Civil  Procedure  to  take  the  place  of  the  code  of  1848.  By  tliis 
act  many  minor  changes  in  the  practice  of  the  court  were  made,  among 
them  a  provision  that  ever\'  two  years  the  justices  of  the  General  terms 
and  the  chief  judges  of  the  Superior  city  courts  should  meet  and  revise 
and  establish  general  rules  of  practice  for  all  the  courts  of  record  in  the 
State  except  the  Court  of  Appeals. 

By  an  amendment  to  the  constitntioii, adopted  in  1879,  one  additional 
justice  was  provided  for  in  the  second  district.  Under  the  authority  of 
another  amendment,  adopted  in  1882,  the  legislature,  by  the  laws  of 
1883,  divided  the  State  into  five  judicial  departments,  and  provided  for 
the  election  of  twelve  additional  justices  to  hold  office  from  the  first 
Monday  in  June,  1884,  and  for  a  General  term  in  each  department. 

These  are,  in  brief,  the  changes  through  which  the  Supreme  Court  of 
the  State  of  New  York  has  passed  in  its  growth  from  the  prerogative  of 
an  irresponsible  governor  to  one  of  the  most  independent  and  enlight- 
ened instrumentalities  for  the  protection  and  attainment  of  the  rights  of 
its  citizens  of  which  any  State  or  nation,  ancient  or  modern,  can  right- 
fully boast.  So  well  is  this  fact  understood  by  the  people  that  by  far 
the  greater  amount  of  business  which  might  be  done  in  inferior  courts  at 
less  expense  is  actually  taken  to  this  court  for  settlement. 

Next  in  inferiority  of  rank  and  jurisdiction  to  the  Supreme  Court  are 
the  County  Courts  iield  in  and  for  each  county  in  the  State  at  such 
times  and  places  as  its  judges  may  direct.  This  court  had  its  origin  in 
the  English  Court  of  Sessions  and,  like  it,  at  first  had  criminal  jurisdic- 
tion only.  By  an  act  passed  in  1683  a  Court  of  Sessions  having  pouer 
to  try  all  causes,  civil  and  criminal,  by  a  jury  was  directed  to  be  held  by 
three  justices  of  the  peace,  in  each  of  the  counties  of  the  province 
twice  a  year,  with  an  additional  term  in  Albany  and  two  in  New  York. 
By  the  act  of  1691  and  the  decree  of  1699,  referred  to  in  connection 
with  the  Supreme  Court,  all  civil  jurisdiction  was  taken  away  from  this 
court  and  conferred  upon  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas.  Under  the  au- 
thority of  the  constitution  of  1846  the  Cciunty  Courts  have  from  time 
to  time  been  given  jurisdiction  in  actions  of  assumpsit,  debt,  and  cov- 
enant, in  sums  not  exceeding  $2,000;  in  replevin  not  exceeding  $1,000  ; 
and  in";actions  for  trespass  and  personal  injury  not  to  exceed  $500. 
These  courts  have  also  been  clothed  with  equitypowers  to  foreclose  mort- 


1 


THE  COUNTY  COURT.  169 

gages;  sell  infants'  real  estate  ;  to  partition  lands;  to  admeasure  dower  ; 
and  to  care  for  the  persons  and  estates  of  lunatics  and  habitual  drunkards. 
The  judiciary  act  of  1869  continued  the  existing  jurisdiction  of  County 
Courts,  and  conferred  upon  them  original  jurisdiction  in  all  actions  in 
which  the  defendant  lived  within  the  county  and  damages  claimed  did 
not  exceed  $1,000.  Like  the  Supreme  Court  the  County  Court  has 
now  its  civil  and  its  criminal  sides.  In  criminal  matters  the  county  judge 
is  assisted  by  two  justices  of  sessions,  elected  by  the  people  from  among 
justices  of  the  peace  in  the  county.  It  is  in  the  criminal  side  of  this 
court,  known  as  the  Sessions,  that  all  the  minor  criminal  offenses  are  dis- 
posed of.  All  indictments  by  the  grand  jury,  except  for  murder  or  some 
very  serious  felony,  are  sent  to  it  for  trial  from  the  Oyer  and  Terminer. 
By  the  codes  of  184S  and  1877  the  methods,  procedure,  and  practice, 
and  the  jurisdiction  and  control  of  actions  arising  within  the  county  or 
against  citizens  of  the  county,  were  made  to  conform  as  nearly  as  pos- 
sible to  the  practice  and  jurisdiction  in  the  Supreme  Court.  This  was 
done  with  the  evident  design  of  attracting  litigation  into  these  courts 
and  thus  relieving  the  Supreme  Court.  But  in  this  purpose  there  has 
been  a  failure,  litigants  much  preferring  the  shield  and  assistance  of  the 
broader  powers  of  the  Supreme  Court.  By  the  judiciary  act  the  term  of 
office  of  county  judge  was  extended  from  four  to  six  years.  Under  the 
codes  he  can  perform  some  of  the  duties  of  a  justice  of  the  Supreme 
Court.  The  County  Court  has  appellate  jurisdiction  over  actions  aris- 
ing in  the  Justices'  Courts  and  Courts  of  Special  Sessions. 

Surrogate  Courts,  one  of  which  exists  in  each  county  of  the  State, 
are  now  Courts  of  Record,  ha\'ing  a  seal,  and  their  especial  jurisdiction 
is  the  settlement  and  care  of  estates  of  persons,  who  have  died  either 
with  or  without  a  will,  and  of  infants.  The  derivation  of  the  powers  and 
practice  of  the  Surrogate  Courts  in  this  State  is  fiom  the  Ecclesiastical 
Court  of  England  through  a  part  of  the  Colonial  Council,  which  ex- 
isted during  the  rule  of  the  Dutch  and  exercised  its  authority  in  accord- 
ance with  the  Dutch  Roman  law  and  the  custom  of  Amsterdam,  the 
Court  of  Burgomasters  and  Schepens,  the  Court  of  Orphan  Masters,  the 
Mayor's  Court,  the  Prerogative  Court,  and  the  Court  of  Probates.  The 
settlement  of  estates  and  the  guardianship  of  orphans,  which  was  at  first 
vested  in  the  director-general  and  the  Council  of  New  Netherlands,  was 


1 70  HIS  TORY  OF  YA  TES  COUNT  Y. 

transferred  to  the  Burgomasters  in  1653  and  soon  after  was  transferred 
to  the  Orphan  Masters.  Under  the  first  constitution  surrogates  were 
chosen  by  the  Council  of  Appointment,  while  under  the  second  constitu- 
tion they  were  appointed  by  the  governor  with  the  consent  of  the  Sen- 
ate. The  constitution  of  1846  abrogated  the  office  of  surrogate  in  all 
counties  having  less  than  4,000  population  and  conferred  its  duties 
upon  the  county  judge.  By  the  Code  of  Civil  Procedure  surrogates  were 
invested  with  all  necessary  powers  to  carry  out  the  equitable  and  inci- 
dental requirements  of  their  office — a  much  needed  authority  in  view 
of  the  rule  that  the  Surrogate's  Court  was  one  of  limited  jurisdiction 
and  the  surrogate  had  no  powers  except  those  expressly  given  by  stat- 
ute. In  its  present  form  and  sitting  weeklj' Surrogates'  Courts  afford  a 
cheap  and  expeditious  medium  for  the  care  of  estates  and  guardianship 
of  infants. 

The  only  remaining  courts  which  are  common  to  the  whole  State  are 
the  Special  Sessions,  held  by  justices  of  the  peace  for  the  trial  of  minor 
criminal  offences,  and  Justice  Courts  with  limited  civil  jurisdiction. 
Prior  to  the  amendment  to  the  constitution  of  1821,  adopted  in  1826, 
justices  were  appointed  ;  since  that  time  they  have  been  elected  by  the 
people.  The  office  and  duties  are  descended  from  the  English  courts 
of  the  same  name,  but  are  much  less  important,  and  under  the  laws  ot 
this  State  are  purely  the  creation  of  the  statute.  The  office  of  justice  is 
ot  very  little  importance  in  the  administration  of  law,  and  with  the  loss 
of  much  of  its  old-time  power  has  lost  all  of  its  former  dignity. 

This  brief  survey  of  the  courts  of  New  York,  which  omits  only  those 
that  are  local  in  character,  gives  some  idea  of  the  machinery  piovided 
for  the  use  of  the  members  of  the  bench  and  bar  at  the  time  of  the  erec- 
tion of  Yates  County  in  1823. 

RECOLLECTIONS  OF  THE  OLD  YATES  COUNTY  BAR. 

William  M.  Oliver  came  to  Penn  Yan  at  an  early  date  from  Cherr\' 
Valley,  Otsego  County.  He  was  then  a  young  man,  but  by  his  careful, 
prudent,  and  conservative  counsels  he  very  soon  became  one  of  if  not 
the  leading  citizen  of  this  village.  His  voice  and  influence  were  poten- 
tially felt  in  all  public  enterprises.  He  was  generous  and  liberal.  His 
benefactions  were  freely  bestowed   upon   those  in  need,  and   it  may  be 


RECOLLECTIONS  OF  THE  COUNTY  BAR. 


171 


trutlifiilly  said   that  no  poor  man  ever  applied   to  him  for  assistance   in 
vain.      For  many  years  he  shaped  the  politics  of  this  county,  and  he 
was  always  esteemed  the  most  sagacious  politician  in  the  county,  and  in 
the  State  he  was  consulted   by  the  leading  members  of  his  party.      In 
1823,  the  year  this  county  was  organized,  he  was  appointed   the  first 
judge  of  the  old  Court   of  Common    Pleas,   which   office   he    held  until 
1828.      He  was  again  appointed  to  the  same  office  in  1838  and  contin- 
ued  to  hold   the  .same  until  January,  1844.      I"  the  fall  of  1836  he  was 
elected   State  senator  under  the  constitution  of  1 82 1,  which  office  he 
held  one  term — four  years.     The  Senate  at  that  time  was  composed  of 
able  lawyers.    This  was  quite  necessary  then,  as  the  Senate  was  a  branch 
of  the  old  Court  for  the  Correction  of  Errors.      Many  of  his  opinions  in 
cases  decided  in  that  court  appear  in  the  reports  and  compare  favora- 
bly with  the  opinions  written   b\'  other  senators  and  judges  composing 
that  court.      It  is  apparent  that  he  secured  and  had  the  confidence  of 
his  fellow  senators,  for  in  1830  there  was  a  vacancy  in  the  office  of  presi- 
dent of  the  Senate  and  he  was  elected  to  fill  that  office,  and  thereby 
became  lieutenant-governor  of  the  State.      In  this  office  he  acquitted 
himself  with   credit  to  the  satisfaction  of  his  friends.      He  was  subse- 
quently appointed  one  of  the  clerks  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  this  State 
This  office  was  very  lucrative  and  then  located  in  Geneva.     But  he  did. 
not  change  his  residence.     While  holding  that  office  he  was  elected  presi- 
dent of  the  "Yates  County  Bank,"  the  ciiarter  for  which  had  then  lately 
been    granted   by  the  State  legislature.      He  held  this  office  until  its 
failure  in  1857.     He  was  elected  to  Congress  in  the  fall  of  1840  and  held 
tliat  office  one  term.      He  was  an   honored  and   useful   member  of  that 
body,  and   though   a  new  member  he  exhibited  so  much  sagacity  and 
wisdom   in  the   direction  of  public  affairs  that  his  counsel  and  advice 
were  sought  on  all  public  questions  by  his  party  friends.      It  was  Judge 
Oliver's  misfortune  that   he  accepted   the  presidency  of  tiic  bank   and 
resigned   that  of  clerk  of  the   Supreme   Court,  for  while  one  paid  him 
largely  the  other  in  the  end   brought  upon  him  financial  ruin  and  great 
mental  sorrow  and  distress,  from  which  he  never  recovered.     We  think 
it  may  be  fairly  said,  however,  that  the  failure  of  the  bank  of  which  he 
was  president  had  its  origin  in  causes  which  did  not  involve  crooked- 
ness or  moral  turpitude  on  the  part  of  its  president. 


172  HIS  TOR  Y  OF  YA  TES  CO  UN  T  Y. 

Henry  Welles  was  born  in  Kinderhook,  and  at  an  early  day  his  father 
with  his  family  removed  to  the  east  bank  of  our  lovely  Lake  Keuka, 
where  he  spent  liis  boyhood  days.  He  read  law  with  tliat  eminent 
lawyer,  Vincent  Mathews,  at  Bath,  where  he  commenced  his  profes- 
sional life.  In  about  tiie  j'ear  1829  he  removed  from  Bath  to  Penn 
Yan,  where  he  lived  until  the  time  of  his  death  in  March,  1868.  Judge 
Welles  was  a  man  of  strict  integrity  and  always  commanded  the  re- 
spect of  his  fellow  citizens.  He  always  stood  in  the  front  rank  of  his 
profession  and  had  a  large  practice.  He  never  acquired  distinction  as 
an  advocate,  but  always  gave  his  cases  a  patient  examination  and  thor- 
ough study,  hence  his  success  before  the  courts.  His  first  office  was  that 
of  district  attorney  of  this  county.  Several  years  prior  to  his  election  as 
a  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and  in  June,  1847,  he  was  appointed  and 
acted  as  one  of  tiie  associate  judges  of  the  old  Court  of  Common  Pleas. 
Here  he  laid  the  foundation  of  that  confidence  which  led  to  his  selec- 
tion and  elevation  as  a  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court.  This  latter  office 
he  held  until  his  death.  As  an  able,  industrious,  and  conscientious 
judge  none  stood  higher  or  was  more  higjily  esteemed.  It  was  well  and 
truly  said  of  him  by  an  honored  member  of  the  bar  of  this  judicial  dis- 
trict on  the  occasion  of  his  death: 

••  As  a  judge  he  w;i.s  ch;n-acteri/cecl  by  a  sincere  desire  to  do  the  rigln  by  a  patient, 
painstaking  industry,  which  was  never  satistied  short  of  an  e.\haustive  examination  of 
the  sidjject  under  consideration,  l^y  a  broad  conmion  sense,  which  his  learning  and 
experience  had  ripened  into  a  comprehensive,  judiL-ial  wisdom  ;  by  a  dignified  courtesy, 
which  was  never  provoked  into  petulance  or  irritability,  and  which  never  degenerated 
into  unseemly  facetiousness.  As  a  man  he  was  characterized  by  a  simple  ingenuous- 
ness, by  fatherly  kindness,  by  strict  integrity,  and  by  Christian  courtesy." 

Roderick  N.  Morrison  was  among  the  lawyers  in  this  county  who  at 
an  early  date  deservedly  obtained  an  eminent  distinction.  He  was  a 
man  of  broad  culture,  of  commanding  appearance,  and  an  astute  and 
successful  lawyer.  He  built  and  until  he  removed  from  here  resided  in 
the  residence  of  the  late  Abram  Wagener  and  now  occupied  by  Mrs. 
Ida  Thompson  Drake.  He  left  Penn  Yan  in  about  the  year  1833. 
Subsequently  he  went  to  California,  where  he  achiev«'d  distinction. 

Before  Mr.  Morrison  left  Evert  Van Buren,  then  a  young  man,  removed 
here  from  Kinderhook.  Mr.  Van  Buren  and  Mr.  Morrison  at  once 
became  rivals;   that  is,   in    every  important   case   they  were  sure  to  be 


RECOLLECTIONS  OF  THE  COUNTY  BAR.  173 

pitted  against  each  other.  Van  Bmen  was  blight,  witty,  and  wonder- 
fiiUj'  sarcastic.  lie  possessed  tmiisiial  abihty  as  a  speaker  and  his  ad- 
dresses to  a  jury  were  usually  distinguished  for  eloquence  and  convinc- 
ing power.  He  examined  a  witness  with  great  adroitness,  and  if  a  witness 
attempted  to  prevaricate  he  broke  down  under  the  fire  of  this  eminent 
examiner.  While  Mr.  Van  Buren  was  not  a  great  lawyer  as  such,  yet 
he  was  one  of  the  ablest  advocates,  if  not  the  ablest,  who  has  ever  prac- 
ticed at  the  Yates  County  Bar.  He  removed  from  here  to  Chicago  in 
1857,  where  he  achieved  success  and  wealth. 

James  Taylor,  about  the  time  Mr.  Morrison  left,  removed  to  Penn 
Yan  from  tlie  town  of  Starkey,  where  he  had  previously  practiced  his 
profession.  Mr.  Taylor,  while  a  resident  of  Starkey  and  in  the  year 
1832,  was  appointed  district  attorney  of  the  county  and  held  the  office 
for  four  years.  He  was  a  man  of  marked  integrity,  courteous  and 
gentlemanly  in  his  deportment,  and  had  the  confidence  and  respect,  not 
oiil)'  of  his  fellow  members  of  the  bar,  but  of  citizens  generally  tiirough- 
out  the  county.  He  was  persuasive  in  argument,  and  by  his  great  can- 
dor he  became  a  strong  man  with  a  jur\'.  He  had  a  good  practice  and 
met  with  reasonable  success.  He  was  a  ruling  elder  in  the  Presb\-terian 
Church  in  this  village  and  his  influence  in  the  church  was  conservative 
and  health)'.  He  removed  to  Kansas  in  1857,  whither  some  members 
of  his  family  had  already  preceded  him. 

Justice  S.  Glover  came  to  this  village  some  few  years  prior  to  1840, 
where  he  practiced  his  profession  until  he  removed  to  Michigan.  Mr. 
Glover  had  a  good  legal  mind,  but  an  uncontrollable  temper,  which 
really  disqualified  him  in  a  great  measure  from  general  practice.  He 
had  great  confidence  in  his  own  knowledge  of  the  law  and  could  not 
bear  contradiction  nor  accept  with  patience  an  adverse  deci.<ion  of  the 
court.  His  unfortunate  temperament  prevented  that  degree  of  success 
as  a  lawyer  which  he  might  otherwise  have  attained. 

James  L.  Seeley  practiced  law  at  Dundee,  where  he  died  a  number  of 
years  since.  He  was  an  honest  man  and  an  honorable  practitioner. 
His  word  was  accepted  by  his  professional  brethren  and  was  deemed  as 
sacred  as  his  stipulation  in  writing.  He  scorned  any  quibling  or  arti- 
fice. He  was  frank  and  open  as  the  light  of  day.  He  had  a  good  legal 
mind, — could  readily   observe  distinctions  in  cases  and   reach  the  vital 


174  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COU.\'TY. 

point  in  a  case.  He  was  very  careful  and  conservative  and  always 
sought  to  prevent  litigation  rather  than  promote  it.  He  was  not  a  good 
trial  lawyer  and  seldom  trusted  himself  to  try  an  important  case  unas- 
sisted. His  counsel  and  advice  were  sought  by  those  v\ho  wished  to  be 
advised  rightly  and  safely,  and  this  was  his  strong  point. 

Delazon  J.  Sunderlin  was  not  admitted  to  the  bar  until  1846.  His 
love  for  the  profession  had  its  origin  in  the  courts  of  the  justices  of  the 
peace  of  his  neighborhood,  where  he  had  a  large  practice  and  gained 
much  notoriety  for  his  great  ingenuity  and  success  in  the  trial  of  cases 
previous  to  his  admission.  After  his  admission  to  the  bar  in  1846  he  at 
once  entered  upon  a  full  practice  in  this  and  the  adjoining  counties  of 
Steuben  and  Schuyler.  He  at  the  time  of  his  admission  was  a  success- 
ful farmer  in  the  town  of  Harrington,  where  he  continued  to  live  until  the 
time  of  his  death,  except  a  short  interval  spent  in  Penn  Yan.  Mr.  Sun- 
derlin was  a  stalwart  man,  capable  of  great  physical  endurance,  which 
was  often  taxed  to  its  utmost.  He  was  a  very  successful  trial  lawyer. 
He  never  permitted  a  point  to  pass  his  observation  and  he  was  wonder- 
fully fruitful  in  discovering  the  weak  points  of  his  adversary's  case,  and 
exercised  great  skill  and  ingenuity  in  presenting  his  own  case  in  its 
most  favorable  light  He  was  always  a  hard  man  to  meet  and  much 
more  to  beat,  for  when  opposite  counsel  felt  secure  and  confident  of 
success  it  was  not  unlikely  that  Mr.  Sunderlin  would  suggest  new  ques- 
tions and  new  difficulties  to  be  overcome.  One  thing  may  be  truly 
said  of  Mr.  Sunderlin:  When  beaten  b\'  the  couit  he  accepted  the  de- 
cision without  a  murmur.  He  was  always  courteous  and  gentlemanly, 
not  only  with  the  court,  but  the  members  of  the  bar  also.  He  was 
liberal  and  honorable  in  his  practice.  In  November,  1850,  he  was 
elected  district  attorney  of  the  county  and  held  the  ofifice  one  term. 
The  duties  of  this  office  he  discharged  witii  ability  and  satisfaction  to 
the  people. 

Benedict  W.  Franklin  came  to  Penn  Yan  to  practice  law  in  or  about 
1836.  He  was  born  in  Kinderhook  and  upon  coming  here  he  at  once 
took  rank  with  the  best  resident  law)ers.  He  had  a  large  clientage  so 
long  as  he  remained  in  practice.  Mr.  F"ranklin  was  a  very  industrious 
man;  he  worked  upon  his  cases  with  great  industry  and  with  the  utmost 
care — so  much  care  did  he  bestow  upon  his  cases  before  trial  that  fre- 


.^Z^:^    ,^2-.C^ 


RECOLLECTIONS  OF  THE  COUNTY  BAR.  175 

quently  when  the  Circuit  was  reached  lie  was  exhausted  with  solicitous 
overwork.  He  was  a  fair  lawyer,  but  too  doubtful  of  his  own  opinions 
to  make  himself  self-reliant.  In  temper  he  was  somewhat  irascible,  but 
still  he  did  not  allow  his  disposition  of  temperament  to  interfere  with 
the  management  of  his  cases.  He  was  the  adviser  of  many  of  the 
moneyed  men  of  this  county.  As  he  grew  older  he  somewhat  lost  his 
interest  in  the  parctice  of  the  law,  especially  in  contested  cases.  Before 
his  death  he  devoted  the  most  of  his  time  to  the  placing  of  money  by 
way  of  loans  upon  bonds  and  mortgage,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death 
was  virtually  out  of  practice.  Mr.  Franklin,  though  an  impulsive  man, 
enjoyed  the  confidence  of  all  as  an  honest,  upright,  and  truthful  gen- 
tleman. 

James  V.  Van  Allen  came  to  Penn  Yan  from  Kinderhook  sometime 
about  the  year  1844  or  1845.  He  was  then  a  young  man  and  had  not 
previously  entered  upon  the  practice  of  the  law.  Soon  after  coming 
here  he  accepted  a  position  in  the  law  office  of  Mr.  Franklin  as  a  clerk, 
and  subsequently  became  a  partner  of  Mr.  Franklin.  He  held  the  office 
of  justice  of  the  peace  for  the  town  of  Milo  for  many  years,  and  dis- 
charged the  duties  of  that  office  with  eminent  ability  and  satisfaction. 
Mr.  Van  Allen  was  an  office  and  not  a  trial  lawyer.  As  an  office  law- 
yer he  had  no  superior.  He  made  the  practice  a  study  and  successfully 
mastered  its  intricacies.  As  stated  he  was  not  a  trial  lawyer,  and  yet 
it  does  not  follow  that  he  was  not  a  good  lawyer.  He  possessed  an 
analytical  mind — quickly  possessed  himself  of  the  vital  points  of  a 
case,  and  he  was  a  safe  man  to  advise  with.  He  was  careful  and  con- 
servative in  his  advice,  and  his  opinion  upon  anj'  legal  question  was 
deemed  both  valuable  and  reliable.  His  practice  was  quiet,  but  lucra- 
tive. He  was  very  companionable  and  enjoyed  the  society  of  his  friends. 
He  died  very  suddenly  and  unexpectedly  in  the  prime  and  vigor  of  his 
manhood. 

A.  V.  Harpending  finished  his  clerksiiip  in  the  law  office 'of  Fvert 
Van  Buren,  coming  to  Penn  Yan  from  Dundee  in  the  fall  of  1840.  He 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  the  year  1844  and  at  once  opened  an  office 
in  Penn  Yan.  For  about  a  year  and  a  half  after  that  William  S.  Briggs 
was  his  partner,  though  the  latter  had  not  then  been  admitted.  Mr. 
Harpending  was  naturally   a  brilliant  man.     As  a  trial  lawyer  and  be- 


1 76  HIS  TORY  OF  YA  TES  CO  UN  T  Y. 

fore  a  jury  he  showed  genius  and  skill  and  was  reasonably  successful 
in  his  efforts.  He  had  a  good  paying  practice.  He  was  genial,  witty, 
and  eminently  social,  was  greatly  attached  to  his  friends,  and  had  a 
host  of  them.  He  was  elected  to  the  office  of  district  attorney  of  this 
county  in  the  fall  of  1853  and  held  the  same  one  term.  He  repre- 
sented this  county  in  the  Assembly  in  1857,  and  was  senator  from  the 
district  of  which  this  county  was  then  a  part  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
which  occurred  at  Albany  in  the  spring  of  1871.  Mr.  Harpending  dis- 
charged the  duties  of  district  attorney  with  zeal  and  fearless  integrity, 
and  such  was  the  sentiment  and  opinion  of  all  who  were  within  his  sphere 
of  knowledge.  His  untimely  death,  coming  to  him  as  it  did  while 
holding  and  exercising  the  functions  of  an  honorable  office,  with  a 
bright  future  before  him,  created  a  deep  sensation  at  his  home  and  cast 
gloom  and  sadness  over  this  entire  community. 

Daniel  Morris  was  born  in  the  town  of  Middlesex  and  did  not  enter 
upon  the  practice  of  the  law  until  he  had  reached  mature  manhood. 
The  early  years  of  his  practice  were  spent  at  Rushville,  where  he  ac- 
quired an  excellent  reputation  as  a  successful  lawyer.  He  was  elected 
to  the  Assembly  in  the  fall  of  1858  and  served  one  term.  Subsequently 
he  removed  to  Penn  Yan,  where  he  opened  an  office  and  practiced  his 
profession.  He  was  elected  a  member  of  Congress  in  the  fall  of  1864 
and  was  re-elected  to  the  next  Congress,  having  served  two  terms. 
Mr.  Morris  was  in  Congress  during  the  exciting  period  of  the  war  and 
warmely  co-operated  with  the  friends  of  the  national  cause  in  the  sup- 
pression of  the  Rebellion,  and  he  took  a  deep  interest  in  the  welfare  of 
the  sick  and  wounded  soldiers  of  the  district.  Mr.  Morris  did  not  have 
the  advantages  of  an  early  education,  yet  by  stud)-  and  contact  he  be- 
came a  well  educated  man.  He  was  favored  with  good  natural  abili- 
ties and  was  a  lawyer  of  considerable  repute.  He  was  strong  with  a 
jury  and  was  successful  in  many  important  and  close  cases,  and  had 
he  given  his  whole  time  to  his  profession  he  would  have  become 
eminent. 

Morris  Brown  came  to  Penn  Yan  from  Hammondsport  prior  to  the 
year  1856.  He  had  previously  become  the  owner  of  a  large  timber  tract 
lying  south  of  Milo  Center.  At  first  he  gave  much  of  his  time  to  this 
interest,  but  subsequently  resumed  and  continued    in  active  practice  to 


RECOLLECTIONS  OF  THE  COUA'TY  BAR.  177 

the  time  of  his  death.  Mr.  Brown  was  a  man  of  fine  and  impressive 
presence,  of  broad  culture,  and  dignified  manner.  He  possessed  natural 
ability  of  a  high  order,  which  was  developed  by  reading  and  culture. 
He  was  a  sound  lawyer,  and  possessed  the  rare  talent  of  presenting 
legal  questions  to  a  court  in  a  terse  and  forcible  manner.  In  1843  ''e 
represented  in  part  the  county  of  Steuben  in  the  legislature  of  this  State. 
He  also  held  the  office  of  register  in  bankruptcy,  and  at  the  time  of  his 
death  he  was  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Erown  &  Wood. 

David  B.  Prosser  was  a  native  of  this  county  and  did  not  commence 
to  read  law  until  he  had  reached  his  twenty- fifth  year.  The  profes- 
sion of  law  as  an  occupation  was  more  a  necessity  than  choice  with  him. 
In  his  earlier  years  he  had  given  attention  to  the  business  of  surveying, 
and  while  engaged  in  this  calling  he  ascertained  that  a  body  of  land  in 
Jerusalem  was  held  and  possessed  by  parties  whom  he  believed  had  no 
legal  title.  He  purchased  this  land  of  the  legal  owner  and  brought 
ejectment  to  recover  its  possession.  Mr.  Prosser  became  so  much  in- 
terested in  the  legal  questions  involved  that  he  at  once  gave  his  time 
and  attention  to  an  examination  of  the  legal  questions  involved  in  his 
suit.  His  own  interest  prompted  hini  to  a  close  study  and  most  thdr- 
ough  reading  of  the  body  of  our  law  pertaining  to  real  estate,  its  tenuie, 
and  the  rules  of  law  governing  its  transmission  and  descent.  He  suc- 
ceeded in  his  cases  in  the  highest  courts  of  this  State,  and  his  accurate 
knowledge  of  that  branch  of  the  law,  secured  by  his  diligent  study  in 
their  trial  and  preparation  for  the  consideration  of  courts,  made  him  a 
critical  lawyer  in  that  specialty.  His  success  in  these  cases  brouglit 
him  into  public  notice  at  once  and  gave  him  a  good  clientage.  Mr. 
Prosser  was  not  an  educated  man,  nor  was  he  fluent  in  his  speech, 
hence  he  was  not  an  able  man  before  a  jury.  Still  he  never  hesitated  to 
stand  in  his  place  and  perform  that  duty  to  tile  best  of  his  abilit)-  ;  and 
though  thus  trammelled  the  jur\'  did  not  often  fail  to  get  an  intel- 
ligent idea  of  his  views  of  the  case.  Mr.  Prosser  was  alwajs  regarded 
by  his  cotemporaries  as  the  best  lawyer  in  the  county.  He  had  a  re- 
markable retentive  memory,  was  self-reliant,  and  wonderfully  tenacious 
of  his  opinions.  He  was  the  cotemporary  of  Judge  Welles,  James 
Taylor,  Charles  G.  Judd,  Judge  Lewis,  James  L.  Suby,  and  Delazon  J. 
Sunderlin. 

23 


1 78  HIS  TOR  y '  OF  YA  TES  CO  UN  T  3 '. 

Samuel  H.  Welles,  the  only  son  of  Judge  Henry  Welles,  died  in  Oc- 
tober, 1867,  only  a  few  months  before  his  father.  He  was  in  the  prime 
of  life  when  he  died,  and  his  death,  entirely  unexpected  as  it  was,  pro- 
duced a  profound  sorrow.  Samuel  M.  Welles,  tliough  not  brilliant,  j-et 
by  the  advantages  acquired  by  a  liberal  education  through  the  careful 
and  painstaking  tutelage  of  his  father,  and  the  advantages  of  his  sur- 
roundings, he  became  and  at  the  time  of  his  deatli  was  a  good  lawyer. 
He  had  secured  a  good  practice  and  his  business  and  patrons  were  in- 
creasing when  removed  by  death.  At  that  time  he  was  postmaster  of 
Penn  Van.  Mr.  Welles  was  a  genial,  courteous  gentleman  and  liad  a 
troop  of  warm  friends. 

John  L.  Lewis  had  a  national  reputation  as  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternit)-  and  a  Knight  Templar.  Judge  Lewis  had  the  advantage  of 
excellent  tutelage  in  his  jouth  from  his  father,  who  was  a  highly  edu- 
cated man  and  devoted  his  time  to  teaching.  Hence  early  in  life  Judge 
Lewis  was  recognized  as  a  scholar  with  scholarly  tastes  and  habits. 
He  possessed  rare  ability  as  a  speaker,  and  in  his  prime  was  often  called 
upon  on  public  occasions  for  public  addresses.  His  diction  was  classic 
and  his  delivery  faultless.  No  young  man  has  grown  up  with  us  wiio 
ever  gave  better  promise  of  great  distinction  in  his  profession  than  did 
Judge  Lewis.  The  writer  would  not  be  understood  that  Judge  Lewis 
was  a  failure  at  the  bar,  only  that  he  was  unsuccessful  in  achieving  that 
degree  of  success  of  which  his  real  ability  and  early  development  gave 
promise.  He  seemed  to  have  attained  the  highest  measure  of  his  suc- 
cess in  his  chosen  profession  at  an  early  age.  He  was  appointed  dis- 
trict attorney  of  the  county  in  1 841  and  held  that  office  until  June,  1847, 
when  he  was  succeeded  bj-  Daniel  Morris,  who  was  then  elected  by 
popular  vote  under  the  constitution  of  1846.  In  1851  he  was  elected 
county  judge  and  held  the  office  for  one  term.  He  continued  in  prac- 
tice until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  the  year  1889.  In  his  later 
years  Judge  Lewis  was  sadly  afflicted  in  the  death  of  his  wife  and  his 
two  children — his  only  children.  These  bereavements  seemed  to  crush 
his  spirit  and  no  doubt  unnerved  him  for  the  battle  of  life.  In  his 
prime  he  was  a  very  genial  man,  was  fluent  and  edifying  in  his  con- 
versation, and  enjoyed  the  confidence  and  respect  of  all. 

Charles  G.  Judd  was  a  practicing  lawyer   in    this   county  for   man}' 


1 


RECOLLECTIONS  OF  THE  COUNTY  BAR.  179 

years.  He  died  a  few  years  since,  full  of  years  and  experience.  In 
1836  he  was  appointed  to  tlie  office  of  district  attorney  and  held  the 
same  until  succeeded  by  Judge  Lewis  in  r84r.  Mr.  Jiidd  must  have 
become  a  resident  of  this  place  as  early  as  1830,  and  hence  was  the  co- 
temporary  of  Judge  Welles,  Roderick  N.  Morrison,  Evert  Van  Buren, 
James  Taylor,  D.  B.  Prosser,  and  B.  W.  Franklin.  For  several  years 
he  was  associated  with  Judge  Lewis,  tiie  name  of  the  firm  being  Judd 
&  Lewis.  Mr.  Judd  was  a  man  of  fine  presence,  but  quite  distant  and 
reserved  in  his  manner,  which  gave  the  impression  that  he  was  cold  and 
selfish,  but  it  may  be  that  this  was  his  temperament  and  did  not  cor- 
rectly represent  the  real  man.  Mr.  Judd  was  an  educated  man  ;  he 
was  a  close  student  and  a  critical  lawyer.  He  learned  to  pr-actice  under 
the  old  system,  and  he  was  an  apt  student,  for  in  his  day  it  was  quite 
generally  conceded  that  he  was  the  most  accurate  and  critical  pleader 
then  practicing  at  the  bar.  He  was  also  a  learned  lawyer.  He  was 
gifted  with  a  close  and  analytical  mind.  His  reading  was  well  directed 
and  his  conclusions  logical.  While  it  was  conceded  by  all  that  Mr. 
Judd  was  learned  in  the  law,  at  the  same  time  the  belief  was  quite  gen- 
eral that  he  was  too  critical  and  was  too  narrow  in  his  constructions. 
In  other  words,  that  he  did  not  take  sufficient!)-  broad  views  of  ques- 
tions under  consideration. 

Andrew  Oliver  was  born  in  Benn  Yan,  his  father  being  Judge  Will- 
iam M.  Oliver.  He  had  every  advantage  of  early  education  which  a 
young  man  could  desire.  After  graduation  he  immediately  entered  his 
father's  office,  then  a  one-story  brick  office  on  the  corner  of  the  lot  now- 
occupied  by  Edson  Potter,  and  after  his  admission  entered  upon  the 
practice  of  the  law  in  the  same  office.  At  tliac  time  the  Yates  County 
Bank  was  in  full  life  and  operation  and  Andrew  was  the  attorney  for 
the  bank.  This  gave  him  a  quiet  business,  which  was  well  adapted  to 
his  habits  and  tasts.  He  never  sought  litigated  business,  and  if  by  acci- 
dent such  fell  into  his  hands  he  always  called  to  his  assistance  a  trial 
lawyer.  He  was  appointed  first  judge  of  tlie  old  Court  of  Common 
Pleas  in  January,  1844,  and  held  that  office  until  June,  1847,  when  un- 
der the  constitution  then  just  adopted  he  was  elected  county  judge, 
which  latter  office  he  held  one  term — four  years.  In  the  fall  of  1S5  1 
he  was  elected  to  the  Twentv-eighth  Congress  and   was  re-elected   two 


1 80  HIS  TOR  Y  OF  YA  TES  CO  UX  T  Y. 

years  after.  After  this  service  in  Congress  he  retired  to  a  farm  in  the 
town  of  Torrey  near  Dresden.  Subsequenth'  and  in  the  fall  of  1870 
he  was  again  elected  county  judge  and  served  for  six  years,  the  term 
jn  the  meantime  having  been  extended  from  four  to  six  years. 
Judge  Oliver,  though  an  educated  man,  was  exceedingly  modest  — 
even  timid.  lie  was  not  a  brilliant  man,  and  it  was  only  wlien  thor- 
oughly aroused  that  he  evinced  capabilities  which  under  ordinary  cir- 
cumstances seemed  dormant.  He  was  a  reasonably  fair  lawyer,  and 
with  time  for  thought  his  conclusions  were  usiiall)'  sound.  He  seemed 
to  lack  that  force  of  character  essential  in  a  presiding  officer,  hence  it 
cannot  be  said  that  he  was  a  success  as  a  leading  officer  in  the  courts 
over  which  he  presided.  He  always  seemed  popular  with  the  people 
when  before  them  for  their  suffrages.  With  all  his  excentricities  lie 
was  still  held  in  high  repute  and  commanded  the  respect  of  his  fellow 
citizens. 

Henry  M.  Stewart  was  born  in  Oneida  County  and  came  to  this 
county  with  his  father  when  a  boy.  He  was  educated  in  our  common 
schools,  completing  his  education  at  the  Canandaigua  Academy.  He 
read  law  with  I\Tr.  Prosser  and  was  admitted  and  commenced  to  practice 
his  profession  in  I'enn  Van  in  the  year  1839.  In  1  S40  he  was  an  act- 
ing m.ister  and  examiner  in  chancery.  Mr.  Stewart  was  elected  dis- 
trict attorney  of  this  county  in  the  fall  of  1856  and  held  the  same  office 
for  two  terms  thereafter.  Mr.  Stewart's  natural  endowments  were  far 
above  the  average,  but  it  cannot  be  truly  said  that  he  developed  them 
as  he  might  have  done.  He  possessed  a  clear  and  logical  mind,  was  a 
close  and  logical  reasoner,  had  clear  conceptions  of  the  law  as  he  read 
it,  at  once  apprehended  the  vital  questions  involved,  and  piesented 
them  clearly  to  a  court  or  jury.  He  was  a  forcible  speaker  and  always 
treated  his  antagonist  with  fairness  and  the  utmost  candor.  He  was  an 
honorable  practitioner,  scrupulously  honest  in  all  his  intercourse,  never 
resorting  to  any  artifice  to  secure  a  point  or  gain  an  end.  He  had  the 
confidence  and  commantled  the  respect  of  all  members  of  the  bar  ;  and 
yet  he  was  not  a  successful  lawyer — that  is  he  did  not  succeed  in  build- 
ing up  a  practice.  And  why  ?  He  was  too  modest,  too  unconibative  to 
seek  or  take  any  case  which  would  require  a  fight  or  contest.  Besides 
this  he  lacked  that  push  and  energy  essential  to  success.     This,  however, 


RECOLLECTIOXS  OF  THE  COUNTY  BAR.  i8i 


111 


ay  be  said  he  never  failed  to  meet  and  push  with  vigor  and  zeal  the 
prosecutidii  of  an\-  criminal  who  got  ensnared  in  the  meshes  of  the 
criminal  law. 

John  I).  Wolcott  was  the  son  of  Dr.  Wolcott,  of  Starke),  and  a 
brother  of  H.  G.  Wolcott,  late  of  Dundee.  Me  read  law  with  Evert 
\'an  Huren  in  I'enii  \'an,  and  upon  his  admission  to  the  bar  com- 
menced the  practice  of  the  law.  Soon  after  his  admission  he  entered 
into  partnership  with  Justus  S.  Glover,  his  brother- in-law,  and  this  rela- 
tion continued  until  Mr.  Glover  removed  from  Penn  Yan.  lie  was 
elected  to  the  office  of  district  attorney  in  the  fall  of  1862  and  held  the 
office  two  terms.  He  discharged  the  duties  with  satisfaction  and  fidel- 
ity. Mr.  Wolcott  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  at  Starkey 
Seminar)',  where  his  father  at  one  time  resided.  He  was  not  a  brilliant 
man  nor  was  he  a  broad  minded  lawyer.  Yet  Mr.  Wolcott  by  his  in- 
dustry was  quite  successful  in  his  practice,  exhibiting  at  times  much 
shrewdness  and  tact  in  the  trial  of  his  cases.  Doubtless  had  he  not 
been  cut  down  so  early  in  life  he  would  have  developed  qualities  which, 
with  his  push  and  aggressiveness,  would  have  developed  a  broader 
foundation  and  a  more  accurate  knowledge  of  the  general  principals  of 
the  law.  It  may  be  fairly  said  of  Mr.  Wolcott  that  he  was  reasonably 
successful  as  a  lawyer,  and. that  he  was  a  careful,  saving,  and  prudent 
man  and  a  good  citizen. 

Hilaiid  G.  Wolcott  was  the  son  of  Dr.  Wolcott.  He  first  read  medi- 
cine with  his  father,  but  finalh-  changed  to  the  profession  of  the  law. 
He  was  for  many  years  a  partner  of  James  L.  Seeley,  but  when  Mr. 
Seeley  was  stricken  in  health  he  continued  the  practice  alone.  Mr. 
\\'olcott  was  not  a  trial  lawyer.  Indeed  he  would  never  try  any  cause; 
not  even  his  own.  Yet  it  mav'  be  rightly  said  of  him  :  He  was  a  good 
lawyer.  Especially  was  he  noted  for  his  knowledge  of  equity  law  and 
the  practice  governing  that  branch  of  the  law.  He  was  a  practical  sur- 
veyor, and  as  such  had  been  called  upon  to  measure  and  map  the  prin- 
cipal farms  in  the  town  of  Starkey.  This  knowledge,  and  the  fact  that 
he  made  maps  and  kept  copies  of  all  the  surveys  he  made,  necessarily 
brought  him  a  class  of  business  which  his  knowledge  thus  acquired 
naturally  qualified  him  to  do.  It  will  be  seen  that  his  specialty  was 
office  business.      He  had  a  large  practice  in  the  Surrogate's  Court,  and 


l82  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

very  justly  had  tlie  re[)iitation  of  being  an  excellent  accountant.  He  was 
gentlemanh'  in  his  intercourse  and  had  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the 
members  of  the  bar. 

Henry  A.  Wisner  was  one  of  the  older  lawyers  of  Penn  Yan,  that  is 
he  was  one  of  the  early  practitioners  at  the  bar  after  the  organization 
of  this  county.  He  came  from  a  noted  and  distinguished  family  and 
was  a  highly  educated  man.  He  pos.sessed  an  unusually  brigiit  mind 
and  deservedly  took  rank  as  an  able  lawyer.  His  unfortunate  habits, 
however,  were  an  impediment  to  his  usefulness  as  a  man,  and  ]^revented 
the  attainjiient  of  that  measure  of  success  which  otherwise  he  might 
have  reached.  Judge  Lewis  read  law  with  him,  and  in  1840  he  was  an 
acting  magistrate  of  this  town  and  his  office  was  in  the  corner  of  his  lot 
on  which  stood  his  residence,  at  the  corner  of  Elm  and  Liberty  streets. 

Charles  S.  Baker  was  born  in  the  village  of  Burdette,  Schuyler 
Couniy,  N.  Y.,  December  27,  1835,  the  oldest  child  of  -Susan  E.  and 
Elijah  Baker.  The  other  children  of  this  couple  were  Sarah,  George, 
and  Francis  E.,  the  first  and  last  surving.  As  a  child  Charles  S.  was 
sturdy  and  well  developed,  and  at  an  early  age  he  assumed  charge  ot 
the  stables  connected  with  his  father's  boarding  and  canaling  business, 
his  duty  consisting  in  preparing  horses  for  market,  caring  for  diseased 
and  disabled  horses,  and  otherwise  supervising  that  branch  of  an  exten- 
sive business.  At  the  age  of  fifteen  he  entered  the  office  of  Brooks  & 
Toinlinson,  of  Elmira,  N.  Y.,  for  the  purpose  of  studying  law,  his  prev- 
ious educational  opportunities  having  consisted  of  a  common  school 
education  during  the  winter  months  and  one  year  at  Lima.  During 
the  last  two  years  of  his  law  study  he  taught  mathematics  in  the  Female 
Seminary  at  Elmira.  He  was  admitted  to  practice  law  one  year  before 
he  arrived  at  his  majority  and  at  once  entered  the  employ  of  Brooks  & 
Tomlinson,  where  he  continued  two  years.  At  the  expiration  of  that 
period  some  gentlemen  residing  and  doing  business  in  Dundee  consulted 
Brooks  &  Tomlinson  for  the  purpose  of  securing  some  young  and  com- 
petent lawyer  to  come  to  Dundee  and  open  an  office.  With  their  ad- 
vice and  recommendation  Mr.  Baker  came  to  Dundee  in  1857  and 
opened  an  office.  He  remained  there  until  the  spring  of  1861,  his  en- 
ergy and  ability  gradually  bringing  to  his  office  a  remunerative  prac- 
tice.     December  27,  1859,  he   married  Hannah   Elizabeth    Harpending 


%UyUt}uuL^    ^  f^r^c^(f^ 


PERSONNEL  OF  THE  PRESENT  COUNTY  PAR.  183 

(deceased),  only  daughter  of  Asbiiry  Han)eiiding,  of  Dundee.  The  issue 
of  tliis  niairiage  was  one  child,  Asbury  il.  Baker,  who  survives  them. 
In  the  spring  of  1861  Mr.  Baker  moved  to  Penn  Yan  and  entered  into 
partnership  with  Abram  V.  Harpending.  This  continued  until  1867, 
when  Mr.  Baker  moved  to  Hudson  City,  N.  J.,  and  entered  the  employ 
of  one  Clark  at  128  Broadway,  New  York,  conducting  the  details  of  an 
extensive  and  important  practice.  At  the  end  of  the  year  he  severed 
his  connection  with  Mr.  Clark  and  formed  a  partnership  with  J.  W. 
Feeter  under  the  firm  name  of  Feeter  &  Baker.  At  about  the  same 
time  he  moved  from  Hudson  City,  N.  J.,  to  Clifton,  N.  J.  In  the 
spring  of  1870,  after  suffering  the  most  severe  financial  losses  resulting 
from  some  injudicious  endorsements,  he  returned  to  Dundee  and  re 
opened  an  ofificc.  After  two  years  he  entered  into  partnership  succes- 
sively with  James  Spicer  at  Dundee  and  Hon.  Hanford  Struble  at  Penn 
Yan,  the  periods  of  time  consumed  by  these  two  partnerships  extend- 
ing to  1876.  At  that  time  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Hon.  Henrj- 
C.  Harpending  at  Dundee.  During  his  partnership  with  Mr.  Harpend- 
ing he  became  interested  in  and  lent  his  aid  in  the  construction  of  the 
Syracuse,  Geneva,  and  Corning  Railroad,  and  from  the  time  of  its  com- 
pletion until  his  death  he  was  one  of  the  attornej-s  for  the  company 
which  built  the  road.  After  dissolving  with  Mr.  Harpending  Mr. 
Baker  became  associated  with  L.  M.  Hair  and  H.  \ .  L.  Jones,  succes- 
siveh".  at  Dundee,  these  two  partnerships  extending  to  1884,  when  he 
again  moved  to  Penn  Yan  for  the  pur])ose  of  forming  tiie  partnershi|i 
with  Hon.  William  S.  Briggs  which  continued  until  Mr.  Baker's  death. 
These  brief  facts  simply  record  the  different  business  relationships  en- 
tered into  by  Mr.  Baker,  but  fail  utterly  to  give  an  idea  of  his  life  work. 
The  writer  is  forced  to  admit  he  is  unable  to  frame  language  fitting  the 
description.  Mr.  Baker  was  honorable,  just,  generous  to  a  fault,  inde- 
fatigable in  the  performance  of  his  work  and  duty,  a  consistent  church- 
man, true  as  steel  to  his  friends,  and  charitable  to  his  enemies. 

PERSONNEL   OF   TIIE    PRESENT    V.\TES   COUNTY    B.\R. 

William  S.  Briggs  was  born  in   the  town  of  Milo,  October  30,  1820. 
He  was  educated  at  the  common   schools   and  Lima  Seminar\',  at  the 


1 84  HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUNTY. 

latter  institution  attending  three  years.  Also  during  this  time  he  oc- 
casionally taught  school.  In  April,  1840,  he  commenced  reading  law 
with  David  B.  Prosser  and  in  1846  was  admitted  after  examination 
upon  motion.  Judge  Briggs,  for  b\'  this  title  has  he  been  known  for 
many  years,  has  always  practiced  at  the  county  seat.  His  first  partner 
was  A.  V,  Harpending,  with  whom  he  was  associated  two  or  three 
years,  when  Mr.  Briggs  was  compelled  on  account  of  sickness  to  retire 
temporarily  from  professional  work.  He  went  upon  a  farm,  but  in  Oc- 
tober, 1849,  returned  to  the  village  and  formed  a  law  partnership  wilh 
his  old  instructor,  D.  B.  Prosser,  with  vvlunii  he  was  associated  until 
1856,  when  Counsellor  Briggs  assumed  the  duties  of  the  office  of  county 
judge,  to  which  he  was  elected  the  preceding  fall.  As  judge  of  County 
Courts  Mr.  Briggs  thereafter  served  four  successive  terms,  covering  a 
period  of  sixteen  years,  and  then  declined  a  renomination  for  the  same 
office.  Following  this  Judge  Briggs  resumed  his  partnership  with 
John  T.  Knox,  which  relationship  was  maintained  until  the  firm  was 
dissolved  by  Judge  Briggs  again  going  upon  the  County  Court  bench, 
Mr.  Knox  at  the  same  time  becoming  district  attorney  of  the  county. 
Judge  Briggs  thereafter  served  one  term  of  six  years,  making- his  service 
upon  the  bench  cover  a  period  of  twenty- two  years.  At  the  end  of 
his  last  term  a  partnership  was  formed  with  Charles  S.  Baker,  which 
was  dissolved  by  the  death  of  the  latter  in  April,  1891.  Hon.  Martin 
J.  Sunderlin  succeeded  Mr.  Haker  as  a  partner,  which  firm,  known  as 
Briggs  &  Sunderlin,  is  still  in  active  practice. 

Hanford  Struble. — For  sketch  of  Judge  Struble  see  Biographical  De- 
partment of  this  volume. 

Martin  J.  Sunderlin  was  born  in  lianington,  April  11,  1833.  His 
early  education  was  acquired  at  the  district  schools  of  the  town,  after 
which  lie  attended  the  Dundee  Academy  for  two  terms.  He  read  law 
under  the  direction  of  his  father,  Delazon  J.  Sunderlin,  then  in  practice 
in  Barrington,  commencing  about  1853  and  continuing  about  three 
years.  He  was  admitted  at  May  General  term  of  court  in  1856,  at 
Auburn.  In  November  following  his  admission  Mr.  Sunderlin  began 
practice  at  Barrington  in  partnership  with  his  father,  under  the  firm 
style  of  D.  J.  &  M.  J.  Sunderlin.  This  relation  continued  until  1864, 
when  our  subject  temporarily  left  the  profession  on  account  of  ill  health 


^x^-d^^^^^Mle. 


PERSONNEL  OF  THE  PRESENT  COUNTY  h'AR.  185 

Two  years  later  he  resumed  practice  in  connection  with  f.inn  v\  ()ri<  in  Bar- 
rington,  but  in  the  spring  of  1872  he  went  into  active  practice  at  Watkins, 
where  he  remained  until  the  spring  of  I  891,  coming  then  to  Penn  Yan 
and  becoming  the  business  partner  of  Jud^e  Hriggs,  succeeding  the  late 
Charles  Baker.  While  a  resident  practitioner  in  Schuyler  County  in 
1882  Mr.  Sunderlin  was  elected  county  judge,  serving  from  January 
I,  1883,  to  January  I,  1889.  In  politics  Judge  Sunderlin  is  a  Democrat, 
and  as  the  candidate  of  that  party  was  elected  to  the  judge.'ship. 

Benjamin  L.  Hoyt  was  born  in  Litchfield,  Conn.,  on  June  22,  1819. 
In  1820  the  family  came  to  New  York  State,  living  for  a  short  time  in 
each  of  the  counties  of  Chenango,  Tompkins,  and  Otsego.  In  the  latter 
count)'  Benjamin  L.  attended  school  in  the  old  Cooper  mansion  and 
later  at  an  academy  at  Amstertlam.  Mis  father's  family  also  lived  for  a 
time  at  Philadelphia,  but  afterward  came  to  Steuben  County.  Here 
Benjamin  commenced  the  study  of  law  with  Morris  Brown,  of  Ham- 
mondsport,  but  after  a  year  or  so  came  to  Penn  Yan  and  read  in  the 
office  of  Wisner  &  Lewis.  In  1841  he  was  admitted  to  practice  in  the 
old  Common  Pleas  Court  and  afterward,  at  Syracuse,  he  was  admitted 
as  a  Supreme  Court  practitioner.  Mr.  Hoyt  has  ever  since  li\  ed  in  or 
near  Penn  Yan,  and  has  been  known  as  a  successful  school  teacher  as  well 
as  a  lawyer.  In  the  law  practice  he  was  once  associated  with  John  L. 
Lewis.  In  1S50  he  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  of  the  town  of 
Milo  and  held  that  office  thirty-two  years.  He  was  justice  of  sessions 
two  terms.  Before  his  election  to  the  justiceship  'Squire  Hoyt  was 
town  inspector  of  common  schools.  In  local  school  affairs  he  has  been 
interested,  being  now  one  of  the  longest  continued  members  of  the 
Board  of  Education.  I'or  two  years  he  was  president  of  the  board  and 
then  declined  a  re-election  to  the  same  position.  In  politics  'Squire 
Hoyt  is  a  firm  and  unflinching  Republican. 

James  Spicer  was  born  in  Barrington,  N.  Y.,  October  23,  1826.  His 
early  education  was  very  limited  and  confined  to  a  brief  attendance  at 
the  district  schools.  He  read  law  with  D.  J.  Sunderlin  and  was  admit- 
ted to  the  bar  in  1862.  Mr.  Spicer  practiced  mainly  at  Dundee,  but 
for  one  year  he  was  at  W'atkins  in  partnership  with  Judge  Hurd.  Com- 
mencing in  1877  he  practiced  with  Hon.  Hanford  St  ruble  one  year  at 
Penn  Yan.      At  Dundee    Mr.  Spicer's   law  partner  was   H.  G.  Wolccitt 

24 


1 86.  HIS  TORY  OF  YA  TES  CO  UN  T  Y. 

until  1872,  who  was  succeeded  for  three  years  by  the  late  Charles 
Baker.  His  practice  at  the  county  seat  then  followed.  In  1880  James 
Spicer  organized  the  Dundee  National  Hank  and  since  that  time  has 
been  its  president.  This  office  and  its  duties  have  necessitated  his  re- 
tirement in  part  from  the  general  practice  of  the  law,  and  he  now  re- 
sides on  his  farm  of  i  7  i  acres  one  mile  north  of  Dundee,  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  farms  in  Yates  County.  He  takes  great  pride  in  super- 
vising it  and  in  raising  blooded  stock. 

John  H.  Hutler,  the  editor  and  publisher  of  the  Viiuyirrdis/,  a  well 
known  paper  issuing  from  the  count)-  seat,  was  a  native  of  Le  Ro\-,  Gene- 
see County,  N.  Y.,  born  July  3,  1836.  His  early  education  was  received 
in  the  common  schools  only,  while  his  legal  education  was  acquired  by 
reading  law  in  the  office  of  Hon.  C.  J.  McDowell,  of  Cohocton,  whose 
daughter  he  married,  and  at  the  Albany  Law  School,  he  being  gradu- 
ated from  the  latter  in  1859.  From  the  time  of  his  admission  to  the  bar 
until  1877  Mr.  Butler  practiced  law  in  Steuben  County,  and  during  that 
time  he  was  twice  elected  district  attorne)-,  first  in  1866  and  re-elected 
in  1869.  He  was  also  supervisor  of  his  town  for  several  terms  and  held 
other  minor  offices.  He  took  an  active  part  in  the  War  of  tlie  Rebel- 
lion, ha\ing  enlisted  as  a  private  and  chosen  a  lieutenant  of  his  com- 
pany. Coming  to  Penn  Yan  Mr.  Butler  became  a  member  of  the  law- 
firm  of  Brown,  Wood  &  Butler,  which  continued  until  Mr.  Brown's 
death,  and  was  succeeded  by  the  firm  of  Wood  &  Butler  and  later  bj' 
Wood,  Butler  &  Morris.  In  March.  1883,  Mr.  Hutler  withdrew-  from 
the  firm  and  three  years  later  he  established  the  Viiieyardist,  a  news- 
paper publication  of  which  he  was  the  founder  and  has  continued  to  be 
its  editor  and  publisher  to  the  present  time.  Soon  after  coming  to  Penn 
Yan  Mr.  Butler  was  appointed  register  in  bankruptcy  for  the  Twenty- 
eighth  Congressional  District  and  held  office  till  the  bankrupt  law  was 
repealed.      In  politics  Mr.  Butler  is  a  strong  Republican. 

Silas  Kinne  is  better  known  as  cashier  of  Baldwin's  Bank  of  Penn  Yan 
than  as  a  member  of  the  Yates  County  Bar,  yet  he  has  been  a  lawver 
since  i860.  He  was  born  in  Seneca  County,  May  6,  1836,  and  was  ed- . 
ucated  at  Ovid  Academy,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1855.  From 
Rutgers  College  he  graduated  with  the  class  of  '59.  He  then  attended 
the  Albany  Law  School  and  was  admitted  at  the  Albany  County  Gen- 


PERSONNEL  OF  THE  PRESENT  COUNTY  BAR.  187 

eral  term  in  December,  i860.  For  more  than  nine  years  prior  to  1870 
he  practiced  law  at  Oi-id,  but  in  May  of  that  year  he  came  to  Penn  Yan 
to  take  the  position  of  cashier  in  Baldwin's  Rank,  with  which  he  has 
ever  since  been  identified.  Mr.  Kinne  is  an  active  Democrat;  he  was 
twice  tlie  candidate  of  his  party  for  the  office  of  county  treasurer  and 
once  for  county  judge  and  surrogate.  As  was  expected  he  was  each 
time  defeated  at  the  polls,  jet  the  run  he  made  was  certainly  gratifying 
to  himself  and  his  friends.  For  six  years  he  was  trustee  of  the  village 
and  is  now  a  member  of  the  Hoard  of  I'ducation.  He  is  also  a  member 
of  the  firm  of  Potter,  Kinne  &  Kendall,  dealers  in  lumber,  coal,  etc. 

George  E.  Baiey  was  born  in  Barrington,  October  29,  1842  ;  he  was 
educated  in  the  district  schools,  Starkey  Seminary.  Dimdee  Academy, 
and  attended  one  year  at  the  People's  College  at  Fiavana.  He  read 
law  with  Hon.  Jeremiah  McGuire  at  Havana  and  al.so  with  Hull  Fanton 
at  the  same  place,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Rochester  in  June, 
1867.  ^Ir.  l^aley  has  always  resided  in  Bariington  and  practiced  his 
profession  in  connection  with  his  other  labors  as  farmer. 

Michael  A.  Leary,  a  prominent  lawyer  of  l'en:i  Yan,  was  born  in  Ire- 
land on  the  7th  of  August,  1847,  and  came  to  this  country  with  his 
parents,  locating  at  Fast  Bloomfield,  Ontario  County,  when  he  was  about 
eight  years  old.  In  Ontario  Count)-  young  Leary  was  educated  in  the 
districts  schools  and  the  Bloomfield  Academy.  In  1866  he  came  to 
Penn  Yan  and  entered  the  academy,  taking  the  preparatory  course,  and 
studied  the  classics  for  two  years.  In  1868  he  commenced  reading  law 
in  the  otifice  of  John  L.  Lewis,  and  at  the  Monroe  County  General  term 
in  December,  1869,  he  was  admitted  to  practice.  In  1871  Mr.  Leary 
entered  into  law  practice  with  Hon.  Daniel  Morris,  a  relation  that  con- 
tinued until  1877.  Since  that  time  Mr.  Leary  has  practiced  alone.  In 
politics  Mr.  Leary  is  a  Democrat,  and  as  such  his  voice  has  been  heard 
through  the  county  and  elsewhere  in  Western  New  York.  In  1873  he 
ran  against  Henry  M.  Stewart  for  the  office  of  district  attorney  and 
was  defeated  by  only  300  votes.  As  a  candidate  for  Assembly  against 
S.  C.  Cleveland  he  was  beaten  by  31  i  votes  only,  and  in  that  canvass 
Mr.  Cleveland  had  the  sympathy  of  many  hundreds  of  Democratic 
voters.  Mr.  Leary  was  never  a  candidate  through  his  own  political  as- 
pirations, but  rather  through  the  sense  of  duty  to  his  party.     In  1S84 


1 88  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUATY. 

and  in  1888  he  was  delegate  to  the  Democratic  National  Conventions. 
In  1890  he  was  a  member  of  the  constitutional  commission  appointed 
to  revise  the  judiciar}'  article  of  the  constitution  of  the  State  of  New 
York. 

John  T.  Andrews,  2d,  was  born  in  Reading,  Steuben  (now  Schuyler) 
County,  March  9,  1842.  His  early  education  was  acquired  i;i  the  Dun- 
dee and  Watkins  Academies,  supplemented  by  a  preparatory  course  at 
Alfred  University.  In  1863  ''^  entered  Union  College  and  was  gradu- 
ated in  1864,  having  entered  the  junior  class  In  August,  1864,  Mr. 
Andrews  enlisted  Company  D  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Seventy-ninth 
New  York  Volunteer  Infantry.  In  December  he  became  its  second 
lieutenant,  but  was  promoted  first  lieutenant  and  afterward  brevet  cap- 
tain. He  was  mustered  out  of  service  June  23, 1865.  Returning  from  the 
service  Captain  Andrews  spent  three  years  in  mercantile  business  in 
Dundee  and  in  1868  commenced  reading  law  with  B.  W.  F"ranklin,  of 
Penn  Yan.  He  was  adniitte<l  in  December,  1870,  at  Rochester.  While 
Captain  Andrews  has  ever  since  been  identified  with  the  profession  his 
practice  has  become  secondary  to  other  interests.  In  1873  he  com- 
menced manufacturing  on  the  outlet  and  is  now  the  proprietor  of  one  of 
the  best  paper-mills  in  the  country.  He  is  also  connected  with  a  law, 
real  estate,  and  loaning  firm  at  the  county  seat.  In  1881  Captain  An- 
drews was  elected  member  of  Assembly  He  was  appointed  postmas- 
ter :it  Pcnn  Yan  in  July,  l8go. 

Henry  V.  L.  Jones,  of  Dundee,  was  born  at  Lodi  in  1846,  and  got  his 
first  start  by  earnings  saved  from  holding  the  plow  and  pitching  hay. 
When  fourteen  he  became  a  clerk  in  a  small  country  store  and  when 
fifteen  obtained  a  teacher's  certificate.  In  1864  he  entered  the  Union 
army  as  a  volunteer ;  leaving  the  service  with  an  lionorable  discharge 
he  became  a  student  at  Ovid  Academy ;  in  1867  he  entered  Genesee 
College.  Leaving  this  institution  he  became  a  student  at  Cornell.  He 
graduated  from  that  institution  in  the  class  of  '70.  After  graduating 
he  became  a  student  in  the  law  office  of  John  J.  Van  Allen,  of  Watkins. 
In  the  fall  of  '72  he  received  the  nomination  to  the  Democratic  ticket 
for  school  commissioner  of  Seneca  County  and  was  elected  to  that  office. 
In  1875  Mr.  Jones  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  at  once  entered  in  a 
successful  practice  at  Ovid,  afterward  coming  to  Dundee.    At  that  place 


PERSONNEL  OF  THE  PRESENT  COUNTY  BAR.  189 

he  was  twice  elected  to  tlie  office  of  j\istice  of  the  peace  by  large  ma- 
jorities. Mr.  Jones  has  always  been  active  in  political  matters  and  usu- 
ally has  taken  the  stump  during  important  campaigns,  and  frequently 
is  the  representative  of  the  Democratic  party  in  State  conventions.  In 
1878  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Ella  Sawyer.  Since  going  to 
Dundee  Mr.  Jones  has  rapidly  risen  in  the  local  ranks.  In  i<S86  he 
was  a  candidate  for  tiie  office  of  district  attorney  and  again  in  18S9  was 
a  candidate  for  county  judge.  He  received  a  handsome  vote  in  both 
campaigns,  but  was  overpowered  by  the  heavy  Republican  majority. 

Darius  A.  Ogden  was  born  in  Penn  Yan,  March  10,  1850.  He  was 
educated  at  the  Penn  Yan  Academy  and  entered  Cornell  for  the  scien- 
tific course.  After  three  years  lie  left  the  university.  In  1871  he  com- 
menced reading  law  with  Morris  &  Leary  and  in  1874  at  the  Monroe 
General  term  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  For  two  or  three  years  Mr. 
Ogden  practiced  in  Penn  Yan,  and  then  left  the  profession  to  take 
charge  of  the  local  gas  company,  with  which  he  was  connected  eleven 
years.  In  April,  1891,  he  became  proprietor  of  a  hardware  business  in 
Penn  Yan,  succeeding  the  old  firm  of  Morgan  &  Perkins. 

John  T.  Knox,  the  present  district  attorney  of  Yates  County,  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Wilson,  Niagara  County,  on  February  26,  1844. 
His  elementary  education  was  acquired  in  the  common  schools  and  the 
Wilson  Collegiate  Institute.  In  September,  i.''63.  lie  entered  Hamilton 
College  and  was  graduated  in  1867.  After  le.uliiiig  one  year  in  tiie 
Coopeistown  Seminary  Mr.  Knox  came  to  Penn  \  an  and  taught  in  the 
academy.  During  the  school  year  of  1 869-70  he  was  principal.  In 
June,  1870,  he  entered  the  office  of  Judge  Briggs  for  a  course  of  law 
study  and  on  January  4,  1871,  was  admitted  to  practice.  In  1872  Mr. 
Knox  became  the  law  partner  of  Judge  Briggs,  a  relation  that  was  main- 
tained for  six  years  and  until  our  subject  became  district  attorney,  while 
his  partner  at  the  same  time  became  county  judge,  thus  ending  the 
partnership.  Mr.  Knox  was  first  elected  attorney  for  the  county  in 
1877  and  again  in  1880.  In  1891  he  was  again  nominated  for  the  same 
office  and  again  elected,  lie  was  village  clerk  for  twelve  years  and  is 
one  of  the  village  trustees  for  the  fiscal  year  1891-92.  Mr.  Knox  is  a 
Republican  ;  likewise  he  is  a  leader  of  his  party  in  the  county. 

Andrew  C.  Harwick  was  born  at  South  Barre,  Orleans  County,  N.  Y.. 


igo  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

November  30,  1849.  He  was  educated  at  the  Albion  Academy,  fol- 
lowed by  the  scientific  course  of  Cornell  University,  from  which  latter  in- 
stitution he  was  graduated  in  1873.  He  read  law  with  O.  A.  Kddy,  of 
Holley,  N.  Y.,  and  was  admitted  in  October,  1876,  at  the  Monroe 
County  General  term.  Counsellor  Harwick  practiced  at  Albion  for 
about  a  year  and  then  came  to  Penn  Yan.  Mr.  Harv\ick  was  district 
attorney  of  Yates  County  from  Januarj-,  1884,  to  January,  1887,  and 
has  been  otherwise  prominent  in  village  affairs  and  politics.  He  is  also 
a  leading  spirit  in  fire  department  matters  and  with  a  number  of  the 
social  and  fraternal  bodies  of  the  village. 

Delos  A.  Bellis,  who  since  1885  has  filled  the  position  of  police  jus- 
tice of  the  village  of  Penn  Yan,  was  born  in  Barrington,  March  17,  185  I. 
In  the  district  schools  and  in  the  Dundee  and  Penn  Yan  Academies 
he  received  his  education.  In  1871,  at  Kalamazoo,  Mich.,  he  com- 
menced law  study  with  Thomas  R.  Sherwood  and  afterward  with 
Sherwood  &  Edwards,  but  in  1S72  he  came  to  Penn  Yan  and  finished  his 
course  with  John  L.  Lewis.  At  the  Monroe  County  General  term  in 
October,  1874,  Mr.  Bellis  was  admitted  to  practice.  From  that  until 
the  present  time  he  has  practiced  at  the  county  seat.  In  1883  Mr.  Bel- 
lis was  the  successful  candidate  for  justice  of  the  peace  of  Milo,  he  be- 
ing the  nominee  of  the  local  Democrac)'.  In  this  ofiice  he  has  since 
served,  being  re-elected  at  the  expiration  of  each  succeeding  term.  In 
1885  the  village  trustees  appointed  him  police  justice  and  at  the  end  of 
each  subsequent  three  years'  term  he  has  been  re-elected  by  the  village 
electors. 

William  Hamlin  Fiero  was  born  in  Milo,  January  5,  1846,  and  was  ed- 
ucated at  the  district  schools,  Penn  Yan  Academy,  and  Lima  Seminary. 
From  March,  1872,  to  June,  1875,  he  read  law  with  Prosser  &  King, 
of  Penn  Yan,  and  was  admitted  at  the  June  General  term  at  Roches- 
ter in  the  last  named  year.  Mr.  P"iero  has  always  practiced  at  the 
county  seat  and  without  a  partner.  He  is  a  Republican  and  as  such 
was,  in  the  spring  of  1889,  elected  justice  of  the  peace  of  the  town  of 
Milo,  an  office  he  still  holds. 

William  T.  Morris  was  born  in  Potter,  September  12,  1853.  Heat- 
tended  the  Penn  Yan  Acadetny  and  entered  Cornell  in  1869  and  was 
graduated  in  1873,  having  taken  the  scientific  course  with  Latin  added. 


PERSONNEL  OF  THE  PRESENT  COUNTY  PAR.  igi 

He  read  law  witli  his  father,  Hon.  Daniel  Morris,  and  with  Foster  & 
Thomson,  of  New  York  city,  and  was  admitted  at  the  Brooklyn  Gen- 
eral term  February  17,  1876.  Mr.  Morris  remained  with  Foster  & 
Thomson  one  year  in  the  capacity  of  managing  clerk,  and  in  the  fail 
of  1877  came  to  Penn  Yan,  where  he  has  since  practiced.  In  Septem- 
ber, 1877,  he  was  one  of  the  law  firm  of  Morris  &  Sheppard,  but  on 
April  I,  1879,  he  became  junior  partner  in  the  firm  of  Wood,  Sutler  & 
Morris.  March  3,  1883,  tlie  firm  dissolved  and  Ralph  T.  Wood  and 
Mr.  Morris  continued  under  the  style  of  Wood  &  Morris  until  June, 
1884,  since  which  time  Mr.  Morris  has  practiced  without  a  partner. 
He  was  admitted  to  practice  in  the  United  States  Circuit  Court  on  June 
21,  1891. 

Calvin  J.  Huson,  lately  and  particularly  remembered  as  having  been 
able  to  carry  Yates  Countj'  as  Democratic  nominee  for  the  Assembly,  was 
born  in  Barrington,  January  30,  1855.  I"  tlie  district  schools  and  in  the 
Dundee  and  Penn  Yan  Academies  his  education  was  acquired.  In  1873 
he  commenced  a  course  of  law  study  with  Briggs  &  Knox  and  at  the 
Monroe  General  term  in  April,  1876,  he  was  admitted  to  practice. 
After  his  admission  Mr.  Huson  went  in  the  office  of  Judge  Struble>  and 
when  the  firm  of  Spicer  &  Struble  was  formed  he  became  managing 
clerk.  After  two  years  he  succeeded  Mr.  Spicer  in  the  firm,  which 
then  became  known  as  Struble  &  Huson.  Four  years  later  Judge 
Struble  went  on  the  bench  and  O.  F.  Randolph  became  partner  with 
Mr.  Huson  under  the  st\le  of  Huson  &  Randolph.  Tlie  latter  soon 
retired  and  Mr.  Huson  practiced  alone  until  January,  1889,  when  Will 
iam  D.  Dwelle  became  associated  in  the  business  under  tlie  name  of 
Huson  &  Dwelle.  Calvin  J.  Huson  is  a  leader  of  the  Democracy  in 
Yates  County  and  has  frequently  represented  his  county  at  Democratic 
State  conventions.  For  a  number  of  j-ears  he  has  been  chairman  of  the 
Yates  County  Democratic  Central  Committee.  In  1890  he  represented 
Yates  in  the  lower  House  of  the  State  legislature.  During  the  session 
of  the  legislature  in  1891  he  held  the  important  office  of  Assembly 
journal  clerk.  On  January  i,  1892,  Mr.  Huson  was  appointed  deputy 
comptroller  of  the  State  of  New  York,  which  position  he  now  holds. 

Orville  ¥.  Randolph  was  born  in  the  town  ofTorrey,  August  2,  1855. 
He   graduated    from   Starkey   Seminary  in  1873   and   entered   Oberlin 


192  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

College  ill  the  class  of  'jG,  but  left  before  finishing  his  course.  He  read 
law  with  Spicer  &  Baker,  of  Dundee,  and  with  Briggs  &  Knox,  of  Penn 
Yan,  and  was  admitted  at  Buffalo  in  June,  1877.  Mr.  Randolph  has 
practiced  in  Penn  Yan  and  Dundee,  but  a  part  of  his  time  has  been 
spent  in  the  West.  From  188410  1886  he  was  in  partnership  with 
Calvin  J.  Huson.  Since  the  summer  of  1888  he  has  been  connected 
with  the  office  work  of  the  Yates  County  National  Bank. 

Abraham  Gridley,  more  familiarly  known  as  Captain  Gridley  by  rea- 
son of  his  connection  with  a  loc;d  military  organization,  was  born  at 
Auburn  on  the  29th  of  October,  1851.  Mis  early  education  was  acquired 
in  the  common  district  schools  only,  but  by  self  application  and  perse- 
verance he  fitted  himself  for  college.  In  1869  he  entered  Cornell,  tak- 
ing the  scientific  course,  and  was  graduated  In  1873.  He  then  entered 
the  Law  Department  of  the  University  of  Michigan  at  Ann  Arbor 
and  graduated  in  1875.  He  came  East  and  read  law  with  Judge  Stru- 
ble,  and  was  admitted  at  Syracuse  as  an  attorney  in  1878  and  at  Roch- 
ester in  1880  as  a  counselor  at  law.  The  present  law  firm  of  Carmody 
&  Gridley  was  formed  in  1889. 

Thomas  Carmody  was  born  in  the  town  of  Milo,  October  9,  1859. 
He  was  educated  at  the  district  schools,  tiie  Penn  Yan  Academy,  and 
attended  Cornell  University  for  three  years,  but  w'as  not  graduated. 
During  his  studies  at  Cornell  he  read  law  with  A.  A.  Hungerford  at 
Ithaca.  He  was  admitted  at  the  Monroe  Count}'  General  term  in 
April,  1887.  In  January,  1889,  he  formed  a  law  partnership  with 
Abraham  Gridley  at  Penn  Yan  under  the  style  of  Carmody  &  Gridley. 
In  April,  1 89 1,  Governor  Hill  appointed  Mr.  Carmody  to  the  office  of 
district  attorney  of  Yates  County. 

John  H.  Johnson,  junior  member  of  the  late  firm  of  Franklin,  Andrews 
&  Johnson,  was  born  in  Canandaigua,  August  2,  1853.  He  was  ed- 
ucated at  the  academy  of  his  native  village  and  entered  Hobart  Col- 
lege as  A  sophomore  in  1874,  but  was  not  graduated.  He  read  law  with 
Smith  &  Hamlin,  of  Canandaigua,  and  was  admitted  at  Rochester  in 
1879.  He  practiced  at  Canandaigua  until  1882,  when  he  came  to  Penn 
Yan  and  became  associated  with  the  firm  of  Franklin  &  Andrews,  and 
in  1888  he  became  a  member  of  the  firm. 

Henry  C.  Harpending,  of  Dundee,  was   born  at  Starkey  on   the  8th. 


PERSONNEL  OF  THE  PRESENT  COUNTY  BAR.  193 

of  September,  1847.  He  was  educated  at  Dundee  and  at  Starkey  Sem- 
inary, where  lie  graduated  in  1868.  He  read  law  with  Feeter  &  Baker, 
of  New  York  city,  and  then  with  Mr.  Baker  at  Dundee.  He  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  the  spring  of  1872  at  Oswego,  and  immediately 
opened  an  office  at  Dundee.  Mr.  Harpending  has  for  many  years  betn 
identified  with  public  affairs.  In  the  spring  of  1873  he  was  elected 
justice  of  the  peace  and  served  four  years.  In  the  spring  of  1883  he 
was  elected  supervisor  and  served  one  year.  In  the  fail  of  1883  ''^  '^^as 
elected  a  member  of  the  New  York  Assembly  ;  he  served  one  term. 
Mr.  Harpending  is  the  only  Democrat,  with  two  exceptions,  that  within 
the  last  twenty  years  has  represented  the  Republican  county  of  Yaies 
in  the  State  Assembly. 

Lewis  J.  Wilkin,  a  practicing  lawyer  at  Dundee,  read  law  in  the  office 
of  Prosser  &  Briggs  at  Penn  Yan  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1856.     . 

William  D.  Dwelle  was  born  in  Potter,  January-  2,  1863  ;  he  was  edu- 
cated at  Penn  \'an  Academy  and  entered  Cornell  in  1879,  graduating 
in  1883.  He  read  law  with  Struble  &  Huson  and  Briggs  &  Baker,  of 
Penn  Yan,  and  Stevens  &  Selden,  of  Rochester,  and  was  admitted  at 
Rochester,  April  i,  1886.  Mr.  Dwelle  practiced  alone  until  1889,  when 
the  present  law  firm  of  Huson  &  Dwelle  was  formed.  He  has  held  the 
office  of  village  clerk  since  April,  1888. 

In  this  connection  there  should  also  be  mentioned  the  names  of  two 
other  members  of  the  legal  profession  in  the  county:  Maj.  Foster  A. 
Hixson,  of  Vine  Valley,  and  I.\'nian  J.  Baskin,  of  Starkey.  Major  Hi.x- 
son  was  formerl)' prominently  identified  with  the  practice  in  the  county, 
but  since  the  war  of  1861-65  has  directed  his  attention  to  other  mat- 
ters. He  is  a  grape  grower  in  Middlesex.  L) man  J.  Baskin  practices 
at  Starkey. 

25 


194  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 


CHAPTER   XIII. 
THE    MEDICAL    PROFESSION    OK    YATES   COUNTY. 

WHEN  we  consider  the  importance  and  elevated  character  of  the 
science  of  medicine — its  object,  the  preservation  of  the  healtli  and 
hves,  and  the  heahng  of  diseases,  and  the  amelioration  of  the  physical 
and  mental  sufferings  of  our  fellow  human  beings,  its  extent  embracing 
a  knowledge  of  all  science — it  is  evident  that  medical  education  should 
engage  the  earnest  attention  of  the  entire  medical  profession.  The  ad- 
vances made  in  all  the  branches  of  knowledge,  and  especially  in  the 
science  of  medicine  during  the  past  century,  have  exceeded  in  extent 
and  value  those  of  all  past  ages  ;  and  it  is  no  longer  possible  to  com- 
press its  vast  domain  within  the  narrow  limits  of  "  seven  professor- 
ships." The  present  age  owes  its  wonderful  progress  to  experimental 
and  scientific  research. 

Evolution  and  development  are  the  talismanic  watchwords  of  the  nine- 
teenth century,  and  the  doctrine  is  now  being  accepted  that  things  in 
the  world  do  grow  and  are  not  made  ;  it  is  no  longer  universally  ac- 
cepted as  a  matter  of  religious  faith  that  the  world  was  created  b}-  su- 
pernatural power,  for  many  of  our  deepest  thinkers,  men  of  the  most 
profound  understanding,  believe  that  it  has  been  gradually  unfolded  bj- 
the  action  of  natural  causes.  But  not  wishing  to  be  accused  of  heie.'-y 
it  may  be  stated  that  whether  the  theory  be  according  to  Darwin,  or 
Hackel,  or  Spencer,  or  some  other  philosopher,  the  law  will  be  the  same 
in  any  case,  and  away  back  behind  "  protoplasm,"  "  germinal  matter," 
and"celular  germ"  there  exists  abundant  proof  of  a  "first  great 
cause,"  of  an  "infinite  wisdom,"  for  the  depth  of  which  language  hath 
not  expression.  A  flood  of  light  on  this  subject  is  now  pouring  forth  on 
the  world,  but  its  acceptation  as  a  convincing  truth  rests  in  a  great 
measure  wholly  with  the  individual. 

"  The  world,"  says  Goethe,  "  is  not  so  framed  that  it  can  keep  quiet." 
All  the  natural  energies  are  brought  into  full  force  by  the  spirit  of  enter- 
prise, by  the  spirit  of  progress.     The  telegraph  wires  wipe  out  all   ter- 


7 HE  MEDICAL  PROFESSION.  195 

ritorial  boundaries  and  railroads  penetrate  the  utmost  confines  of  the 
earth,  and  by  tiiem  States  and  territories  are  bound  fast  together  in  one 
web.  Science  and  enterprise  have  spanned  the  continent  with  electric 
wires,  cabled  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  given  us  the  measurements  of  revolv- 
ing planets,  spread  forth  the  canvas  to  the  gale,  and  made  the  trackless 
ocean  a  highway  through  the  world.  By  the  use  of  scientific  and  cun- 
ningly devised  instruments  bleak  skies  and  rude  winds  are  foreseen  and 
the  navigator  places  himself  in  safety.  The  electric  light  has  displaced 
gas  as  effectually  as  the  latter  did  the  "tallow  dip,"  and  is  established 
upon  a  secure  commercial  basis.  School-houses,  churches,  newspapers, 
and  books  open  up  to  the  poorest  the  lights  and  opportunities  of 
knowledge. 

The  great  and  wide  advancement  in  the  different  branches  of  medical 
science  within  the  last  generation  is  as  much  a  marvel  as  the  progress 
made  in  any  other  of  the  arts  and  sciences.  The  poorest  laborer  can 
now  obtain  advice  and  medicine  far  superior  to  that  which  royalty  could 
command  one  or  two  centuries  ago.  "  The  advance  in  medical  knowl- 
edge within  one's  memory,"  says  Sir  James  Paget,  "is  amazing  whether 
reckoned  in  the  wonders  of  science  not  jet  applied,  or  in  practical  re- 
sults, in  the  general  lengthening  of  life,  or,  which  is  still  better,  in  the 
prevention  and  decrease  of  pain  and  misery  and  in  the  increase  of 
working  power." 

The  dawning  of  medical  science  which  now  .sheds  its  light  through 
the  world  began  with  Hippocrates  nearlj'  2,300  years  ago,  and  he  first 
treated  of  medicine  with  anything  like  sound  or  rational  principles.  He 
wrote  extensively,  much  of  which  has  been  translated,  and  serves  as  a 
foundation  for  the  succeeding  literature  of  the  profession.  He  relied 
chiefly  on  the  healing  powers  of  nature,  his  remedies  being  exceedingly 
simple.  He  taught  that  the  people  ought  not  to  load  themselves  with 
excrements,  or  keep  them  in  too  long  ;  and  for  this  rea.son  he  prescribed 
"  meats  for  loosening  the  belly,"  and  if  these  failed  he  directed  the  use 
of  the  clysters.  Three  hundred  years  before  Christ  Erasistratus  invented 
and  used  the  catheter,  introduced  the  tourniquet,  and  produced  an  in- 
strument for  lithotriptic  operations.  Celsus  flouri.shed  A.  D.  50  to  120, 
as  the  greatest  of  Roman  surgeons.  Through  all  the  centuries,  from 
the  beginning  of  the  Christian  era  down  to  the  time  of  the  discovery  of 


196  HIS  TOR  ] '  OF  YA  TES  CO  UXTV. 

the  circulation  of  the  blood  b}'  Harvey,  1619,  medicine  shed  but  a 
ghmmering  light  in  the  midst  of  the  darkness  then  enshrouding  the 
world,  and  the  greatest  strides  in  the  advancement  of  the  various 
branches  of  medical  science  have  been  made  in  the  last  100  \ears,  and 
most  of  them  may  be  placed  to  the  credit  of  the  last  half  century. 

Physiologists  no  longer  believe  with  Parcelus  in  the  sixteenth  century 
that  the  planets  have  a  direct  controlling  action  on  the  body,  the  sun 
upon  the  heart,  and  the  moon  upon  the  brain;  nor  do  tliej'  now  believe 
that  the  vital  spirits  are  prepared  in  the  brain  by  distillation  ;  nor  do 
they  admit  that  the  chyle  effervesces  in  the  heart  under  the  influence  of 
salt  and  sulphur,  which  take  fire  together  and  produce  the  vital  flame. 
On  the  contrary  modern  [ihysiology  teaches  that  the  phenomena  of  the 
living  body  are  the  results  of  pln^sical  and  chemical  changes  ;  the  tem- 
perature of  the  blood  is  ascertained  by  the  thermometer;  and  the  differ- 
ent fluids  and  gases  of  the  body  are  analyzed  by  the  chemist,  giving  to 
each  its  own  properties  and  function. 

Wliile  the  eighteenth  century  witnessed  greater  advancement  in  the 
department  of  medical  science  than  any  or  all  of  its  predecessors,  the 
crowing  achievements  seemed  to  have  been  reserved  for  the  nineteenth, 
the  present  century.  Among  the  thousands  of  elements  that  com- 
prise this  century's  advance  in  medical  science  mention  will  be  made  of 
but  one,  and  that  among  the  first  discoveries,  i.  e.,  the  use  of  anaesthet- 
ics, which  benumb  the  nerves  of  sensation  and  produce  a  profound  but 
transient  state  of  insensibility,  in  which  the  most  formidable  operation 
may  be  performed  while  the  patient  sleeps  and  dreams  of  home  and 
happy  hours,  and  the  physican  is  left  to  the  pleasing  reflection  that  he 
is  causing  no  pain  or  suffering. 

But  it  appears  that  as  rapid  as  has  been  this  advance  during  the  last 
100  years  so,  correspondingly,  have  these  developed  new  forms  and 
phases  of  disease  to  baftle  the  skill  of  the  most  eminent  phj'sicians  and 
scientists  in  the  land  ;  and  while  diseases,  malarious  in  their  character, 
have  for  a  time  defied  the  attempts  to  overcome  them,  they  have  nev- 
ertheless been  subdued  and  conquered.  Medical  skill  has  proven  equal 
to  every  emergency.  There  is  today  known  to  botanists  over  140,000 
plants,  a  large  proportion  of  which  are  being  constantly  added  to  the 
already  appalling  list  of  new  remedies.      Many  of  these  new  drugs  pos- 


THE  MEDICAL  PROFESSION.  197 

sess  little  if  anj-  virtue,  save  as  their  sale  adds  to  the  exchequer  of  some 
enterprising  pharmacist.  A  drug  liouse  in  New  England  recently  issued 
a  circular  in  which  they  advertised  33  syrups,  42  elixirs,  93  solid  ex- 
tracts, 150  varieties  of  sugar-coated  pills,  236  tinctures,  245  roots,  barks, 
herbs,  seeds,  and  flowers,  322  fluid  extracts,  and  348  general  drugs  and 
chemicals. 

The  ancients  were  not  so  well  supplied  with  drugs.  It  was  the 
custom  among  the  Babylonians  to  expose  the  sick  to  the  view  of  pas- 
sers-by in  order  to  learn  of  them  whether  they  had  been  afflicted  with 
a  like  distemper  and  by  what  remedies  they  had  been  cured.  It  was 
also  the  custom  of  those  days  for  all  persons  wjio  had  been  sick  and 
were  cured  to  put  up  a  tablet  in  the  temple  of  Esculapius,  wherein  they 
gave  an  account  of  the  remedies  that  had  restored  them  to  health.  Prior 
to  the  time  of  Hippocrates  all  medicine  was  in  the  hands  of  the  priests 
and  were  associated  with  numerous  superstitions,  such  as  s)-mpatlietic 
ointments  applied  to  the  weapon  with  which  the  wound  was  made,  in 
cantations,  charms,  amulets,  the  royal  touch  for  the  cure  of  scrofula, 
human  or  horse  flesh  for  the  cure  of  epilepsy,  convulsions  treated  with 
human  brains. 

While  all  this  credulous  superstition  of  early  ages,  born  of  ignorance, 
existed  to  a  vastly  large  extent,  it  has  not  been  fully  wiped  out  by  the 
generally  advanced  education  of  the  present  day.  The  latest  appeal  to 
the  credulitj'  of  the  masses  of  the  people  is  an  invention  to  relieve  the 
unfortunate  sick,  and  is  known  as  the  "  h'aith  Cure."  The  persons 
seeking  to  popularize  this  means  of  cure  are  either  deceived  themselves 
or  are  deceiving  others.  Upon  this  point  a  popular  writer  says:  If  the 
disease  be  an  incurable  one  all  the  prayers  in  the  world  will  not  cure  it. 
Filth  brings  fever  ;  prayer  cannot  interpose.  There  is  probably  no  de- 
partment of  medicine  at  the  present  time  more  promising  of  good  results 
than  is  sanitary  science.  While  physiology  and  pathology  are  making 
known  to  us  the  functions  of  the  luiman  body  and  tiie  nature  and 
cause  of  disease,  sanitary  science  is  steadiK'  teaciiing  how  the  causes  of 
disease  maj-  be  removed  or  avoided  and  health  thcreb\-  secured. 

Progress  during  the  coming  100  years,  if  only  equal  to  that  of  the 
past,  will  more  than  have  accomplished  great  works  in  the  advancement 
of  sanitary  science;   but  the  accomplishment  of  tliis  work  imIIs  ii,)t  only 


198  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

for  the  labor  of  the  physician,  but  for  the  intelligent  co-operation  of  the 
people;  the  physician  cannot  do  it  alone.  If  anything  really  great  is 
to  be  done  in  the  vr&y  of  sanitary  improvement,  and  of  preventing  dis- 
ease and  death,  it  must  be  done  largely  by  the  people  themselves.  This 
implies  that  they  must  be  instructed  in  sanitary  matters.  They  must  be 
taught  what  unsanitary  conditions  favor  the  origin  of  disease,  how  dis- 
ease is  spread,  and  the  means  of  its  prevention.  It  is  true  that  tliat 
knowledge  is  of  the  greatest  value  to  us  which  teaches  the  means  of  self- 
preservation,  then  the  importance  of  a  widespread  knowledge  of  how  to 
prevent  disease  and  premature  death  cannot  be  overestimated. 

While  it  is  never  within  the  province  of  the  duties  of  the  historian  to- 
call  attention  to  defective  conditions,  the  writer  of  this  chapter  never- 
theless feels  impelled  to  refer  incidentally  to  the  marked  unsanitary 
condition  of  the  county  seat  of  Yates  Count_\-.  Penn  Yan  is  no  longer  the 
cross-roads  hamlet  ;  on  the  contrary  it  has  had  a  municipal  organiza- 
tion and  character  (or  a  period  of  nearly  sixty  years,  and  in  all  this  time 
there  has  not  been  made  on  the  part  of  the  local  authorities  any  move- 
ment that  has  resulted  in  establishing  approved  sanitary  regulations  or 
improvements  within  the  village.  The  great,  the  pressing,  need  is  a 
complete  and  thorough  system  of  trunk  sewerage  through  the  principal 
streets,  with  branches  through  a  number  of  the  lateral  thoroughfares.  This 
should  be  followed  by  a  system  of  water  supply,  and  abundance  of  pure 
and  wholesome  water  being  easily  obtainable  from  the  depts  of  Lake 
Keuka,  and  many  and  various  are  the  methods  to  be  suggested  by 
which  the  supply  could  be  forced  through  the  street  mains.  Penn  Yan 
as  a  hamlet  and  thereafter  incorporated  village  is  all  of  three-quarters 
of  a  century  old.  The  general  character  of  the  earth  throughout  the 
village,  and  particularly  west  of  Jacob's  Brook,  is  sand\'  gravel;  there- 
fore exceedingly  porous  and  readily  absorbent  of  all  deposits  of  liquid, 
filth,  and  sewage  matter.  And  it  is  a  fact  that  the  whole  earth  in  the 
vicinity  named  is  scarcely  less  than  a  cesspool. 

But  the  great  difficulty  in  the  way  of  securing  these  sanitary  improve- 
menis  has  been  in  the  prejudice  existing  in  the  minds  of  ultra-conserv- 
ative residents  against  incurring  any  bonded  indebtedness  on  the  part 
of  the  corporation.  This  spirit  is  in  a  measure  commendable,  but  at 
the  same  time  it  is  open  to  criticism.      "Show  me  a  niunicipalit),"  says 


VA  TES  COUNTY  MEDIC  A  L  SOCIE  TV.  1 99 

a  recent  able  writer,  "  that  li;is  no  bonded  indebtedness  and  I  w  ill  sliow 
you  a  city  that  is  at  least  fifty  years  behind  the  times."  It  is  not  the 
moderate  indebtedness  that  injures  the  cities,  but  the  indiscriminate 
and  ill-advised  bondin<^,  forced  upon  the  corjioration  by  ruthless  and 
incompetent  public  servants.  This  is  a  subject  that  should  be  discussed 
in  every  place  of  business,  every  household,  and  on  every  corner  until 
the  local  authorities  move  in  the  matter.  So  long  as  there  is  no  visita- 
tion of  epidemic  disease,  malarious  or  otherwise,  so  long  are  the  people 
•safe  enough,  but  should  such  come  the  distruction  to  human  life  would 
be  fearful  beyond  estimate.  Therefore  it  behooves  the  people  and  the 
authorities  to  look  well  to  their  condition  from  a  sanitary  point  of  view, 
and  discover  whether  or  not  something  should  be  done  at  once  to  cor- 
rect existing  evils  and  possibly  preventing  premature  disease  and 
death. 

But,  to  return  from  this  degression,  it  may  be  asked.  What  can  be  said 
of  the  medical  profession  and  its  representatives  in  Yates  County  ?  Like 
some  other  of  the  pioneer  elements  of  the  county  the  early  medical  prac- 
titioners recorded  but  little  of  their  own  historj-,  and  whatever  is  to  be 
now  learned  of  them  comes  only  by  chance,  and  it  is  with  great  difficulty 
that  even  the  names  of  the  first  medical  men  are  recalled.  However  run- 
ning throughout  this  volume  will  be  found  the  names  of  physicians,  early 
and  late  ;  and  in  a  department  of  this  work  in  which  are  personal 
sketches  will  be  found  a  record  of  the  professional  lives  of  many  of  the 
practitioners  in  the  county. 

THE    MEDICAL   SOCIETY    OV   THE   COUNTY    OK   VATES. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1823,  agreeable  to  a  notice  previously  given, 
there  assembled  at  the  Yates  Hotel,  kept  by  Miles  Benham,  at  Penn 
Yan,  a  number  of  the  more  prominent  physicians  of  the  county.  The 
purpose  of  this  gathering  was  the  formation  of  a  medical  association 
for  Yates  County.  Dr.  Uri  Judd  was  called  to  the  chair  and  Dr.  Will- 
iam Cornwell,  jr.,  was  appointed  secretary.  The  meeting  proceeded 
to  vote  for  the  oflicers  of  the  society,  with  the  following  result :  Presi- 
dent, Dr.  Joshua  Lee  ;  vice-president,  Dr.  Uri  Judd  ;  secretary,  John 
Hatmakcr;  treasurer.  Dr.  Andrew  F.  Oliver;  censors,  Drs.  Anthony 
Gage,  Andrew   F".  Oliver,  John   L.  Cleveland,  Ira   Bryant,  and  Archi- 


20O  HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUNTY. 

bald  Burnett.  The  physicians  present  at  this  meeting  were  Drs.  Uri 
Jndd,  WilUam  Cornvvell,  jr.,  Anthony  Gage,  Andrew  F.  OHver,  Ira 
Bryant,  John  Hatmal'cer,  Archibald  Burnett,  Isaac  S.  Kidder,  John  L. 
Cleveland,  Elisha  Doubleday,  jr.,  and  Ezekiel  B.  Pulling.  The  first 
regular  anniversary  meeting  was  held  in  the  Yates  Hotel  in  the  village 
of  Penn  Yan  on  June  3,  1823.  On  this  occasion  an  appropriate  address 
was  delivered  by  the  president,  Dr.  Joshua  Lee,  at  which  time  the  phy- 
sicians whose  names  have  already  been  mentioned  produced  their 
licenses  and  became  full  members  of  the  societ)'.  A  code  of  by-laws 
was  at  the  same  time  adopted  and  the  corporate  name  given  was 
"  Yates  Medical  Society."  At  this  time  medical  societies  fully  organ- 
izetl  were  clothed  with  what  would  now  appear  to  be  unusual  and  ex- 
traordinary powers.  The  Yates  Society,  like  others  of  the  same  char- 
acter throughout  the  counties  of  the  State,  held  the  power  to  examine 
candidates  for  admission  to  practice  medicine  and  surgery,  and  admitted 
them  not  only  to  membership  in  the  society,  but  as  well  licensing  them 
as  practicing  physicians. 

At  this  early  meeting  among  other  things  the  society  adopted  a  form 
of  license  which  read  as  follows: 

"  The  President  and  Members  of  the  Yates    Medical  Society. 

"  To  whom  these  presents  may  come,  send  greeting : 

"  Whereas,  Dr.  Blank,  on  examination  'oy  the  Censors  of  said  Society,  according 
to  the  form  of  the  statute  in  such  cases  made  and  provided,  hath  been  approved  rela- 
tive to  his  knowledge  in  the  theory  and  practice  of  physic  and  surgery,  I  do  therefore 
Hcense  him  to  practice  physic  and  surgery  within  this  State,  and  do  also  recommend 
him  to  the  notice  of  the  faculty  and  attention  of  the  public. 

"  In  testimony  whereof  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  have  caused  the  seal  of 
said  Society  to  be  affi.xed  at  blank,  this  blank  day  of  blank,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one 
thousand  eight  himdred  and  blank.  •'  Blank,  President." 

The  by-laws  of  the  Yates  Medical  Society  provided  for  the  posses- 
sion of  a  common  seal,  upon  which  was  an  inscription  bearing  the  so- 
ciety's name  and  the  impression  of  a  skeleton.  It  was  also  provided 
that  the  officers  annually  chosen  to  preside  over  and  administer  the  af- 
fairs of  the  society  should  be  a  president,  vice-president,  secretary, 
treasurer,  and  five  censors. 

Now,  for  the  purpose  of  bringing  to  the  attention  of  the  reader  the 
names  of  as  many  as  possible  of  the  older  physicians  of  Yates  County, 
it  is  proper  that  there  be  inserted  at  this  time  a  list  of  those  who  be- 


YATES  COUNTY  MEDICAL  SOCIETY.  201 

came  members  of  the  society  and  signed  its  constitution  and  by-laws, 
thereby  accepting  their  provisions,  although  it  may  be  possible  that 
some  of  the  names  here  given  were  not  among  the  original  members 
as  shown  by  the  old  minute-book  of  the  society.  The  membership  was 
as  follows:  Joshua  Lee,  John  Hatmaker,  Andrew  F.  Ohver,  John  L. 
Cleveland,  Samuel  B.  Ikadley,  Isaac  S.  Kidder,  Kzekiel  B.  Pulling, 
Archibald  Burnett,  William  Cornwell,  jr.,  Elisha  Doubleday,  jr.,  Ira 
Bryant,  Calvin  Fargo,  Moses  Chapman,  Walter  Wolcott,  Jarvis  Darling, 
Isaac  Beers,  Uri  Judd.  Jeremiah  B.  Andrews,  Anthony  Gage,  James 
Heermans,  John  Warner,  W.  W.  Tyler,  R.  Randall,  Henry  Sprague, 
Caleb  A.  Lamb,  Enos  Barnes,  David  S.  Wicks,  Nathan  S.  Kidder, 
Isaac  Chissom,  Lewis  Aiken  Bardwell,  Hosea  Cohner,  Richard  Huson, 
and  Nelson  Peck. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  society  held  June  23,  1828,  the  by-laws  were 
amended,  but  did  not  materially  differ  from  those  originally  adopted, 
and  to  tlie  later  articles  are  signed  the  names  of  others  of  the  older 
physicians  of  the  county  and  of  some  who  are  still  in  active  piactice. 
They  were  as  follows  :  Forest  Harkness,  Odenathus  Hill,  Daniel  H. 
Wliitney,  Benjamin  Nichols,  William  D.  Cook,  B.  N.  Wisner,  Abijah  E. 
Perry,  Francis  M.  Porter,  Oliver  P.  Wolcott,  Winans  Bush,  Sidney  B. 
Willey,  W.  S.  Purdy,  P.  T.  Caton,  Henry  Smith,  H.  P.  Sartwell,  Joel 
Dorman,  Asahel  Clark,  William  Wixom,  William  Oliver,  F.  N.  Ham- 
mond, Guy  L.  Doubleday,  Eben  S.  Smith,  George  \\'.  Brundage,  J.  I. 
Denman,  A.  B.  Sloane,  Byron  Spence,  A.  R.  Otis,  Robert  P.  Bush. 
John  D.  Wolcott,  Job  S.  Stevens,  G.  Z.  Dimmock,  William  H.  Crane, 
J  M.  Waddell,  C.  \^.  Stone,  Charles  Woodward,  Benjamin  L.  Holt, 
R.  R.  C.  Bordweli,  B.  M.  Smith,  Cyrus  C.  Harvey,  Byron  B.  Havens, 
Amelia  C.  Christie,  Nathan  L.  Lusk,  John  M.  Maloney,  Schuyler  Lott, 
E  P.  Stuart.  B.  H.  Ovenshirc,  W.  A.  Wilson.  O.  E.  Newman.  C.  M. 
Van  Dyke.  E.  D.  Seaman,  Eugene  Bardwell.  William  A.  Oliver. 

The  founder  and  leading  spirit  of  the  old  Yates  Medical  Society  was 
Dr.  Andrew  F.  Oliver,  the  father  of  the  present  William  Oliver  and 
grandfather  of  the  present  William  A.  Oliver.  Dr.  Oliver,  the  pioneer 
physician,  was  born  in  Londonderry,  N.  H.,  in  1792  and  became  a  res- 
ident and  practicing  physician  of  Pcnn  Yan  in  1818.  In  1827  he  was 
appointed  surrogate  of  Yates  County.     In    1845  he  received   from  the 

20 


202  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

Regents  of  the  University  the  honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine, 
an  unexpected  and  unsoHcited  tribute  to  iiis  professional  standing  and 
merits.  In  1857  he  was  elected  a  permanent  member  of  the  State 
Medical  Society.  He  was  president  of  the  local  society  several  terms 
and  on  several  occasions  its  delegate  to  the  State  Society.  He  died  in 
Penn  Yan  on  June  11,  1857.  Following  his  death  the  Yates  Medical 
Society  met  in  Penn  Yan  and  adopted  resolutions,  one  of  which  was  as 
follows  : 

'•  Resolved,  That  the  members  of  the  Yates  County  Medical  Society  have  received 
with  the  deepest  regret  and  sorrow  the  announcement  of  the  death  of  their  truly  la- 
mented friend  and  associate,  Dr.  Andrew  F.  Oliver.  Long  and  faithfully  has  he  dis- 
charged the  arduous  duties  of  his  profession,  proving  himself  a  noble  benefactor  of 
sutTering  humanity  and  an  honor  to  this  Society,  of  which  he  was  one  of  its  most  dis- 
tinguished members." 

Dr.  Oliver  was  a  practicing  physician  in  Yates  County  for  nearly 
forty  years.  Closely  associated  with  Dr.  Andrew  F.  Oliver  in  the  laud- 
able enterprise  of  forming  the  old  medical  society  were  Drs.  William 
Cornwell,  jr.,  Joshua  Lee,  John  Hatmaker,  John  L  Cleveland,  and  Uri 
Judd.  In  fact  these  physicians  were  not  only  present  at  the  first  meet- 
ing, but  they  were  instrumental  in  bringing  about  the  permanent  organ- 
ization of  the  society  and  in  promoting  its  after  prosperity  From  the 
time  of  the  formation  of  the  Yates  Medical  Society  in  1823  down  to  the 
year  1880,  a  period  of  fifty-seven  j'ears,  the  organization  of  the  society 
was  kept  active  and  never  suffered  to  lapse  or  expire  from  want  of  in- 
terest on  the  part  of  its  members,  although  there  do  appear  to  be  years 
in  which  no  records  were  preserved.  The  records  disclose  the  mem- 
bership of  the  society  as  it  stood  in  1870  as  follows :  Officers:  Walter 
Wolcott,  president ;  Alexander  B.  Sloane,  vice-president ;  Gu\'  L.  Doub- 
ledav,  secretary  and  treasurer;  censors,  Fletcher  M.  Hammond,  Will- 
iam Wixom,  Eben  S.  Smith,  Guy  L.  Doubleday,  Alexander  B  Sloane  ; 
delegate  to  State  Medical  Society,  William  Oliver;  members,  John 
Hatmaker,  Walter  Wolcott,  Israel  Chissom,  Winans  Bush,  William 
Wixom,  William  Oliver,  F.  M.  Hammond,  Guy  L.  Doubleday,  Eben 
S.  Smith,  George  W.  Brundage,  J.  I.  Denman,  Alexander  B.  Sloane, 
Byron  Spence,  Ashbel  R.  Otis,  Robert  P.  Bush,  John  D.  Wolcott,  Job 
S.  Stevens,  G.  Z    Dimmock,  Wemple  H.  Crane,  Frank  H.  Smith. 

In  1880,  at  a  meeting  held  October  26th,  there  was  a  practical,  or  at 


YATES  COUNTY  MEDICAL  SOCIETY.  203 

least  a  partial,  re-organization  of  tlie  society.  The  names  of  physicians 
present  on  tliat  occasion  are  nowhere  disclosed  on  the  record,  but  at 
that  time  the  name  was  changed  from  the  Yates  Medical  Society  to  the 
"Medical  Society  of  the  County  of  Yates."  At  this  time  it  was  also 
provided  that  the  officers  of  the  society  should  consist  of  a  president, 
vice-president,  secretary,  treasurer,  and  three  censors,  "  together  with 
such  other  oftkers  as  a  majority  of  the  members  present  at  any  annual 
meeting  should  determine."  It  was  also  provided  that  the  annual  meet- 
ing should  be  held  on  tlie  first  Tuesday  of  June  of  each  year  in  the  vil- 
lage  of  Penn  Yan,  at  which  time  the  election  of  officers  by  ballot  to  hold 
for  the  ensuing  year  should  take  place.  The  semi-annual  meeting  was 
provided  to  be  held  on  the  second  Tuesday  of  January  of  each  year  in 
the  village  of  Penn  Yan. 

Presidents  and  Secretaries. — 1823,  president,  Joshua  Lee;  secretary, 
John  flatmaker.  1824,  president,  Andrew  F.  Oliver;  secretary,  John 
Hatmaker.  1825,  president,  Andrew  F.  Oliver;  secretary,  John  Hat- 
maker.  1826,  president,  John  L.  Cleveland;  secretary,  John  Hatmaker. 
1827,  president,  Enos  Barnes;  secretary,  John  Hatmaker.  1S28,  presi- 
dent, Elisha  Doulbeday;  secretary,  John  Hatmaker.  1829,  president. 
Anthony  Gage;  secretary,  John  Hatmaker.  1830,  president,  John  War- 
ner; secretary,  John  Hatmaker.  183  i,  president,  Uri  Judd  ;  secretary, 
John  Hatmaker.  1 832,  president,  John  Hatmaker;  secretary.  Andrew 
F.  Oliver.  1833,  president,  Walter  Wolcott;  secretary,  B.  N.  Wisner. 
1834,  president,  B.  N.  Wisner;  secretary,  John  Hatmaker.  1835,  presi- 
dent, James  Heermans;  secretary,  John  Hatmaker  1836,  president, 
Elisha  Doubleday ;  secretary,  John  Hatmaker.  1837,  president,  O.  P. 
Wolcott;  secretary,  John  Hatmaker.  1838,  president,  Elisha  Double- 
day;  secretary,  John  Hatmaker.  1 839,  president,  Joshua  Lee;  secre- 
tary, John  Hatmaker.  1840,  president,  Henry  P.  Sartwell ;  secretar)-, 
Jolin  Hatmaker.  1 841,  president,  Henr)- Spence  ;  secretary,  John  Hat- 
maker. 1842,  president,  Winans  Bush:  secretary,  John  Hatmaker. 
1843,  president.  Elisha  Doubleday;  secretary,  John  Hatmaker.  1844, 
l)resident,  Elisha  Doubleday;  secretay,  John  Hatmaker.  1845,  presi- 
d-nt,  Walter  Wolcott;  secretary,  John  Hatmaker.  1846,  president, 
H.  P.  Sartwell;  secretary,  John  Hatmaker.  There  is  no  record  of  offi- 
cers elected  between  1846  and  1 851.      1851,  president,  Elisha  Double- 


204  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

day;  secietaiy,  John  Hatmaker.  1852,  president,  H.  P.  Sartwell  ;  sec- 
retary, William  Oliver.  1854,  president,  Henry  Spence ;  secretary, 
William  Oliver.  1855,  president,  Andrew  F.  Oliver;  secretary,  Will- 
iam Oliver.  1856,  president,  Andreu'  V.  Oliver;  secretary,  William 
Oliver.  Tliere  is  no  record  of  ofificers  elected  between  1856  and  1868. 
1868,  president,  John  Hatmaker;  secretary,  Winans  Bush.  1869,  presi- 
dent, John  Hatmaker;  secretary,  William  Oliver.  1870,  president, 
Walter  Wolcott;  secretary,  Guy  L.  Doubleday.  187  i,  president,  Walter 
Wolcott ;  secretary,  John  D.  Wolcott.  1872,  president,  A.  B.  Sloane; 
secretary,  John  D.  Wolcott.  1873,  president,  A.  B.  Sloane;  secretary, 
John  D.  Wolcott  1874,  president,  Eben  S.  Smith  ;  secretary,  G.  W. 
Brundage.  1875,  president,  Eben  S.  Smith  ;  secretary,  G.  W.  Brund- 
age  1876,  president,  William  Oliver;  secretary,  G  W.  Brundage. 
1877,  president,  William  Oliver;  secretary,  Charles  Woodward.  There 
is  no  record  of  officers  elected  between  1877  and  1885.  1885,  presi- 
dent, B.  L  Holt;  secretary,  C.  M.  Van  Dyke.  1887,  president,  John 
M.  Maloney;  secretary,  C.  M.  Van  Dyke.  1888,  president,  N.  L.  Lusk; 
secretary,  C  M.  Van  Dyke.  1889,  president,  B.  L.  Holt;  secretary, 
C.  C.  Harvey.  1890,  president,  B.  L.  Holt;  secretary,  N.  L.  Lusk. 
1891,  president,  B.  L.  Holt;   secretary,  N.  L   Lusk. 

Members  of  the  Society  in  1 89 1  — B  L.  Holt,  N.  L.  Lusk,  William  Ol- 
iver, William  A.Oliver,  J.  M.  Maloney,  C.  B  Stone,  C.  M.  Van  Dyke, 
M.  E.  B.ibcock,  C.  C.  Harvey,  Job  S.  Stevens,  George  W.  Brundage, 
W.  A.  Carson,  O.  E.  Newman,  J.  M.  Waddell,  A.  R.  Otis,  S.  Lott,  B.  B. 
Havens,  E.  S.  Smith,  M.  E.  Babcock,  I.  E.  Ottoway. 

On  the  29th  of  May,  1880,  the  legislature  of  the  State  of  New  York, 
at  the  urgent  request  of  the  medical  profession  throughout  the  State, 
passed  an  act  for  the  especial  protection  of  the  legitimate  profession 
against  quackery.  B_\'  the  provisions  of  that  act  it  became  the  imper- 
ative duty  of  all  practicing  physicians  to  make  oath  before  the  count)' 
clerk  of  the  county  in  which  they  designed  to  practice,  stating  date  and 
place  of  birth,  and  the  authority  under  which  they  presumed  to  prac- 
tice physic  and  surgery.  This  registration  was  required  to  be  made 
before  October  ist  following  the  passage  of  the  act.  And  the  further 
provision  was  made  that  all  persons  thereafter  becoming  physicians 
should    likewise    procure    their    registration    before    practicing   in  any 


REGISTERED  PHYSICIANS.  205 

county  of  this  State.  This  law  still  stands,  but  has  been  only  partially 
complied  with,  and  any  persons  practicing  physic  and  surger)-  without 
having  so  registered  are  liable  to  penalty  under  the  act. 

Physicians  Registered  in  tlie  Yates  County  Clerk's  Office. — Cyi  us  C. 
Harvey,  University  of  Buffalo  ;  Job  S.  Stevens,  Medical  College  of 
Geneva;  Byron  II.  Ovenshire,  Department  of  Medicine  and  Surgery 
at  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.;  Benjamin  L.  Holt,  College  of  Physicians  and 
Surgeons,  New  York  city;  Amelia  A.  Christie,  Woman's  Medical  Col- 
lege of  Pennsylvania  ;  Schuyler  Lott,  Albany  Medical  College  ;  A.  R. 
Otis,  Jefferson  Medical  College  of  Philadelphia,  Pa.;  VV.  A.  Wilson, 
Albany  Medical  College;  William  Oliver,  Geneva  Medical  College; 
Carlton  B.  Stone,  Detroit  Medical  College  ;  W.  H.  Hawley,  Central 
Medical  College  of  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  license  from  the  New  York  State 
"  Eclectic  Medical  Society,"  and  by  diploma  granted  by  the  Genesee 
Valley  District  Medical  Society;  Francis  E.  Murphy,  Hahnemann 
Medical  College,  Philadelphia,  Pa.;  John  C.  Mills,  Syracuse  Medical 
College;  O.  E.  Newman,  Cleveland  i\Iedical  College;  Richard  R.  C. 
Bordwell,  Buffalo  Medical  College;  Anna  L  Truman,  New  York  Free 
Medical  College  for  Women,  New  York  city  ;  J.  M.  Waddell,  Bellevue 
Hospital  Medical  College,  New  York  city  ;  D.  M.  Smith,  Bellevue  Hos- 
pital Medical  College,  New  York  city  ;  H.  W.  Smith,  Western  Homce- 
opathic  College,  Cleveland,  Ohio;  Elisha  D.  Smith,  Homoeopathic 
Medical  Societies  of  the  counties  of  Ontario  and  Yates  ;  Natiian  L.  Lusk, 
Medical  University  of  Buffalo  ;  George  Z.  Noble,  Union  Homctopathic 
Medical  Academy  of  the  State  of  New  York;  William  F.  JoUey,  V.z- 
lectic  Medical  College,  Pennsylvania;  J.  Le  Van  Bender,  University  of 
Buffalo;  \\'illiam  H.  Hawley,  jr.,  Eclectic  Medical  Society  of  tlie  Thir- 
teenth Senatorial  District,  au.xiliary  to  the  Eclectic  Medical  Society  of 
the  State  of  New  York  ;  John  M.  Maloney,  Georgetown  College,  George- 
town, D.  C;  Mulford  Skinner,  Castleton  Medical  College, Vermont,  and 
by  license  from  the  .Steuben  Medical  Society  of  the  State  of  New  York  ; 
Alex  de  Borra,  Medical  University  of  Copenhagen,  Denmark  ;  James  C. 
Wightman,  American  Medical  College,  Cincinnati, Ohio  ;  William  Wixom, 
Geneva  Medical  College;  George  M.  Barber,  I^clectic  Medical  In- 
stitute, Cincinnati,  Ohio  ;  George  W.  Brundage,  Geneva  Medical  Col- 
lege ;  Alexander  B.  Sloane,  Geneva  Medical  College  ;   ^^  L.  H.  Willis, 


2o6  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

Homceopathic  Medical  College  of  New  York  city  ;  Henry  Hill,  Medical 
Department  of  the  University  of  Vermont,  Burlington;  William  A. 
Carson,  Albany  Medical  College  ;  Eben  S.  Smith,  Geneva  !\Iedical  Col- 
lege ;  John  Cole,  Medical  Department  of  the  Univeisity  of  Buffalo  ; 
Frank  B.  Seelye,  Buffalo  Medical  College  ;  Henry  R.  Barnes,  Ontario 
County  Medical  Society;  F"rank  H.  Smith,  Jefferson  Medical  College, 
Philadelphia,  Pa.;  Wemple  H.  Crane,  Board  of  Censors  of  the  Yates 
County  Medical  Society;  Edward  P.  Stuart,  University  of  the  city  of 
New  York,  Department  of  IMedicine  ;  W.  Wallace  Barden,  Homoeo- 
pathic Medical  College,  Philadelphia,  Pa.;  Samuel  Hart  Wright,  Geneva 
Medical  College  ;  A.  B.  Chissom,  Medical  Society  of  the  county  of 
Yates;  Herman  W.  Perry;  Byron  B.  Havens,  Bellevue  Hospital 
Medical  College,  New  York  city;  Henry  P.  Shove,  Hygieo-Therapeutic 
College,  New  York  city  ;  Clark  Otis,  Hahnemann  Medical  College, 
Missouri;  Carl  B.  Smith,  University  of  Buffalo;  George  L.  Preston, 
Eclectic  Medical  College  of  New  York  city  ;  Lucius  W.  How,  Medical 
Department  of  Columbia  College  of  the  city  of  New  York;  William 
C.  Allen,  Hahnemann  Medical  College,  Philadelphia,  Pa.;  Edgar  D. 
Seaman,  Medical  Department  of  Columbia  College  of  New  York  ; 
Emory  A.  Eiken,  Miami  Medical  College  of  Ohio  ;  Byron  Clark,  Med- 
ical Department  of  the  University  of  Maryland  and  College  of  Physi- 
cians, Baltimore;  Ira  E.  Smith,  Schuyler  County  Medical  Society; 
Clarence  I.  Dodge,  New  York  Eclectic  Medical  College,  New  York 
city  ;  William  A.  Oliver,  Buffalo  University  of  Medicine  ;  Marcus  E. 
Babcock,  University  of  Buffalo  ;  Adelbert  de  Roy  Haines,  Eclectic  Med- 
ical Institute  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio  ;  Franklin  B.  Smith,  Hahnemann  Med- 
ical College,  Chicago,  111.;  Asbury  H.  Baker,  University  of  Buffalo  ; 
Eugene  O.  Bardwell,  University  of  Buft'alo  ;  Charles  M.  Van  Dyke, 
Starling  Medical  College,  Columbus,  Ohio;  William  F.  Coburn,  Chicago 
Homoeopathic  Medical  College  ;  E.  C.  Parke,  New  York  Homceopathic 
College;  John  E.  Ottoway,  University  of  Michigan,  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.; 
Manville  M.  Macdonald,  Medical  Department  of  the  University  of  the 
city  of  New  York  ;  Wade  Botsford,  College  of  Physicians  and  Sur- 
geons, Baltimore,  Md.;  Charles  O.  Payne,  Homceopathic  Hospital  Col- 
lege, Cleveland,  Ohio  ;  Peter  H.  Reynolds,  Syracuse  Medical  College  ; 
William  W.  Skinner,  University  of  Buffalo  ;  J.  Arden  Conley,  Eclectic 


THE  PRESS.  207 

Medical  College,  New  York  city  ;  W.  C.  Freeman,  Trinity  College, 
Ontario;  Samuel  D.  Rhodes,  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  of 
New  York  city  ;  Louis  C.  Millspatigh,  Medical  Department  of  Univer- 
sity of  the  city  of  New  York;  Albert  Ellison,  University  of  the  city  of 
New  York  ;  Edwin  J.  Morgan,  Harvard  Medical  College  of  Hoston_ 
Mass.;  Isaac  N.  VVillard,  Bellevue  Hospital  Medical  College,  New  York 
city  ;  John  T.  Culhane,  Medical  Department  of  Niagara  University  ; 
Michael  McGovern,  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  Baltimore,  Md.; 
Charles  E.  Doubleday,  Medical  School  of  Syracuse  University  ;  Ells- 
worth H.  Noble,  New  York  Homttopathic  Medical  College;  Hiram  G. 
Mace,  College  of  Medicine  and  Surgery  of  Michigan  University;  Jay 
H.  Wilkin,  University  of  Buffalo  ;  John  E.  McTaggart,  University  of 
Buffalo  ;  Gideon  Carl  Fordham,  University  of  Vermont ;  Ira  R.  Ballou, 
Baltimore  Medical  College  ;  C.  F.  Farlin,  College  of  Therapeutics  of 
Massachusetts. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 
THE    PRESS   OF    VAXES   COUNTY. 

THE  prevalence  of  the  country  newspaper  is  a  good  sign.  Not 
even  the  public  school  is  a  more  sure  indicator  of  the  diffusion  of 
general  information  and  the  desire  for  the  growth  of  intelligence.  The 
newspaper — the  countrj'  newspaper —  is  an  American  idea.  Nowhere 
else  in  the  world  does  every  hamlet  have  its  mouthpiece  and  every  vil- 
lage its  instructor  and  guide.  It  may  be  that  the  country  newspaper 
in  America  is  not  all  that  it  should  be,  but  notwithstanding  its  faults  it 
aids  in  the  development  of  the  national  mind  and  is  useful  in  an  hun- 
dred ways. 

Yates  County  has  been  no  exception  to  the  rule  which  has  given 
every  locality  its  newsgatherer.  Five  years  before  the  county's  auton- 
omy was  assured  the  first  journal  was  established.  Abraham  H.  l?en- 
nett  was  its  proprietor  and  he  called  his  venture  the  Penn  Yan  Herald. 
A  glance  over  its  pages  reveals  the  fact  that  countrj'  newspaper  work 


3o8  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

has  changed  since  that  day.  Now  the  editor  devotes  his  pages  to  local 
news.  Then  he  neglected  that  department  and  gave  each  week  a  gen- 
eral resume  of  the  world's  news  as  far  as  that  was  possible.  And  the 
cause  of  that  is  evident.  In  1818  Penn  Van  was  a  village  through  which 
the  stages  ran  once  or  twice  a  week  on  their  way  from  Geneva  to  Bath,  and 
each  stage  left  here  a  newspaper  or  two  for  the  wealthier  residents.  The 
Herald  copied  this  news  matter  and  disseminated  it  throughout  the 
county.  Now  dwellers  in  every  town  in  the  county  have  the  city  dailies 
delivered  to  them  each  morning.  They  do  not  depend  on  the  weeklies 
for  general  news.  Thus  every  year  for  the  past  half  century  the  weekly 
newspaper  has  had  to  devote  itself  more  and  more  to  local  matters.  That 
has  now  come  to  be  its  almost  sole  occupation. 

In  1820  Bennett  changed  the  name  of  his  journal  to  the  Penn  Yan 
Democrat,  and  this  title  it  has  since  retained.  In  1S35  Alfred  Reed 
was  associated  with  him  in  its  management;  in  1847  he  assumed  entire 
control.  Darius  Ogden  bought  the  establishment  in  1850  and  was  its 
real  proprietor  for  many  years  afterward,  till  Eli  McConnell  purchased 
it  and  paid  off  the  liens  that  existed.  Reuben  Spicer  was  editor  in 
1853  and  George  D.  A.  Bridgman  in  1857.  For  many  years,  from  1865 
till  1888,  Eli  McConnell  was  proprietor.  Then  the  newspaper  became 
the  property  of  the  Democrat  Printing  Company.  Walter  B.  Sheppard 
now  owns  the  controlling  interest.  Through  all  the  vicissitudes  of  its 
career  the  Democrat  has  supported  more  or  less  ably  the  political  party 
whose  name  it  bears.  It  has  thus  an  honorable  record  for  consistency 
and  devotion  to  principle  which  entitle  it  to  credit,  and  under  its  new 
editor  gives  promise  of  greater  excellence  and  v  ider  influence  than  it 
has  ever  before  enjoyed. 

Till  the  establishment  of  the  Dcmoeratie  Whig  in  1837,  by  William- 
Child,  the  Democrat  had  the  field  largely  to  itself  Its  chief  competi- 
tor had  been  the  Yates  County  Republican,  established  by  E.  J.  Fowle 
in  1824  and  continued  for  ten  years.  In  1834  John  Remmich  bought 
it,  changed  its  name  to  the  Enquirer,  and  two  years  later  it  quietly 
died  and  was  forgotten.  The  Republican,  however,  in  Mr.  Fowle's 
palmy  da)'s,  was  a  good  and  substantial  countr\^  weekly.  It  perhaps 
would  not  seem  so  now,  for  there  were  but  five  columns  of  reading  mat- 
ter on  each  of  its  four  pages,  and  these  columns  were  largely  filled  with 


THE  PRESS.  209 

advertising  matter.  But  sixty  years  ago  publishing  a  country  paper 
was  a  tiresome  and  expensive  business.  The  cost  of  the  white  news 
paper  on  which  it  was  printed  was  about  four  times  what  it  is  at  present. 
All  or  nearly  all  news  paper  was  then  made  of  rags  and  cost  more  to 
manufacture  than  the  better  grades  of  correspondence  paper  now  do. 
Everyone  knows,  too,  that  in  those  days  there  were  no  power  or  cylin- 
der presses  in  country  newspaper  offices.  The  old  "Washington" 
press,  worked  by  hand  lever,  was  the  only  kind  in  use. 

The  year  1833  was  a  prolific  one  in  tlie  newspaper  world  of  Yates 
County.  A  man  named  Gilbert  started  a  peiiodical  called  the  Western 
Star  and  Thomas  H.  Bassett  established  another,  the  Miscellany. 
Four  newspapers  in  the  Penn  Yan  of  that  day  must  have  rendered  the 
profit  of  each  rather  precarious;  at  all  events  three  of  them  shortly  died, 
and  it  was  not  till  1837  that  a  printer  was  found  of  sufficient  temerity 
to  establish  a  successor. 

In  that  year  was  begun  the  publication  of  the  newspaper  which,  take 
one  thing  with  another, has  been  the  most  prosperous,  best  known,  and 
widel)'  read  of  all  that  ha\e  been  produced  in  Penn  Yan.  William 
Child  wdiS  \.\\e 'prmicr  a.nA  the  Democratic  Whig  was  \.\\q  newspaper.  In 
1839  it  passed  into  the  control  of  Nicholas  B.  Suydam  and  for  six 
years  he  was  its  publisher.  Then,  in  1845,  Rodney  L.  Adams  assumed 
control.  He  made  the  newspaper  a  force  in  the  political  world  and  in 
1852  sold  it  to  Cleveland  &  Look.  Four  years  later  Mr.  Look  retired 
and  Stafford  C.  Cleveland  assumed  entire  control.  Of  all  tiie  printers 
who  have  graced  Yates  County  with  their  presence  he  was  easily  cory- 
pltetts.  Of  large  statue  and  intelligent  appearance  Mr.  Cleveland  com 
bined  great  strength  of  mind  with  an  independent  character,  and  soon 
won  the  respect  and  confidence  of  the  people.  His  newspaper  was 
changed  in  name  upon  his  accession  and  became  the  Yates  County 
Chronicle,  a  title  it  still  retains.  In  1881  Mr.  Cleveland  retired  from 
the  editorial  position  he  had  so  long  occupied  and  since  that  time 
the  Chronicle  has  had  two  or  three  editors.  Malcolm  D.  Mix  was  man- 
ager till  1883.  Then  Steven  B.  Ayres  was  editor  till  1886.  Samuel  P. 
Burrill  next  filled  the  editorial  scat  till  1889.  At  that  time  the  present 
proprietor,  De  Witt  C.  Ayres,  purchased  the  newspaper,  assumed  its 
management,  and  has  evidently  settled  down  in  the  sanctum  for  a  life- 

27 


2IO  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

long  occupation.  At  present  the  Chronicle  is  the  most  widely  circu- 
lated newspaper  in  the  county  and  deserves  the  prosperity  that 
attends  it. 

In  1844  Henry  L.  Winants  began  the  publication  of  a  journal  called 
the  Democratic  Organ.  After  two  years  of  effort  the  task  of  making  it 
thrive  was  abandoned.  Not  disheartened  by  this  failure  Rodney  L. 
Adams  started  a  daily  called  the  Telegraph,  and  while  its  publication 
was  continued  longer  than  might  have  been  expected  it  succumbed  in 
six  months.  This  failure  stopped  the  publication  of  new  jouinals  in 
Penn  Yan  for  twenty  years. 

But  meanwhile  Dundee,  the  second  village  of  the  county,  had  an  at- 
tack of  the  newspaper  fever,  and  under  the  guidance  of  Gifford  J. 
Booth  the  Record  was  first  printed  in  1844.  This  little  newspaper  has 
had  a  checkered  career.  In  1847  '^  was  published  by  a  man  named 
Hoagland ;  then  it  passed  into  the  control  of  John  Diefendorf.  Next, 
in  1857,  it  was  owned  by  D.  S.  Bruner  and  then  was  edited  by  James 
Westcott.  After  his  death  the  Record  came  near  extinction,  but  was 
finally  revived  by  two  nephews  of  Mr.  Westcott,  sold  by  them  to  a  syn- 
dicate of  Democratic  politicians,  and  finally  in  1890  was  bought  by 
several  influential  prohibitionists  and  is  now  published  as  a  temperance 
newspaper.  Today  it  probably  has  a  greater  circulation  than  it  ever 
before  enjoyed.  From  the  Record  the  name  has  been  changed  to  the 
Home  Advocate. 

G  D  A.  Bridgman.who  had  sold  the  Donocrat  in  1865,  began  the  next 
year  the  publication  of  the  Penn  Yan  E.vpress.  In  1S69  it  was  edited  by 
Thomas  Robinson.  In  1870  Mr.  Bridgman  returned  to  the  editorial  chair 
and  in  1872  the  journal  passed  under  the  control  of  the  present  proprietor, 
Reuben  A.  Scofield.  In  his  hands  it  has  met  with  great  success.  The 
politics  have  been  Republican,  of  which  party  Mr.  Scofield  is  a  zealous 
partisan.  The  newspaper  has  so  prospered  that  today  its  circulation  is 
second  only  to  that  of  the  \ates  County  Chrofiiclc,  and  its  owner  has 
through  it  become  well  known  throughout  the  count)'. 

The  only  other  newspaper  deserving  of  extended  notice  is  the  Obser- 
ver, which  is  printed  at  Dundee.  It  was  established  in  1878  by  Eugene 
Vreeland,  its  present  proprietor.  At  first  and  till  1S82  it  was  independ- 
ent in  politics,  but  at  that  time  it  joined  the  Republican  party  and  has  ever 


THE  PRESS.  211 

since  been  an  advocate  of  its  doctrines.  Its  owner,  ;\Ir.  Vreeland,  is  a 
young  man  of  pleasing  manners  and  some  ability,  and  is  well  regarded 
by  his  neighbors  and  friends. 

But  of  all  the  journals  which  have  had  their  incipiency  in  our  county 
the  best  known  in  other  localities,  the  most  unprofitable,  and  the  short- 
est lived  was  the  Penn  Van  Mystery.  It  was  a  mystery  indeed.  For 
many  years  two  writers,  Leon  and  Harriet  Lewis,  had  made  Penn  Yan 
their  home.  Their  books,  and  those  of  Mrs.  Lewis  in  particular,  while 
not  indicative  of  the  highest  creative  power,  still  were  readable  and  had 
great  vogue  among  the  class  who  perused  with  delight  the  old  New  York 
Ledger  and  kindred  sheets.  Mrs.  Lewis  died,  and  unsatisfied  with  his 
notoriety  the  survivor  undertook  the  task  of  founding  a  weekly  news- 
paper which  should  bring  him  fame  and  possibly  fortune  too.  It  was 
not  an  ill  advised  scheme.  A  tremendous  edition  of  the  first  number 
was  sent  out  on  January  4,  1879.  It  was  read  and  liked.  From  New 
Hampsliire  to  Alabama  subscriptions  and  communications  flowed  in. 
Had  the  editor  been  a  different  man  he  might  have  succeeded.  Hut  as 
it  was,  discouraged  by  his  financial  condition  or  losing  pluck,  ere  the 
second  edition  appeared  he  left  Penn  Yan  between  two  days  and  has 
never  returned. 

A  word  should  be  said,  in  passing,  with  regard  to  the  Vineyarciist. 
This  is  a  bi-weekly,  began  in  1887  by  John  H.  Butler  and  Samuel  P. 
Burrill  as  an  exponent  of  the  grape  interests  on  Seneca  and  Keuka 
Lakes.  Within  its  limited  scope  it  does  good  work  and  is  well  thouglit 
of  by  its  subscribers.      Mr.  Butler  is  now  the  sole  proprietor. 

The  newspaper  serves  more  than  one  purpose.  Primarily  it  is  to  dis- 
seminate knowledge  of  the  day's  events,  but  in  another  way  and  as  the 
record  of  times  gone  by  and  partially  forgotten  it  is  still  more  val- 
uable. Of  all  the  sources  whence  the  local  historian  draws  his  materials 
it  is  the  best  and  fullest.  Ten  years  or  fifty  years  after  being  printed 
and  cast  aside  it  is  some  day  resurrected  from  its  resting  place  and 
shows  as  a  faithful  mirror  the  past  that  is  gone  forever.  And,  strange 
as  it  may  seem,  the  parts  least  thought  of  bj-  the  average  reader  as  he 
looks  it  over  and  grumbles,  may  be,  at  its  brevity  and  lack  of  wit,  have 
become  the  most  interesting  of  all.  The  advertising  with  which  the  re- 
tailer has  blazoned  forth  his  trade  is  transmuted  into  the  truest  record  of 


2 1 2  HIS  TOR  J '  OF  YA  TES  CO  UX  T  V. 

tlie  time.  Here  one  may  learn  what  once  the  people  ate,  what  tliey 
wore,  and  with  what  they  passed  their  leisure  hours.  Set  forth  in 
printed  page  is  a  record  as  to  whether  men  drove  in  coach  and  four  or 
ambled  through  the  woods  on  horseback.  Where  they  ground  their 
grain,  as  to  the  wear  of  poplin  and  muslin  and  calico,  as  to  what  drugs 
they  poisoned  themselves  with,  and  whether  women  decorated  their  back 
hair  with  silver  combs — all  here  comes  to  light.  The  "  notice  "  by 
which  some  farmer  describes  a  runaway  slave  tells  us  that  he  owned  one, 
and  when  another  desires  to  hire  laborers  at  $12  per  month  we  are  not 
at  a  loss  in  discovering  the  rate  of  wages.  Thus,  as  in  otlier  lines  of 
endeavor,  tiie  work  that  the  printer  does  lives  after  him,  re-awakening  in 
after  years  a  knowledge  of  events  that  else  would   be  forgotten. 


CHAPTER   XV. 


ORIGIN,    GROWTH    AND    DEVELOPMENT   OF   THE    EDUCATIONAL 
INTERESTS   OF    YATES   COUNTY. 1 

"  We  live  in  an  age  of  light  and  knowledge." 

rHE  rise  and  progress  of  the  school  system  of  the  State  of  New 
York  form  an  interesting  chapter  in  its  history.  The  wisdom  of 
the  fathers  in  laying  broad  and  deep  foundations  in  all  that  pertains  to 
intellectual  and  moral  culture  is  manifest  in  the  school  history  of  the 
Empire  State.  Thanks  to  a  wise  public  policy  the  interests  of  the 
schools  have  not  for  a  moment  been  lost  sight  of,  but  their  value  as  an 
important  factor  in  the  development  and  perpetuity  of  our  institutions 
have  increased  and  grown  just  in  proportion  as  the  general  public  have 
been  developed  by  culture  and  educational  privileges. 

The  circumstances  which  have  most  influence  in  the  happiness  of 
mankind,  the  changes  of  manners  and  morals,  the  transition  of  commu- 
nities from  poverty  to  wealth,  from  ignorance  to  knowledge, —  these  are 

'  By  Hon.  George  R.  Cornwell,  of  Penn  Yan. 


^« 


^n^>-L^^<^-e£j^^_^ 


EDUCATIONAL   INTERESTS.  213 

for  tlie  most  part  noiseless  revolutions.  Their  progress  is  rarely  in- 
dicated by  wiiat  historians  are  pleased  to  call  important  events.  They 
are  not  acliieved  by  armies  nor  enacted  by  the  law-making  powers; 
they  are  sanctioned  by  no  treatise  and  recorded  in  no  archives.  They 
are  carried  on  in  everv  school,  in  every  church,  in  every  society  for  mu- 
tual benefit  and  improvement,  and  in  ever}-  cultured  and  well  ordered 
liousehold. 

In  thestudy  of  the  important  events  of  the  world's  history  the  places 
where  these  events  have  culminated,  or  in  which  valorous  deeds  have 
been  accomplished,  are  second  in  interest  only  to  these  events;  they 
"  remain  hallowed  for  all  time."  The  student  of  history  will  search  in 
vain  for  a  more  hallowed  or  sacred  spot  (except  it  may  be  the  sanctuary 
or  the  home  circle)  than  the  school-room.  "  How  beautiful  and  pleas- 
ant are  thy  memories!"  The  value  of  good  schools  cannot  be  over- 
estimated; and  it  has  been  verj'  truthfully  said:  "The  public  schools 
are  the  bulwarks  of  our  institutions;  the  palladium  of  our  liberties." 
Right  here  let  me  say  it  is  impossible  to  have  good  schools  without 
faithful,  conscientious,  educated  teachers.  The  public  realize  more  and 
more  the  value  of  good  instructors.  The  boy  of  today  is  the  man  of 
tomorrow.  Time  is  more  than  money — absolute  unrest  is  the  order  of 
the  day.  Our  schools  must  keep  pace  with  the  general  development  of 
the  times. 

In  the  schools  of  the  county  of  Yates  there  has  been  for  more  than 
eighty  years  a  noiseless  progression  toward  all  that  is  good  and  high 
and  noble  in  manhood,  and  in  which  ignorance  has  been  supplanted  by 
kuovvledge.  The  past  ten  \-ears  show  a  marked  improvement  o\er 
the  twenty  years  preceding,  and  still  the  necessities  and  demands  were 
never  so  great  as  now.  This  shows  a  healthful  condition,  and  there  is 
no  question  but  that  our  schools  will  continue  to  grow  better  and  better 
so  long  as  there  is  desire. 

It  is  the  purpose  of  this  chapter  to  give  a  general  review  of  the  school 
system  of  the  State  in  connection  with  the  public  schools  of  the  county 
of  Yates,  including  a  more  detailed  account  of  the  several  academies 
and  institutions  of  learning  in  the  several  towns  as  well  as  a  more  par- 
ticular histor)'  of  the  schools  of  the  village  of  I'enn  Yan.  In  the  ac- 
count of  the  schools  of  the  county  at  large  this  article  must  necessarily 


2 1 4  HIS  TORY  OF  YA  TES  CO  UN  T  Y. 

be  brief,  because  data  concerning  them  is  meager  and  often  unreliable. 
More  attention,  however,  will  be  given  to  the  principal  institutions  of 
learning  as  the  information  respecting  them  is  better  preserved  and 
more  readily  procured.  The  facts  recorded  here  are  stated  upon  the 
authority  of  the  State  and  county  records,  or,  when  because  of  the  care- 
less manner  in  which  many  of  these  have  been  kept,  or  from  the  nature 
of  the  fact  stated,  nothing  could  be  there  found,  the  most  authoritative 
attainable  information  has  been  sought.  It  is  proper  to  state  also  that 
many  facts  here  presented  are  from  the  pen  of  the  late  Hon.  S.  C. 
Cleveland,  for  many  years  the  editor  of  the  Yates  County  Chroiiicle  and 
who  was  also  publisher  of  a  history  of  Yates  County,  and  from  other 
valuable  records,  the  writer  claiming  no  credit  except  as  a  compiler  and 
gatherer  of  facts. 

The  common  school  system  of  the  State  of  New  York  may  be  traced 
to  a  law  passed  by  the  legislature  of  i8i2,  which  provided  for  the  di- 
vision of  the  State  into  school  districts.  As  early  as  1795,  however. 
Gov.  George  Clinton,  in  his  message  that  year  to  the  legislature,  recom- 
mended to  the  people  "  the  establishment  of  common  schools  through- 
out the  State,"  and  an  annual  appropriation  of  $50,000  for  five  years 
was  made  by  the  legislature  of  1795  for  the  purpose  of  public  instruc- 
tion. The  enactments  in  relation  to  public  instruction  were  revised 
and  consolidated  in  the  general  law  of  1864,  which  was  several  times 
amended  until  1867,  when  the  free  school  system  of  the  State  was  fairly 
established.  It  may  be  proper  to  mention  that  in  the  early  history  of 
the  schools  of  the  State  much  inactivity  was  manifested,  and  in  some 
quarters  the  movement  was  met  with  positive  opposition. 

In  1874  there  were  11,299  school  districts  in  the  State  and  18,605 
teachers.  In  1890  there  were  11,675  school- houses  in  the  State  and 
31,703  teachers  employed.  The  value  of  school- houses  and  sites  in 
this  State  in  1868  was  $16,450,485.  In  1874  it  had  advanced  to  $29,- 
216,149  and  in  1890  to  $41,606,735.  The  total  receipts  for  school 
purposes  for  the  year  ending  July  25,  1890,  were  $20,473,660.92.  The 
expenditures  were  a  little  less.  State  Superintendent  of  Public  In- 
struction Andrew  S.  Draper,  in  his  annual  report  to  the  legislature,  ses- 
sion of  1892,  says : 

The  total  number  of  pupils  in  the  schools  during  the  past  year  was 


VA  TES  CO  UN  T  Y  SCHOOL  S.  215 

1,281,039.  The  whole  number  of  teachers  was  31,982.  The  amount 
of  money  paid  them  was  $1 1,012,986.43.  The  average  weekly  wages 
of  teachers  in  towns  was  $8.27,  in  cities  $17.89.  There  are  12,072 
school  houses  in  the  state,  45  of  logs.  The  average  cost  of  educating 
each  child  in  the  state  at  large  has  been  $2641.  The  cost  to  each  in- 
dividual of  the  State  was  $2.66.  The  superintendent  is  of  the  opinion 
that  the  safety  of  the  commonwealth  depends  upon  the  enactment  of 
an  effective  compulsory  education  law.  There  are  eleven  normal 
schools  in  operation  in  the  State,  with  a  total  expense  last  year  of 
$227,686.81. 

In  1890  there  were  in  operation  in  the  State  eighteen  colleges  of  arts 
and  sciences  for  gentlemen,  nine  for  ladies,  and  four  for  ladies  and  gen- 
tlemen, with  a  total  attendance  of  7,446  during  the  year.  The  total 
value  of  college  property  for  arts  and  sciences  was  $8,485,868.45. 

There  are  also  within  the  bounds  of  the  State  five  schools  of  law, 
sixteen  schools  of  medicine,  four  schools  of  piiarmacy,  three  polytech- 
nic schools,  nine  schools  of  theology,  and  eight  schools  of  special  de- 
partments. From  the  best  obtainable  information  there  are  at  present 
8,500,000  children  in  the  elementary  schools  of  our  country,  275,000 
pupils  in  the  secondary  schools,  and  60.000  students  in  the  colleges. 
There  can  be  no  question  but  that  our  schools  are  assuming  proportions 
to  which  they  are  entitled. 

SCHOOLS   OF    YATES   COUNTY. 

The  common  schools  of  Yates  County,  including  the  higher  academic 
institutions  of  learning,  are  among  the  very  best  of  their  class  in  the 
State.  The  school  statistics  show  that  Yates  is  not  behind  her  sister 
counties  in  all  that  pertains  to  good  schools.  By  the  census  of  1890 
Yates  County  had  a  population  of  21,001.  By  the  School  Commission- 
er's Report,  dated  June  30,  1891,  there  were  in  Yates  County  5,546  chil- 
dren between  the  ages  of  five  and  twenty  one  years;  there  were  127 
teachers  employed  and  4,121  scholars  attending  school  durmg  the  year 
ending  as  above. 

Number  of  volumes  in  school  libraries.  3/ '5 

Number  of  school-houses  in  Yates  County,  108 

Value  of  schoollibrarles,  exclusive  of  Penn  Y'an,  .    ♦j. 772  00 

Value  of  school-houses  and  sites,         ....  $107,24000 


2l6  HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUNTY. 

Assessed  valuation  of  property  in  the  school  districts  of  Yates 

County,    .  .  .  .  .  .  .       111,702,733  00 

There  was  expended  for  school  purposes  in  Yates  County  dur- 
ing the  year  ending  July  25,  1891,  .  .  $45,502  20 

The  State  school  tax  paid  by  Yates  County  in  1890  was     .  $12,519  69 

The  common  school   fund   received  from  the  State  by  Yates 

County  for  1890,  exclusive  of  Regents'  fund,  was  .        $17,111    12 

In  Yates  County  are  103  school  districts  and  nine  parts  of  districts, 
two  union  free  school  districts,  and  one  school  district  organized  by 
special  act.  The  school  districts  are  divided  among  the  nine  towns 
composing  the  county  as  follows  :  Harrington,  12;  Benton,  12;  Italy, 
II  ;  Jerusalem,  19;  Middlesex,  8  ;  Milo,  12;  Potter,  12;  Starkey,  11  ; 
and  Torrey,  6.  The  Penn  Yan  Union  School  District,  organized  by 
special  act,  is  formed  by  a  portion  of  the  towns  of  Milo,  Jerusalem,  and 
Benton.  There  is  one  union  free  school  district  in  the  town  of  Potter. 
In  the  town  of  Starkey  is  Starkey  Seminary,  besides  one  preparatory 
school  chartered  by  the  Regents  of  the  State  University.  Keuka  Col- 
lege is  located  in  the  town  of  Jerusalem.  The  school-houses  in  Yates 
County  are  as  a  rule  in  first-class  condition,  with  improved  seats,  and 
are  furnished  with  all  the  appliances  that  are  used  in  modern  schools. 

The  Teachers  Institute  held  regularly  each  year,  together  with  the 
examinations  held  by  the  county  commissioners  under  the  rules  of  the 
Board  of  Regents  of  the  State,  have  done  much  for  the  improvement  of 
the  schools.  Naturally  the  more  prominent  and  better  equipped  of  the 
schools  in  the  county  are  the  Penn  Yan^Academy,  Keuka  College,  Star- 
key  Seminary,  and  the  schools  located  in  the  following  places,  viz.  : 
Branchport,  Dresden,  Dundee,  Italy  Hollow,  Benton  Center,  Potter  Cen- 
ter, Harrington,  Middlesex  Center,  and  Rushville.  Of  some  of  these  in- 
stitutions of  learning  a  more  particular  mention  will  be  made.  Since 
1859  the  schools  of  each  county  in  the  State  have  been  more  particularly 
under  the  care  and  supervision  of  a  county  superintendent  or,  as  other- 
wise called,  school  commissioner.  The  school  commissioners  of  Yates 
County  have  been  as  follows  :  Henry  A.  Bruner, Schuyler  Southerland, 
Bradford  S.  Wixom,  Harlan  P.  Bush,  George  P,  Lord,  Joseph  VV.  Brown, 
William  F.  Van  Tuyl,  James  A.  Thayer,  and  Llewellj-n  J.  Barden,  the 
present  school  commissioner.  All  of  these  have  performed  valiant  and 
loyal  service  and  have  done  much  for  the  lasting  good  of  the  schools  of 
the  county. 


PENN  VAN  SCHOOLS.  217 

PENN    VAN    SCHOOLS. 

The  Penn  Yan  Union  School  District  was  estabUshed  by  Chapter  715 
of  the  laws  of  1857.  By  said  act  the  following  named  persons:  Levi 
O.  Dunning,  Benedict  W.  Franklin,  Ebenezer  B.  Jones,  Jeremiah  S. 
Jillett,  Darius  A.  Ogden,  Charles  C.  Sheppard,  Martin  Spencer,  Daniel 
W.  Streeter,  and  George  Wagener,  were  constituted  a  corporation  by 
the  name  of  the  "  Board  of  Education  for  the  Village  of  Penn  Yan." 
The  corporation,  upon  its  organization  April  30,  1857,  took  possession 
of  the  schools  of  the  district,  consisting  of  the  Head  street  and  Maiden 
lane  school  property.  The  erection  of  the  Penn  Yan  Academy  was 
soon  after  commenced  and  was  completed  during  the  summer  of  1859, 
and  opened  the  1st  of  September  of  that  year.  Its  first  catalogue  was 
issued  in  the  spring  of  i860.  The  institution  is  described  in  that  year's 
catalogue  as  follows  : 

"  The  academy  is  located  on  Main  street,  near  the  center  of  the  village,  and  has 
ample  grounds,  neatly  graded  and  ornamented  with  shade  trees.  The  building  is  a  new 
brick  edifice  two  stories  high,  ninety  feet  long,  and  sixty  feet  wide.  It  contains  two 
large  school-rooms,  five  recitation-rooms,  a  chapel,  laboratory,  library,  and  music- 
room.  They  are  heated  throughout  by  furnaces,  thoroughly  ventilated,  and  in  the 
selection  and  arrangement  of  desks,  seats,  etc.,  every  modern  improvement  has  been 
caret'ully  consulted.  In  its  internal  arrangement  it  is  regarded  as  a  model.  The  in- 
stitution is  furnished  with  a  superior  set  of  philosophical  and  chemical  apparatus,  to 
which  additions  are  constantly  made  as  circumstances  demand  ;  and  by  a  full  course 
of  experiments  and  familiar  lectures  every  facility  is  afforded  for  the  prosecution  of  the 
natural  sciences.  A  perfect  skeleton,  a  complete  set  of  charts,  models,  etc.,  furnish 
good  advantages  also  for  the  study  of  physiology.  The  library,  accessible  10  all  stu- 
dents, is  open  every  Friday  afternoon.  The  department  of  music  is  under  the  care  of 
an  efficient  and  experienced  teacher.  Drawing,  painting,  declamations,  and  written 
exercises,  private  and  public  examinations  will  receive  especial  care  and  attention." 

The  academy  building  is  now  (1892)  heated  by  steam,  with  more 
perfect  ventilation,  and  many  improvements  have  been  added.  The 
first  ofificers  of  the  Board  of  Education  were:  Ebenezer  B.  Jones, 
president;  Daniel  W.  Streeter,  secretary;  Oliver  Stark,  treasurer; 
Morris   Earle,  collector. 

The  first  faculty  of  the  Penn  Yan  Academy  was  Rev.  Otis  L.  Gib- 
son, A.  B.,  principal,  professor  of  ancient  language;  Richard  Green,  B.S., 
professor  of  natural  sciences  and  mathematics;  Sherman  Morse,  teacher 
in    English   branches;    Miss  Frances  A.   Sweet,  preceptress,  teacher  of 

28 


2 1 8  HIS  TOR  Y  OF   YA  TES  CO  UN  T  Y. 

modern  language  and  belles-lettres;  Miss  Susan  R.  Gibson,  assistant ; 
Miss  Sophia  Travis,  Miss  Jennie  M.  Gibson,  teachers  in  junior  depart- 
ment; Miss  Harriet  Hopkins,  teacher  of  vocal  and  instrumental  music; 
Richard  Green,  librarian.  The  enrollment  at  the  academy  during  the 
first  year  (1859-60)  was  i  26  gentlemen  and  167  ladies  ;  total,  293.  The 
average  enrollment  at  the  academy  during  the  past  thirty  years  has 
varied  somewhat,  averaging  about  360,  and  some  jears  considerablj' 
higher. 

The  presidents  of  the  Board  of  Education  of  the  Penn  Van  Union 
School  District  have  been  as  follows:  Ebenezer  B.  Jones,  1859-61; 
Charles  C.  Sheppard,  1861-63  ;  Benedict  W.  Franklin,  1863-65  ;  Charles 
C.  Sheppard,  1865—73;  Darius  A.  Ogden,  1S73-76;  Levi  O.  Dunning, 
1876-77;  Stafford  C.  Cleveland,  1877-80  ;  Darius  A.  Ogden,  1880-89; 
Benjamin  L.  Hoyt,  1889-91  ;   George  R.  Cornwell,  1891-92. 

The  following  gentlemen  have  served  as  secretaries  of  the  board  : 
Daniel  VV.  Streeter,  1859-60;  Jeremiah  S.  Jillett,  1860-63;  Lyman 
Munger,  1863-65;  Jeremiah  S  Jillett,  1865-66;  Levi  O.  Dunning, 
1866-73  ;  John  T.  Knox,  1873-74  ;  Benjamin  L.  Hoyt,  1874-77;  George 
R.  Youngs,  1877-80;  Reuben  A.  Scofield,  1880-82;  Fred  S.  Arm- 
strong, 1882-84;   George   R.  Youngs,  1884-92. 

Me.mhtrs  oj  the  Board  of  Education. — Ebenezef  B.  Jones,  1857-73  ;  Charles  C.  Shep- 
pard, 1 857-74  ;  Benedict  W.Franklin,  1857-74;  Dariu.s  A.  Ogden,  1857-89;  Levi  0. 
Dunnint;,  1857-78;  George  Wagener,  1857,  187U,  1871,  1882;  Jeremiah  S.  Jillett. 
1857,  1872;  Martin  Spencer,  1857,1800;  Daniel  W.  Streeter.  1857,  1861;  L\-man 
Munger,  1862,  1867;  John  H.  Lapham,  18G3,  1870;  Seymour  Tracey.  1869,  1872: 
William  S.  Brigg.';,  1870,  1874;  John  M.  Latimer.  1873-76;  John  T.  Knox,  1873-79'; 
Stafford  C.  Cleveland,  1874-84;  William  B.Sheldon,  1874,  1875;  Samuel  S.  Ellsworth, 
1875-78;  John  C.  Scheelz,  1877-80;  John  P.  Plaisted,  1877-80;  Reuben  A.  Scofield, 
1880-89;   Fred  S.  Armstrong,  1880-85;  Morgan  H.  Smith,  1885-88. 

The  present  members  of  the  Board  are:  Benjamin  L.  Hoyt,  1871 ;  George  E.  Corn- 
well,  1873;  John  S.  Sheppard,  1870;  George  R.  Youngs,  1877-80,  1882;  Perley  P. 
Curtis,  1880;  John  T.  Andrews,  2d,  1884;  Silas  Kimie,  1888;  Edson  Potter,  1888: 
Steven  B.  Ayres,  1889. 

Officers  of  the  Board,  1892.  —  George  R.  Cornwell,  president;  George  R.  Youngs,  sec- 
retary;  Morris  F.  Sheppard,  treasurer;  E.  Lewis  Jacobus,  collector. 

The  following  have  been  the   principals  of  the  Penn  Yan   Acadeni)' 

since  the  founding  of  that  institution  of  learning :   Rev.  Otis  L.  Gibson, 

1859-61  ;   WiUard  P.  Gibson,  A.M.,  1861-63  I   Winsor   Scofield,  A.M., 


PENN   YANN  SCHOOLS.  219 

1863-66;  Cicero  M.  Hutchins,  A.M.,  1866-68;  Rufus  S.  Green,  A. B., 
1868-69;  John  T.  Knox,  A.M.,  1869-70;  Samuel  D.  Karr,  A.M., 
1870-72  ;  Burr  Lewis,  A.B.,  1872-73  ;  Rodoiphus  C.  Briggs,  A.B.,  1873- 
75;  Francis  D.  Hodgson,  A.M.,  1875-83;  Henry  White  Callahan, 
A.M.,  1883-90;   F.  Theodore  Shultz,  A.M.,  1890. 

Preceptresses.— VriKncKS,  A.  Sweet,  18o9-G0;  Mary  E.  Clark,  18G0-61  ;  Susan  R.  Gib- 
soti,  1861-64;  Louise  F.  Dana,  18G4-67 ;  Louise  M.  Handle,  1867-76;  Helen  M.  Stark, 
Emma  H.  Mnrpliey,  1876-79  ;  Edith  Van  Dusen.  1879-80  ;  Margaret  A.  Emerson,  1880- 
87;   Louise  J.  Starkweather,  1887-91;   Estella  Mullliolland,  1891. 

Other  teachers  who  have  served  in  the  academy  acceptablj',  and  have 
generally  gone  from  Penn  Yan  to  fill  higher  places,  have  been  Richard 
Green,  Sherman  Morse,  Robert  P.  Bush,  James  P.  Harrington,  Charles 
B.  Shaw,  Fred  S.  Armstrong,  George  E.  Draper,  Alson  D.  Chapman, 
Berlin  H.  Wright,  Frank  D.  Van  Deventer,  Samuel  Cornell,  William 
H.  Hermans,  P'red  W.  Palmer,  William  F.  Van  Tuyl,  and  John  W. 
Stewart. 

Among  the  important  and  acceptable  lady  teachers  of  the  academy 
have  been  Harriet  L.  Porter  (now  the  wife  of  K.  W.  Mills),  L.  Belinda 
Porter,  Sophia  Travis  (now  the  wife  of  our  distinguished  fellow  citizen 
and  institute  conductor.  Prof  Henry  R.  Sanford),  Ceresa  Sloan,  Louise 
Bannister  (now  Mrs.  Steven  B.  Ayres),  .Harriet  Gleason  (now  Mis. 
Peleg  Gardner),  Susan  A.  Longwell,  Augusta  M.  Jones  (now  the  wife 
of  R.  G.  Kinner),  Anna  B.  Delano,  Annette  Swarthout,  Mrs.  J.  S.  Retd, 
Laretta  A.  Ludlow,  Mrs.  Laura  L.  Woodward  (wife  of  Dr.  C.  W.  Wood- 
ward), Mrs.  Sarah  M.  Butterfield,  Mary  B.  Emor)'  (now  the  wife  of 
!■".  W.  Steelman),  Mrs.  Sarah  E.  C.  Thompson  (now  the  wife  of  E.  C.  Kei- 
sey),  Sarah  E.  Kelsey  (now  the  wife  of  Charles  Stark),  Lizzie  B.  Teall, 
Minnie  L  Miller  (now  the  wife  of  Henry  W.  Shearman),  Libbie  L  Coates, 
Helen  W.  Stark,  Oda  B.  Bennett  (now  the  wife  of  M.  A.  Leary,  esq.), 
Mrs.  C.  W.  Coffin,  Mary  A.  Bennett,  Abigail  K.  Wolcott  (who  occupiis 
at  present  a  position  in  the  high  school  at  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  and  is  re- 
garded as  a  teacher  of  great  merit),  Emma  Wolcott  (wife  of  Martin  C. 
Stark),  Sarah  Hammond  (wife  of  Morris  F.  Sheppard),  Alice  L.  Patchin, 
Libbie  W.  Crane,  Helen  L.  Whitaker  (now  the  wife  of  Albert  Brigdcn), 
Fannie  J.  Eraser,  Delia  J.  Waite  (wife  of  John  R.  Clark),  Kate  M.  Wick- 
oft'  (now  Mrs.  James  W.  Russell),  Theresa  C.  Hendrick,  Helen  C.  Sav- 


220  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

age,  Nellie  St.  John  (now  the  wife  of  Clinton  W.  Brooks),  and  Mrs. 
Susan  Jones  (widow  of  Joseph  Jones).  Near!)-  all  these  are  entitled  to 
especial  mention  as  competent  and  faithful  instructors,  well  deser\'ing 
the  love  of  the  scholars  and  the  commendation  of  the  Board  of  Educa- 
tion and  patrons  of  the  school. 

The  teachers  in  the  Penn  Yan  Union  School  District  in  1892  are  as 
follows:  F.  Theodore  Shultz,  A.M.,  principal,  English  classics,  German, 
Latin;  Estella  Mullholland,  preceptress,  French,  Latin,  and  Greek  lan- 
guages; Edwin  S.  Parsons,  mathematics,  history  ;  Minnie  Iv  HLermans, 
higher  mathematics,  natural  sciences;  Laura  P2.  McDowell,  principal  of 
preparatory  department  ;  Cornelia  M.  Morrell,  arithmetic,  reading, 
methods  of  teaching;  Maria  Hammond,  arithmetic,  geography,  reading; 
Mrs.  Ella  R.  Walters,  rhetoric,  history  and  English  literature  ;  Mrs.  Jen- 
nie W.  Miller,  principal  of  intermediate  department;  Alice  Griggs, 
geography,  reading,  arithmetic,  language  lessons ;  Mary  Bridgman, 
geography,  reading,  language  lessons.  Primary  department. —  Head 
street :  Carrie  I.  Warfield,  principal,  and  Sara  J.  Griffith.  Maiden  Lane  : 
Mrs.  Kate  M.  Russell,  principal,  Margaret  Koehler,  and  M.  Agnes  Tay- 
lor. Chestnut  street:  Alice  R.  Wixson,  ]irincipa!,  and  Jennie  M.  Huson. 
Lake  street:   D.  Lois  Dean.      Louise  J.  Starkweather,  librarian. 

The  Penn  Yan  Academy  was  founded  upon  a  system  of  permanence 
and  sure  support,  and  has  been  a  prosperous  school  from  the  start.  In 
its  inception  it  was  opposed  by  some  of  the  leading  men  of  the  district, 
but  since  it  became  a  fixed  fact,  and  proved  of  such  incalculable  value  to 
the  village  and  country,  opposition  completely  vanished  and  the  timid 
ones  and  those  wlio  doubted  its  necessity  and  efficiency  were  loudest  in 
its  praises.  From  the  hour  it  was  completed  and  opened  to  the  youth 
of  the  district  and  county  its  benefits  have  been  so  manifest,  its  bless- 
ings and  benign  influence  so  unceasingl)-  showered  upon  all  the  people 
that  at  present  all  are  agreed  that  upon  the  schools  rests  in  a  great 
measure  the  future  of  the  district. 

The  exercises  of  the  graduating  class  of  the  Penn  Yan  Academy  for 
1891  were  held  Thursday  evening,  June  25th,  at  the  Sheppard  Opera 
House  in  Penn  Yan.  The  following  address  (showing  the  present  con- 
dition of  the  schools)  was  delivered  on  that  occasion  bj^  the  president  of 
the  Board  of  Education,  George  R.  Cornwell : 


PENN   VAN  SCHOOLS.  221 

"  It  gives  me  great  pleasure,  in  behalf  of  the  Hoard  of  Education,  to  greet  this  com- 
pany of  young  laches,  members  of  the  class  of  '91,  as  honored  graduates  of  Penn  Yan 
Academy,  and  to  extend  to  each  and  all  of  you  our  most  hearty  congratulations  upon  the 
successful  completion  of  your  studies,  and  for  the  high  degree  of  scholarship  attained. 
The  academy  diplomas  about  to  be  presented  are  a  certificate  and  testimony  that  you 
have  mastered  and  completed  the  course  of  study  of  our  schools,  and  are  a  high  honor 
in  themselves,  in  that  they  tell  of  years  of  persistent  application  and  faithful  labor. 
The  Regents'  diplomas  to  which  you  are  entitled  and  will  hereafter  receive  are  honors 
conferred  by  the  State  and  entitles  the  holders  to  admission  to  its  colleges  without 
further  examination.  It  is,  no  doubt,  and  should  be  a  source  of  gratification  to  you 
that  your  labors  have  been  crowned  with  success  The  comparative  few  of  the  many 
who  have  attended  our  schools,  privileged  to  claim  these  honors,  show  that  they  are 
only  obtained  by  the  severest  ordeal  and  test.  Your  names  will  henceforth  justly  ap- 
pear upon  the  honor  roll  of  the  academy.  We  sincerely  hope  and  trust  your  achieve- 
ments will  lead  to  further  eflforts,  and  be  but  stepping  stones.  le.Tding  you  on  to  still 
higher  development  and  culture.  To  say  we  are  glad  for  what  voii  have  accomplished 
does  not  fully  express  all  we  feel.  In  a  certain  sense  we  look  upon  you  as  our  children  ; 
our  graduates,  born  of  our  schools:  are  proud  of  you  as  such,  and  feel  more  than  a 
common  interest  in  your  welfare.  That  you  may  live  useful  lives,  imparting  to  others 
what  of  good  you  have  received  and  reflect  upon  all  with  whom  you  may  be  associated 
the  culture  and  attainments  you  have  acquired,  is  certainly  the  sincere  and  ardent  de- 
sire of  not  only  the  Board  of  Educatjon,  lini  also  of  your  kind  instructors  and  all  your 
friends.  Let  me  assure  you  you  go  forth  from  this  your  alma  mater  bearing  with  you 
its  benediction  and  blessings.     We  quote  the  following  appropriate  beautiful  lines : 

"  How  beautiful  is  youth  !   how  bright  it  gleams 

With  its  illusions,  aspirations,  dreams  ! 

Hook  of  Beginnings,  Story  without  End, 

Each  maid  a  heroine,  and  each  man  a  friend  ! 

All  possibilities  are  in  its  hands. 

No  danger  daunts  it,  and  no  foe  withstands: 

In  its  sublime  audacity  of  faith. 
'  Be  ihouph  removed  I '  it  to  the  mountain  saith, 

And  with  ambitious  leet,  secure  and  proud. 

Ascends  the  ladder  leaning  on  the  cloud," 

"  Young  ladies,  we  bid  you  godspeed,  and  that  your  future,  so  bright  and  promis- 
ing, maybe  more  than  realized.  To  Professor  Shultz  and  to  all  the  instructors  con- 
nected with  our  schools:  Congratulations  to  you.  and  each  of  you,  and  words  of 
commendation  for  faithful  service  and  devotion  are  in  order.  That  you  have  been 
loyal  in  your  work,  eflicient,  painstaking,  industrious,  ambitious  to  excel,  that  you 
have  been  diligent  and  energetic  in  the  discharge  of  your  duties,  having  the  best  in- 
terests of  the  schools  at  heart,  all  will  admit.  Your  work  has  prospered  in  your  h.-.nds. 
Well  worthily  have  you  tilled  the  place  of  the  long  line  of  able,  faithful,  elticient  in- 
structors who  have  preceded  you.  Our  regret  at  being  obliged  to  part  with  the  serv- 
ice of  our  esteemed  preceptress  is  most  sincere.  Miss  Starkweather  will  carry  with 
her  the  love  of  the  students,  the  good  will  of  all  with  whom  she  has  been  so  long  asso- 
ciated.    It   is  with  regret  also  we  part  with  two  others  of  oui    valued   teachers,  viz.: 


222  HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUNTY. 

the  Misses  Smith  and  Hunter,  both  of  whom  have  given  eminent  satisfaction  in  their 
departments  of  instruction.  With  these  exceptions  we  understand  the  teachers  for 
the  past  year  have  decided  to  remain.  The  value  of  good  teachers  cannot  be  over- 
estimated. The  public  realizes  and  appreciates  the  wonderful  influence  of  the  teacher 
in  shaping  the  future  of  the  child.  In  this  respect  the  teacher  occupies  the  highest 
possible  place  in  position  and  importance,  a  place  worthy  the  highest  ambition  and 
devotement  of  the  human  mind.  The  teacher  in  a  large  sense  talces  the  place  of  the 
parent,  and  in  this  day  of  bustle  and  excitement,  whether  it  be  right  or  wrong,  the  in- 
tellectual culture  and  even  the  moral  training  devolves  more  and  more  upon  the  teacher 
in  our  public  schools.  You  are  to  be  encouraged  then  in  your  labor  of  love  ;  feeling 
and  knowing  your  work  is  more  enduring  than  marble,  lasting  as  the  human  mind. 
That  you  may  give  well  directed  thought  to  all  your  plans,  laying  deep  and  broad 
foundations  of  intellectual  and  moral  culture,  upon  which  the  minds  of  the  children 
committed  to  your  care  may  grow  and  thrive,  is  the  sincere  desire  of  all  who  love  them 
and  the  future  of  our  land. 

"  What  more  can  be  said  than  to  reassure  )  ou  of  the  faithful,  sustaining  co-opera- 
tion of  the  Board  of  Education  in  all  your  future  work  ?  Congratulations  are  also  in 
order  for  the  public  and  especially  for  the  patrons  of  our  schools.  The  school  interests 
of  Penn  Yan  have  not  suffered  during  the  past  year.  The  splendid  system  of  grada- 
tion, inaugurated  by  our  former  principal.  Professor  Callahan,  found  a  success  in  all  the 
departments  and  has  been  carefully  adhered  to  by  his  able  successor,  Professor  Shultz. 
Our  corps  of  teachers,  well  equipped  in  their  several  departments,  have  not  onlv  been 
efficient  and  painstaking  in  all  their  work,  as  has  been  said,  but  the  high  character  of 
our  schools  has  not  been  allowed  to  degenerate.  In  some  classes  the  advancement  is 
almost  phenomenal,  showing  better  results  than  in  the  former  history  of  the  academy. 
Note  the  following  extract  from  the  Penn  Yan  Express  of  June  17th. 

"  '  The  June  Regents'  examinations  have  been  exceptionally  good  this  year.  In  many 
cases  complete  classes  passing  the  ordeal  without  a  single  failure.  The  number 
claimed  as  having  passed  is  309,  making  a  total  for  the  year  of  713,  being  an  increase 
over  last  year  of  107.' 

"  It  is  proper  to  state  especial  credit  is  due  Professor  Shultz  for  these  excellent  re- 
sults. His  untiring  labor  coupled  with  rare  experience  and  tact  have  infused  our 
schools  with  seeming  new  life  and  energy.  The  attendance  during  the  past  vear  has 
been  uniformly  good  and  shows  an  increase  over  former  years  from  resident  pupils. 

"  Penn  Yan  Academy  especially,  we  are  glad  to  say,  is  known  far  and  wide  as  being 
one  of  the  very  best  institutions  of  its  class.  Its  rank  is  far  higher  than  the  average. 
In  the  year  1886  its  position,  as  reported,  was  fortieth  in  the  list  of  over  300  institutions 
of  like  character  within  the  bounds  of  the  State.  The  proportionate  standing,  we  are 
informed,  in  1891  is  still  better.  Our  academy  should  be  the  pride  of  our  village.  Its 
alumni  are  .scattered  up  and  down  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  land, 
pointing  back  to  this  as  their  good  attgel  and  always  with  affection.  It  may  appro- 
priately and  truthfully  be  said  :  '  Her  children  rise  up  and  call  her  blessed.' 

••  Thirty-two  years  have  lapsed  since  the  organization  of  our  present  system  of 
schools.     Our  fathers  who  labored  so  hard  to  establish  and  consolidate  the  Union 


PENN  VAN  SCHOOLS.  223 

School  District  of  this  village  have  gone.  Their  work  remains  and  the  grand  results 
accomplished  lives  after  them,  a  blessing  for  their  children.  Our  thirty-second  cata- 
logue is  about  to  be  issued  showing  the  work  of  the  past  year,  also  the  curriculum  and 
calendar  for  the  next.  During  all  the  years  of  their  existence  the  patrons  of  the 
schools  have  wonderfully  sustained  the  board  and  teachers  in  their  work.  The  board 
cannot  but  feel  gratified  for  the  many  acts  of  confidence  shown.  We  rejoice  today  in 
our  blessed  system  of  free  education.  Wise  and  beneficent  laws  are  being  constantly 
enacted  for  the  care  and  maintenance  of  the  schools.  The  culture  and  intelligence  of 
the  State  is  concentrated  upon  the  best  possible  methods  for  their  improvement.  The 
signs  are  hopeful.  The  ambition  of  the  parent  to  give  his  child  better  advantages 
than  he  possessed,  and  the  desire  lor  liberal  education,  seems  the  leading  thought. 
Our  schools  cannot  stand  still ;  a  generous  public  will  not  allow  them  to  decline  ;  pro- 
gress is  the  sign  of  the  hour,  thanks  to  a  wise  public  policy;  generous  thought  and  pro- 
vision by  the  State  is  the  rule.  Let  us  do  our  part  and  see  to  it  that  our  schools  keep 
pace  at  least  with  the  increasing  needs  of  our  district. 

'■  In  conclusion  we  extend  cordial  greetings  and  clasp  hands  with  all  who  are  striv- 
ing to  build  up  and  foster  institutions  of  learning— believing  the  greatest  public  diffu- 
sion of  intelligence  is  for  the  general  good  ;  but  while  we  are  cordial  with  others  we 
must  not  forget  'our  own  Mecca.'  You  are  to  be  congratulated,  fellow  citizens,  upon 
the  great  good  accomplished  by  your  schools  in  the  past  Let  us  hope  for  their  con- 
tinued prosperity  and  usefulness." 

A  meeting  of  tlie  Alumni  Association  was  held  at  the  Penii  Van 
Academy  June  26,  1891.  Steven  B.  Ayres,  acting  as  chairman,  called 
the  Association  to  order  and  stated  the  object  of  the  meeting.  Miss 
Belie  Diiiturfif  was  appointed  acting  secretary.  Tiie  following  repre- 
sentatives of  ten  classes  were  present : 

William  S.  Corn  well,  '81  ;  Steven  B.  Ayres,'78;  Dr.  A.  D  Haines.  '82  ;  Mrs.  E.  Hames, 
"82  ;  Mrs.  J.  Miller,  '82  ;  Miss  M.  Maliar,  '8.5  ;  Miss  B.  DmturlT,  '87  ;  Mis.s  E.  Hunter, 
'88;  Miss  E.  Cole,  '88;  Miss  L.  Hnlett,  '88;  Miss  X.  Hadley,  '89;  Miss  Frances  E. 
Corn  well,  '87,  (now  Mrs.  Remsen  M.  Kmne) ;  Miss  D.  Turner,  '89;  Miss  L.  Bridgtnan, 
'90;  Miss  A.  Johnson,  '90;  Miss  K.  Moore,  '90:  D.  Sprague,  '90;  Miss  L.  A.  Hood, 
'91  ;  Miss  E.  Fox,  '91 :  Miss  A.  Mahar,  '91 ;  Mrs.  Shutts,  'SO;  Miss  L.  Agan.  '82  ;  Miss 
Julia  Meehaii, '82;  Miss  Kate  Burn.t. '85 ;  Thomas  Spence.  '8G;  Mi.«s  M.  Sheppard, 
'87;  Miss  M.  Bridgman,  88;  Miss  N.  Fenner,  '88;  Miss  K.  Taylor, '88;  Miss  M.  Koeli- 
ler. '89;  Miss  D.  Deane, '90;  Mi.-vs  S.  GHffeth.  '90;  Miss  A.  Taylor,  '90;  Wdliam 
Gregory,  '90 ;  Mi.<s  N.  May  Scofield,  '91  ;  Miss  M.  G.  Hobart,  '91 ;  Miss  N.  A.  Carroll, 
'91 ;  Miss  J.  A.  Suofield,  '91  ;  Miss  K.  Earley,  91. 

A  committee  on  constitution  was  appointed,  consisting  of  Thomas 
Spence,  Miss  M.  Sheppard,  Mrs.  J.  Miller.  Miss  L.  Hood,  and  Miss  B. 
Dinturff.  The  officers  for  the  enstiing  year  are:  President,  Steven  B. 
Ayres;   vice-presidents.  Miss  Kate  Taylor,  Mrs.  J.  Miller,  Miss  N.  May 


224  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

Schofield  ;  secretary,  Miss  B.  Dinturff ;  treasurer,  Miss  E.  Cole  ;  ex- 
ecutive committee.  Dr.  A.  D.  Haines,  Miss  M.  Hunter,  Miss  L.  Agan, 
Miss  L.  Hulett,  and  W.  Gregory.  After  informal  discussion  on  various 
topics  the  following  banquet  committee  was  appointed  :  Misses  K. 
Burns,  B.  Dinturfif,  K.  Moore,  D.  Sprague,  L.  Covell. 

EARLY    SCHOOLS    OF    PENN    VAN. 

Tradition  says  that  the  first  school  in  Penn  Yan  was  taught  by  Ruth 
Pritchard,  who  died  in  1816.  She  is  said  to  have  been  a  rare  good 
teacher  for  that  day,  and  among  her  varied  accomplishments  was  her 
very  fine  handwriting.  The  first  building  remembered  as  being  used 
for  purposes  of  instruction  within  the  present  limits  of  the  village  of 
Penn  Yan  stood  on  the  southeast  corner  of  the  present  academy  lot. 
When  this  school-house  was  erected  cannot  be  determined,  but  it  was 
probably  built  about  18 12,  as  it  was  considered  an  old  building  as  early 
as  1822.  Public  worship  v/as  at  that  time  held  in  this  school- house  by 
the  members  of  the  Presbyterian  denomination  in  Penn  Yan  and  vicin- 
ity, and  religious  services  continued  to  be  held  there  until  the  completion 
of  their  new  church  in  1824.  Among  the  first  who  taught  in  this  edi- 
fice were  John  L.  Lewis,  Dr.  William  Cornwell,  Gordon  Badger,  a  Mr. 
Scofield,  John  Smith,  and  Jason  Andrews. 

The  ne.xt  school- house,  which  was  of  brick,  was  located  on  the  west 
side  of  Liberty  street  and  nearly  opposite  the  present  Penn  Yan  Acad- 
emy. The  following  were  the  more  prominent  of  those  who  taught  in 
this  school:  Jerome  Corey  (assisted  by  Achsa  A.  Cornwell,  afterward 
Mrs.  J.  S.  Glover),  Einily  Cornwell,  Hannah  Benedict  (afterward  the 
wife  of  James  Miller),  Henry  C.  Wheeler,  a  Mr.  Wilkinson,  and  Adol- 
phus  B.  Kneeland.  The  old  brick  school-house  was  succeeded  by  the 
present  edifice  on  Head  street,  which  was  erected  about  1843.  Among 
the  earlier  teachers  in  the  Head  street  school  were  Richard  Taylor, 
William  Augustus  Coleman,  Henry  A.  Bruner  (afterward  school  com- 
missioner of  Yates  County),  Sherman  Morse,  Charles  Edson,  Henry  M. 
Stewart,  and  Caroline  L.  Cornwell  as  assistant  of  Sherman  Morse  and 
later  as  sole  teacher  of  the  school.  (She  afterward  became  Mrs.  John  D. 
Wolcott.)  Salina  Easton  was  also  a  teacher  of  rare  merit  in  the  Head 
street  school.      Richard  Taylor,  above  mentioned,  was  justly  eminent  in 


EARLY  SCHOOLS  OF  PENN  VAN.  225 

his  calling.  He  was  wonderfully  enthusiastic  in  his  chosen  profession 
and  deserves  the  plaudit  of  "  well  done."  Among  tho.se  who  have  later 
taught  in  this  building  are  Mrs.  C.  W.  Coffin,  Lizzie  B.  Teall,  Lillian 
M.  Gridley  (now  the  wife  of  George  S.  Sheppard),  and  Maria  Ham- 
mond, the  daughter  of  the  late  Dr.  Fletcher  M.  Hammond. 

In  1824  a  school-house  was  built  near  the  new  "  Vates  County  Malt- 
House  "  on  Seneca  street.  The  school  was  a  large  one  and  did  good 
service  until  the  erection,  in  1842.  of  the  present  Maiden  lane  school- 
house.  Among  the  teachers  who  were  in  the  original  school  house  (on 
what  is  now  known  as  Seneca  street)  were  Selden  Chadvvick,  Jethro 
Bonney,  and  Benjamin  L.  Hoyt,  the  latter  of  whom  also  for  many  years 
taught  several  very  successful  schools  in  the  town  o(  Milo,  and  has  been 
a  continuous  member  of  the  Board  of  Education  for  more  than  twenty 
years  and  is  at  present  the  oldest  member  in  service. 

Joseph  Bloomingdale  was  the  first  principal  of  the  Maiden  lane 
school,  which  had  a  large  attendance  from  the  start,  and  at  which  many 
of  the  most  prominent  men  and  women  in  the  county  were  educated. 
Howard  R.  Miller  afterward  taught  in  this  school  with  great  success, 
assisted  by  Miss  A.  Jocelyn,  whom  he  subsequently  married.  They  are 
both  living  at  present  on  Staten  Island  near  New  \'ork  citj-.  A  more 
congenial,  well  meaning  couple  would  be  hard  to  find.  Howard  K. 
Miller  and  his  wife  were  respected  and  beloved  by  the  entire  commu- 
nity and  did  a  work  of  lasting  good. 

Especially  worthy  of  mention  among  the  other  teachers  of  the  Maiden 
lane  school  are  Harris  Cole,  Asa  F.  Countryman,  John  W.  Stewart,  1£. 
I  lerman  Latimer,  Jane  Stark  (now  the  wife  of  C.V.  Bush),  Eliza  M.Casey, 
and  Prof  Henry  R.  Sanford,  at  present  one  of  the  best  Iciiown  and  most 
superior  teachers  in  the  State.  In  former  jears  Emma  Heermans  (after- 
'vard  Mrs.  William  U.  Squier)  was  a  teacher  here,  as  was  also  Mary 
Husted  and  a  number  of  others,  nearly  all  of  whom  did  excellent  service 
in  the  several  departments  of  the  school.  Tiic  district  was  No.  12  in 
the  old  series.  The  more  recent  teachers  are  Rose  Longwell  (now  the 
wife  of  Thomas  M.  Markland),  Kate  M.  Wyckoff  (now  Mrs.  James  \V. 
Russell),  and  Coralyn  Chapman. 

Another  district  which  was  absorbed  by  the  Penn  \'aii  Union  School 
District  was  District  No.  9  at  the  foot  of  Lake  Keuka.      V'an  Rensselaer 

29 


226  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUXTY. 

Vorce,  according  to  tradition,  taught  tlie  first  school  here.  Samuel  V. 
Miller  was  also  for  several  years  a  teacher  there,  and  was  afterward  school 
inspector  and  the  first  town  superintendent  in  Milo,  in  which  office  he 
served  eight  or  ten  years  John  L.  Cleveland,  from  Schoharie  County, 
opened  the  first  select  school  in  what  is  now  Penn  Yan  in  1814.  Among 
his  pupils  were  George  A.  Sheppard,  Charles  C.  Sheppard,  Charles 
Wagener,  and  James  D.  Morgan,  sr. 

The  Board  of  Education  have  had  in  contemplation  for  about  two 
years  the  erection  of  a  building  on  the  academy  lot  facing  Libert)'  street 
At  a  special  school  meeting  of  the  voters  of  the  district  held  on  the  31st 
day  of  October,  1891,  the  sum  of  $8,000  was  voted  to  be  levied  for 
that  purpose.  This  school  building  will  be  for  the  accommodation  of 
the  intermediate  department  of  the  academy.  It  will  be  substantially 
built  of  brick,  two  stories,  about  sixty  feet  square,  and  supplied  with 
modern  improvements.  The  second  story  will  be  utilized  for  the  public 
school  library  and  for  the  literar}^  societies  connected  with  the  schools. 
It  will,  when  completed,  be  not  only  an  ornament  to  the  village,  but  a 
much  needed  and  substantial  improvement. 

The  primary  schools  of  the  district  were  made  free  b\'  the  charter, 
and  the  Penn  Yan  Academy  was  made  free  to  all  residents  of  the  dis- 
trict from  and  after  1S75.  District  No.  4  of  Milo  was  added  to  the 
Penn  Yan  Union  School  District  in  1879,  and  the  new  brick  school - 
house  on  Chestnut  street  was  erected  that  )'ear.  This  school  building 
is  amply  sufficient  for  the  accommodation  of  all  primary  pupils  residing 
in  the  eastern  part  of  the  district.  The  cost  of  erecting  the  school- 
house,  together  with  the  price  of  the  lot  on  which  it  stands,  was  not  far 
from  $3,200.  1  he  Board  of  Education  established  a  school  on  Lake 
street  in  1876  and  erected  the  present  brick  school  building  there  in 
1879  at  a  cost  of  $2,200.  These  primary  schools  were  a  necessity  and 
have  proved  a  great  success.  The  demand  for  a  primary  school  on 
East  Main  street  will  be  met  as  soon  as  possible. 

There  are  at  present  within  the  district  the  academy  building  proper, 
a  school- house  on  Head  street,  one  on  Chestnut  street,  one  on  Lake 
street,  and  one  on  Maiden  lane;  also  the  building  on  Liberty  street  in 
rear  of  academy  sufficient  for  the  accommodation  of  sixty  pupils  (the 
overflow  from  the  intermediate  department  of  that  institution).      Eigh- 


THE   1  A  TES  A  CA  DEM  Y.  227 

teen  teachers  are  now  employed  in  the  district  and  the  daily  average  at- 
tendance in  the  schools  is  about  650. 

A  primary  school,  under  the  direction  of  the  resident  Catholic  pastor, 
was  opened  in  Penn  Yan  in  October,  1883.  The  building  is  of  brick 
and  is  a  model  school  building,  heated  by  steam,  with  modern  improve- 
ments. The  school  is  well  conducted  and  has  an  attendance  of  about 
165  pupils.  The  entire  cost  of  the  lot,  including  the  buildings  and  fixt- 
ures complete,  was  about  $10,000.  The  Rev.  Eugene  Pagani,  for 
fifteen  years  past  the  resident  priest,  has  had  the  general  supervision  and 
care  of  the  school. 

THE    V.VTES    .VCADK.MV. 

This  chapter  would  be  incomplete  without  an  honorable  mention  of 
a  former  institution  of  learning  located  in  Penn  Yan,  and  in  which  much 
was  done  in  earlier  years  toward  the  diffusion  of  ki'owledge  and  for  the 
culture  and  general  good  of  the  community.  The  legislature  of  1828 
incorporated  this  school  by  the  name  of  the  "Yates  Count)'  Academy 
and  Female  Seminary."  It  was  opened  for  instruction  on  the  first  Mon- 
day in  Januar)',  1829,  with  an  attendance  of  about  seventy  pupils,  and 
Gardner  Kellogg,  a  graduate  of  Bowdoin  College,  was  principal  The 
school  building  was  large  and  commodious  and  stood  on  the  east  side  of 
Main  street,  opposite  the  county  buildings.  To  the  school  was  attached 
a  boarding-house,  with  rooms  for  the  accommodation  of  about  fifty 
students.  Seymour  Gookins  and  Richard  Taylor,  well  known  to 
the  early  citizens  of  Penn  Yan,  were  for  several  years  the  two  leading 
teachers.  The  catalogue  for  1834-35  show  an  attendance  of  341 
pupils.  The  "  Yates  Academy  "  (as  it  was  usually  called)  prospered 
for  some  years,  but  about  1842  it  ceased  to  exist  for  want  of  sup- 
port. It  was  a  most  valuable  institution  in  its  day,  and  some  of  the  best 
citizens  of  the  county,  of  the  generation  now  largely  passed  away, 
were  instructed  within  its  walls.  The  loss  sustained  by  the  county  of 
Yates  by  its  failure  can  not  be  estimated  ;  it  is  beyond  possible  compu- 
tation. Lacking  as  it  clitl  the  support  of  the  present  common  school 
system,  but  relying  entirely  upon  tuition  fees  for  its  support,  it  was 
allowed  to  perish.  The  possibilities  of  this  school,  under  the  fostering 
care  of  our  present  system  of  free  education,  no  one  can  tell.     That  it 


228  HIS  TOR  Y  OF   YA  TES  CO  UN  T  Y. 

would  have  proved  of  incalculable  good  to  the  community — a  blessing 
to  the  people  far-reaching  and  boundless  in  its  scope — is  beyond  ques- 
tion. But  "from  its  ashes,"  after  twenty  years,  arose  the  present  Penn 
Yan  Academ}-,  and  that  the  institution  of  today  may  "  live  long  and 
prosper  "  is  tlie  ardent  desire  of  all  who  love  the  future  of  our  land. 
The  following  is  a  statement  of  the  present  condition  of  the  Penn  Yan 
Union  School  District : 

Number  of  volumes  in  school  library,  ....  1,561 

Number  of  pamphlets  in  school  library.  .  .  .  200 

Number  of  families  in  the  district,  ....  564 

Number  of  children  in  the  district  between  the  ages  of  five  and  twentv- 
one  years,  .  .  .  .  .  .  '.341 

Number  of  teachers  employed  in  district,       ....  19 

Value  of  books  and  pamphlets  in  school  library,  .  .       $2,000  00 

Received  from  the  School  Fund  for  the  year  ending  July  25,  1S91  : 

For  teachers' wages,              .....$  2,752  50 

For  library,          .             .            .                         .  42  50 

From  ta.\,      .......  5,208  S3 

From  tuition  bills,           .             .             .             .             .             .  615  21 

From  Teachers'  Institute,  rents,  etc.,          ...  30  00 

From  Regents  of  University,                 ....  6S8  40 

Value  of  school  grounds,         .....$  4,500  00 

Value  of  buildings,             ......  12,000  00 

Value  of  furniture,       ......  1.500  00 

Value  of  apparatus,            ......  440  00 

Value  of  library,           ......  2.000  00 

Value  of  museum,                           .             .             .                         .  45  00 

Total  cost  for  year  ending  July  25,  1891,         .             .             .  10,426  28 

STARKEY    SEMINARY. 

Starkey  Seminary  owes  its  origin  to  the  denomination  known  as 
Christians.  The  institution  was  founded  January  5,  1840,  and  is  the 
oldest  of  like  character  within  the  bounds  of  Yates  County.  The  first 
building  was  erected  in  1841.  Other  buildings  have  been  added  until 
the  property  is  estimated  to  be  worth  $25,000.  It  is  supplied  with 
modern  improvements,  with  scientific  apparatus  sufficient  for  advanced 
teaching,  and  has  held  its  own  from  the  time  it  was  opened  until  the 
present  as  a  first-class  educational  institution,  and  one  of  which  the 
county  of  Yates  may  well   be  proud.      Its  alumni,  numbered  by  hun- 


STARK EY  SEMINARY.  229 

dieds,  are  scattered  throughout  tlie  leiit;tli  and  breadth  of  the  land, 
pointing  back  to  this  grand  institution  as  tiieir  inspiration,  and  proving 
by  their  Hves  an  honor  to  Starkey  Seminary  and  a  blessing  to  the 
world. 

Its  first  trustees  were  men  of  the  highest  standing  both  intellectually 
and  morally,  men  of  culture  and  ability,  and  well  worthy  to  have 
charge  of  an  institution  of  this  character.  They  were  as  follows:  Jo- 
seph Bailey,  Obadiah  Chase,  Caleb  Cowing,  Livret  Gabriel,  John  Guth- 
rie, Horace  Henderson,  James  Huntington,  Isaac  Lanning,  Clarkson 
Martin,  Ezra  Marvin,  Seth  Marvin,  O.  E.  Morrell,  Hiram  A.  Newcomb, 
Henry  Spence,  H.  G.  Stafford,  Eli  Townsend,  and  Daniel  D.  Van  Allen. 
Eider  Ezra  Marvin  was  its  first  president  and  Daniel  D.  Van  Allen 
was  its  first  secretary.  At  a  meeting  of  the  Central  Conference  held  at 
Eddytown  on  the  t5th  of  Januar)-,  1840,  it  was  resolved  that  the  in- 
stitution be  called  "The  Seminarj'  of  the  New  York  Central  Christian 
Conference."  Elder  Marvin  u  as  president  of  the  Hoard  of  Trustees  un 
til  the  time  of  his  decease,  with  the  exception  of  seven  years,  when  he  was 
ppstor  at  Enfield.  He  was  the  indefatigable  friend  of  the  seminary  from 
its  inception  until  the  close  of  his  long  and  useful  life.  He  died  in 
Starkey  in  187  i.  He  was  an  effective  minister  and  a  man  of  ability  and 
practical  character.  Rut  for  his  persistency  Starkey  Seminary  would 
not  have  achieved  an  existence  in  his  day.  He  was  born  at  Laurens, 
Otsego  County,  N.  V.,  in  1806,  and  marritd,  in  1827,  HuUlah,  the 
daughter  of  Elder  Ezra  Chase,  of  the  Christian  connection. 

Its  first  term  began  November  28,  1842.  The  first  principal  was  the 
Rev.  Charles  Morgridge,  who  occupied  this  position  for  seven  terms. 
The  next  was  Abram  Miller,  who  was  principal  for  two  terms.  He  was 
followed  b>-  Thomas  E.  Turner,  who  remained  two  years.  Edmund 
Chadwick.  A.M.,  then  assumed  control  and  remained  principal  until 
1 86 1,  a  period  of  fourteen  years.  Professor  Chadwick  was  succeeded 
by  O.  F.  Ingalsby,  A.M.,  whose  administration  extended  over  a  period 
of  twelve  years.  During  the  labors  in  behalf  of  instruction  by  these  two 
latter  gentlemen  the  institution  reached  its  highest  possible  efficiency 
and  usefulness. 

Prof.  Edmund  Chadwick,  who  is  among  the  more  noted  teachers  of 
Starkey  Seminary,  first  took  charge  Novembers,  1847.      At  his  coming 


230  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

such  men  as  Abbott  Lawrence,  Cliarles  Francis  Adams,  Albert  Fearing, 
Tiiomas  Mandell,  and  others  of  Boston  and  vicinity  contributed  funds 
toward  the  purchase  of  apparatus  for  the  school.  Professor  Chadwick 
was  born  in  Milton,  N.  H.,  in  1812,  and  graduated  at  Bowdoin  Col- 
lege in  1S40.  He  also  studied  two  years  at  Lane  Theological  Semi- 
nary and  vvas  graduated  as  a  theological  student  at  Bangor,  Me.  His 
health  failed  as  a  preacher,  and  he  then  took  charge  for  two  \ears  of  the 
Classical  and  Mathematical  Institute  at  Nashville,  Tenn.  He  next  be- 
came principal  of  Starkey  Seminary  and  continued  to  occupy  this  posi- 
tion for  fourteen  years.  Professor  Chadwick  and  his  second  wife,  who 
for  some  years  was  precep'ress  of  Starkey  Seminary  (her  maiden  name 
was  Adaline  Ward),  both  did  for  this  institution  a  work  of  lasting  good, 
retrieved  and  built  up  its  fortunes,  and  through  their  efforts  the  school 
was  placed  on  a  firm,  lasting,  and  secure  foundation. 

The  first  preceptress  of  .the  seminary  was  Mrs.  Turner,  the  wife  of 
Thomas  E.  Turner,  the  third  principal.  The  second  preceptress  was 
Cassandra  D.  Hobart,  who  became  the  first  wife  of  Prof.  Edmund  Chad- 
wick. The  third  was  Adaline  Ward,  formerly  preceptress  of  the  Dun- 
dee Academy,  and  afterward  the  second  wife  of  Professor  Chadwick. 
Miss  N  N.  Doane  was  for  a  number  of  years  preceptress  under  Professor 
Ingalsljy.      Helen  C.  Bassett  also  held  this  position  for  several  years. 

Prof.  B.  F.  McHenry  vvas  principal  of  Starkey  Seminary  from  1873  to 
1877.  Robert  D.  Evans,  A.M.,  succeeded  him  as  principal  and  lield 
the  position  for  two  years.  In  1879  O.  F.  Ingalsby,  A.M.,  again  be- 
came principal  and  served  seven  years  in  that  capacity,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  W.  J.  Reynolds,  A.M.,  who  resigned  after  holding  the  posi- 
tion for  one  year.  G.  R.  Hammond,  Ph.D.,  was  then  principal  for  five 
years  and  was  succeeded  in  1891  by  O.  H.  Merrill,  A.M.,  the  present 
incumbent.  The  principals  of  Starkey  Seminary  have  been  gentlemen 
of  unusual  ability  and  devoted  to  the  interests  of  the  institution. 

The  teachers  now  employed  in  Starkey  Seminary  in  addition  to  the 
principal  are:  Elizabeth  Bolley,  preceptress,  Coreall  C.  Wilcox,  A.B., 
Frank  H.  Hansner,  Charles  E.  Cook,  Ida  E.  Peake,  Lelia  C.  Nelson, 
Warren  H.  Dennison.  The  courses  of  study  include  the  common  Eng- 
lish branches,  a  complete  academic  and  college  preparatory  course,  with 
art,  music,  commercial,  and  stenographic  departments. 


DUNDEE  SCHOOLS.  231 

The  location  is  hcalthliil  and  the  scenery  beautiful,  and  there  is  no 
saloon  within  three  miles  of  the  school.  The  value  of  the  buildings  is 
$21,700;  of  the  grounds,  $2,300;  of  the  library,  $1,700  ;  of  the  appa- 
ratus, $  1 ,788.  The  present  Board  of  Trustees  consists  of  W.  E.  Bassler, 
president;  I.  C  Tryon,  secretary;  L.  A.  Earle,  treasurer;  Cyrus  Bar- 
ber, Rev.  M.  G.  Borthwick,  Rev.  Henry  Brown,  Rev.  E.  Burnap,  S.  E. 
Butler,  George  I.  Edgerton,  Benjamin  French,  G.  R.  Hammond,  Ph.D., 
W.  M.  Hatfield,  L.  G.  Phinney,  D.  L.  Royce,  Omar  Smith,  lion.  Han- 
ford  Struble,  and  Rev.  T.  R.  Wade. 

DUNDEE   SCHOOLS. 

The  Dundee  preparatory  school  was  chartered  b)'  the  Regents  of  the 
University  in  1888.  The  following  named  gentlemen  comprise  the 
Board  of  Trustees :  Hon.  George  P.  Lord,  Hon.  Henry  M.  Huntington, 
H.  V.  L.  Jones,  E.  M.  Sawyer,  S.  R.  Harpending,  Dr.  A.  R.  Otis,  Le- 
roy  Sutton,  C.  S.  Goble,  Henry  Goble,  P2ugene  Vreeland,  T.  D.  Beek- 
man,  and  Frank  N.  Sayrc.  The  officers  of  the  board  are  Hon.  George 
P.  Lord,  president;  Frank  N.  Sayre,  secretary;  T.  D.  Beekman,  treas- 
urer. Prof  E.  E.  Gates  is  principal  and  Amy  M.  Parsons  is  preceptress, 
with  an  able  corps  of  assistants.  In  this  school  students  are  graduated 
who  have  taken  the  full  course  of  instruction  and  are  prepared  for  col- 
lege entrance. 

The  school  building  is  situated  on  Harpending  avenue  and  was 
erected  at  a  cost  of  $7,500  In  the  erection  of  this  school  building  the 
public  spirit  and  liberalit\-  of  the  citizens  of  Dundee  were  manifest,  as 
the  entire  cost  of  the  building  and  grounds,  together  with  the  superior 
librarj-  and  apparatus,  was  provided  for  by  subscription  and  not  by  tax. 
The  average  attendance  is  about  eighty. 

The  Public  School  building  is  situated  on  Seneca  street.  It  has  been 
completed  about  one  >'ear,  at  a  cost  of  $7,000,  exclusive  of  lot.  It  is 
an  excellent  building,  supplied  with  modern  improvements.  Prof.  Jerrv- 
Thompson  is  the  present  principal  and  lias  three  assistants.  The  trus- 
tees are  Dr.  C.  C.  Harvey,  John  J.  Knapp,  and  Edwin  Jessup.  Tiie 
school  is  very  properous  and  the  attendance  is  .so  great  as  to  necessi- 
tate the  building  of  additional  room.  The  citizens  of  Dundee  may  well 
point  with  pride  to  their  excellent  system  of  schools. 


232  HISTORY  OF   YATES  CO U.\ TV. 

In  1849  Daniel  Smith,  James  Shannon,  and  Isaac  Maples  bought  tlie 
old  Methodist  Cluirch  in  Dundee  and  had  it  refitted  as  an  academy. 
Richard  Taj'lor,  a  noted  teacher,  was  its  first  principal.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Charles  T.  White.  Among  its  first  pupils  were  Hon.  George 
P.  Lord,  Hon.  Martin  J.  Sunderlin,  Loren  G.  Thomas,  and  Rev.  D. 
Corey.  About  thirt)'  others  among  the  earlier  students  afterward  be- 
came school  teachers.  Among  the  later  teachers  in  the  Dundee  Acad- 
emy were  Thomas  E.  Turner,  William  Marvin,  H.  M.  Aller,  P.  G. 
Winfield,  Hanford  Struble,  Ziba  H.  Patton,  Edmund  Chadwickand  wife, 
Thomas  Robinson,  and  Archibald  Grant.  Ira  H.  Stout  was  principal 
in  1872.  This  academy  did  a  grand  work  for  Dundee  in  its  day,  but 
for  reasons  hard  to  tell  (like  the  first  academy  located  at  Penn  Yan)  it 
was  allowed  to  be  discontinued.  The  immeasurable  good  it  accom- 
plished is  appreciated  by  the  old  citizens  of  that  locality,  and  as  long  as 
life  shall  last  they  will  never  cease  to  remember  the  old  Dundee 
Academy. 

Among  the  earliest  teachers  in  the  Eddytown  settlement  was  Rhoda 
Royce,  who  afterward  became  the  wife  of  Caleb  Cowing.  Some  of  the 
other  teachers  there  in  early  times  were  Bashan  Roberts  (one  of  his 
pupils  being  Isaac  Lanning),  Dr.  John  Warner,  Alfred  Gridley,  Dr. 
William  Cornwell  (who  quite  early  taught  a  school  in  the  north  part  of 
Bennett's  settlement),  John  Fulkerson,  John  Cuh-er,  Jonas  Wickes,  and 
Jane  Quinn.  Subsequent  teachers  in  the  town  of  Starkey  of  more  or 
less  note  have  been  Elmer  Keeler,  John  T.  Andrews,  Edwin  C.  An- 
drews, Walter  Dickinson,  James  L.  Seeley,  Alice  Demorest,  Stephen 
and  Zebora  Edgerton,  Richard  Durham,  Philander  Cogswell,  Henry 
Burgess,  D.  D.  Warner,  Icliabod  Kneeland,  C.  Longstreet,  Hiland  G. 
Wolcott,  Hershel  W.  Pierce,  Hiram  Cornell,  John  D.  \Volcott,  Henry 
A.  Bruner,  Lewis  J.  Wilkin,  James  H.  Pope,  Richard  Taylor,  and  Dr. 
Samuel  Hart  Wright. 

Beyond  all  doubt  the  first  school  within  the  present  limits  of  the 
town  of  Starkey  was  taught  by  Orpha  Scott  some  time  before  1800. 
She  and  her  mother  came  to  the  Friend's  settlement  in  1790.  She  was 
well  educated  and  a  woman  of  rare  ability.  She  married  Pearly  Gates 
and  died  in  Gorham  at  the  age  of  nearly  one  hundred. 

As  early  as  1826   the  town  of  Starkey  was  divided  into  nine  school 


KEUKA   COLLEGE.  233 

districts  and  two  parts  of  districts.  The  town  has  long  been  noted  for 
its  high  grade  sciiools  and  for  the  piibhc  spirit  of  its  citizens  in  this 
direction. 

KKUKA    COLLEGE. 

Keuka  College  had  its  origin  and  was  planted  in  the  county  of  Yatea 
through  the  agency  and  untiring  labors  of  Christian  ministers.  The 
enterprise  was  first  suggested  at  a  meeting  representing  the  Central 
Association  of  Free  Baptists  and  the  New  York  State  Conference  of  the 
Christian  Convention  held  at  Whitesboro,  Oneida  County,  in  the  spring 
of  1887,  and  was  fully  determined  upon  at  a  joint  convention  of  the  two 
corporations  held  at  Oneonta  the  ensuing  fall.  The  plan  was  submitted 
to  the  citizens  of  Penn  Van  am!  of  the  county  of  Yates  in  the  winter  of 
1887-88,  With  the  ])roposition  to  locate  the  institution  on  Lake  Keuka 
near  the  village  of  Penn  Van.  Several  meetings  were  held  and  the  prop- 
osition was  met  bj-  a  very  generous  response.  A  bona  fide  syxhscu^tUon 
of  the  sum  of  $50,000  was  soon  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  committee. 
It  is  proper  to  state  that  the  greater  part  of  the  subscription  lias  bei  n 
paid,  but  a  portion,  we  regret  to  say,  has  as  yet  been  withiield. 

The  institution  was  finally  located  in  the  town  of  Jerusalem  on  the 
westerly  shore  of  Lake  Keuka,  four  miles  from  Penn  Yan,  four  from 
Branchport,  and  eighteen  from  Hammondsport,  on  a  point  of  tiie  lovely 
Keuka,  on  a  farm  of  157  ^  acres,  which  seemed  to  have  been  made  and 
kept  on  purpose  for  this  institution.  A  small  lot  was  added  bv  dona 
tion,  making  in  all  a  little  more  than  160  acres.  A  liberal  subscription 
by  citizens  residing  about  the  lake  to  the  building  fund  was  raised  and 
on  the  1 8th  of  April,  1888,  work  on  tiie  center  building  was  com- 
menced. Tile  building,  260  feet  in  size  and  four  stories  high  above  the 
basement,  was  finished  and  duly  dedicated  on  the  i8th  of  August,  1890. 

Brethren  from  the  Christian  connection,  having  decided  not  to  merge 
Starkey  Seminarj'  into  the  college,  withdrew  from  tlie  compact  in  the 
year  1890  and  the  work  went  on  without  their  assistance.  The  ideas 
contemplated  in  the  founding  of  this  institution  were  as  follows:  By 
combining  a  vigorous  academy,  a  thorough  college,  a  great  summer  as- 
semblj',  a  college  town  where  families  shall  reside  while  their  children 
are  in  school,  gentle  and  helpful  Christian  influence  without   sectarian 

30 


2  34  HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUNTY. 

bias,  plainness  and  cheapness  of  living,  freedom  from  saloon  tempta- 
tions, healthful  and  delightful  surroundings,  revenue  irom  the  college 
building  by  using  it  for  summer  guests  during  vacation  when  such 
buildings  are  unproductive,  the  sale  of  lots  of  the  park  on  which  cotta- 
ges shall  be  erected,  by  which  a  college  town  \&  secured  and  families 
from  remote  districts  become  active  and  interested  friends  of  the  col- 
lege, the  advertisement  of  the  college  through  the  summer  assemblies, 
and  the  courses  of  lectures  at  these  assemblies,  by  which  information  is 
imparted,  desire  for  improvement  begotten,  and  interest  in  the  educa- 
tion of  youth  is  inspired.  The  power  to  do  a  large  work  is  secured, 
students  and  friends  are  attracted,  and  growth  is  assured.  More  than 
$100,000  in  cash  has  been  already  expended  in  the  plant,  which  is  now 
worth  at  least  $200,000.  Nearly  $50,000  in  notes,  securities,  and  do- 
nations toward  an  endowment  is  in  hand,  and  additions  are  being 
steadily  made  to  this  sum,  inspiring  faith  that  an  ample  endowment  will 
ere  long  be  secured.  The  college  is  pre-eminently  for  the  common 
people,  especially  the  children  of  farmers  and  other  industrial  classes. 
The  border  counties  of  New  York  and  Pennsylvania  need  just  such  an 
institution  and  are  showing  that  they  appreciate  it  by  giving  it  a  liberal 
patronage. 

The  attendance  the  first  year  was  157  and  indications  favor  the  be- 
lief that  the  current  )'ear  will  show  nearly  double  that  number  of  stu- 
dents enrolled.  Its  aim  is  to  supply  a  thorough  education  to  both  sexes 
at  a  very  low  cost.  It  faeces  students  direct  from  the  district  school, 
fits  them  _for  college,  and  puts  them  through  a  regular  college  course. 
It  also  provides  a  scientific  and  business  course  for  suclvas  are  not  able 
to  pursue  a  full  classical  course.  It  is  proposed  to  provide  ample  accom- 
modations for  all  who  may  come.  Between  forty  and  fifty  neat  sub- 
stantial cottages  have  already  been  erected  on  the  grounds,  and  the 
lots  surrounding  the  college  are  rapidly  increasing  in  value.  The 
library  is  fast  assuming  generous  proportions  and  arrangements  are  be 
ing  made  to  supply  the  institution  with  needful  philosophical  and  other 
apparatus.  The  department  of  music  is  not  lost  sight  of,  but  competent 
teachers  are  in  the  employ  of  the  Board  of  Directors. 

The  present  Board  of  Managers  consists  of  Rev.  George  H.  Ball,  D.D., 
president ;   Prof    Frank   E.   Passmore,   treasurer ;   Rev.    T.  A.   Stevens, 


KEUKA   COLLEGE.  235 

secretary  ;  Rev.  J.  ^I.  Langwortliy,  Rev.  A.  F".  Schermerliorn,  Rev. 
B.  M.  Briggs.  The  Board  of  Instructors  consists  of  L.  C.  Millspaugh, 
M.D.,  principal;  Marvin  L.  Spooner,  M.A.,  vice-principal  ;  Ella  J.  Hail, 
M.A.,  lady  principal;  Clarence  E.  Brockway,  B.A.,  J.  Nelson  Green, 
Ph.B.,  E.  G.  Folsom,  M.A.,  A.  M.  Haganian,  with  several  assistants. 

The  college  and  assembly  are  both  for  the  public;  whatever  of  value 
or  interest  belong  to  them  aim  at  the  elevation,  improvement,  and  cre- 
ation of  superior  men  and  women.  This  supreme  purpose  has  inspired 
the  founders  from  the  beginning  ;  with  these  objects  kept  constantly  in 
view  and  as  the  foundation  stones  of  this  beautiful  college  who  can 
measure  the  boundless  influence  for  good  of  its  future?  This  grand 
temple  of  learning,  builded  bj-  the  prayers  and  labors  of  the  servants  of 
the  Master,  will  stand  for  centuries,  a  beacon  light  pointing  upward  and 
onward  always  toward  all  that  is  good  and  true  and  noble  in  manhood 
and  womanhood.  The  charming  lake,  the  site  "  beautiful  for  situation," 
the  wide  field  to  be  cultivated,  the  generosity  of  the  people  brought  it 
here,  and  here  may  it  stand  a  "  blessing  for  all  time."  Having  pros- 
pered thus  far  through  faith  and  the  help  of  God  its  founders  and  sup- 
porters confidently  expect  Keuka  College  to  grow  for  centuries,  doing 
moreand  more  for  humanity  and  standing  an  object  of  joy  and  pride 
to  all  the  people.' 

The  Rushville  Union  I-'ree  School  was  organized  under  the  general 
law  April  23,  1 868,  by  combining  District  No.  7,  towns  of  Potter  (in 
Yates  County)  and  Gorham  (in  Ontario  Count)),  and  District  No.  13, 
towns  of  Potter  and  Middlesex.  The  following  trustees  were  elected  : 
Emmet  C.  Dwelle,  William  G.  Hblbrook.  and  Nathaniel  H.  Green  to 
serve  one  year  ;  T.  \V.  Crittenden,  Orlan  \\.  Blodgett,  and  Hiram  Brown 
for  two  years;  Moses  B.  Watkins,  S  Judson  Jones,  and  F.  B.  Seeley  for 
three  years;  S.  Judson  Jones  was  elected  president  of  the  board.  The 
school-house  is  a  two-story  brick  building  and  cost  with  the  grounds 
$15,000  The  grounds  are  ample,  consisting  of  three  acres,  one  acre  be- 
ing covered  with  thrifty  maples,  making  a  beautiful  grove  for  which  the 
district  is  indebted  to  Prof.  A.  D.  Whitney,  a  former  popular  ])rincipal. 

1  At  a  meeting  of  the  State  BoBrd  o£  Regents  held  at  Albany  Februarj-  ii,  1892,  a  provisional 
chaner,  without  degree-conferring  powers,  was  voted  Keuka  College.  It  is  expected  that  full 
powers  will  be  ere  long  conferred  tm  this  institution. 


236  HIS  TOR  V  OF  VA  TES  CO  UX  T  Y. 

The  school  has  been  extremely  fortunate  in  having  a  good  Board  of 
Trustees.  It  has  been  composed  of  intelligent,  liberal  men,  all  of  them 
interested  in  the  cause  of  education.  The  gentlemen  composing  the 
present  board  are  Dr.  W.  A.  Carson,  president;  D.  J.  Harkness,  secre- 
tary; S.  Jiidson  Jones,  Joshua  P.  Legg,  James  De  Witt,  Loyal  C. 
Twitchell,  Henry  M.  Smith,  Ward  M.  Taylor,  and  F.  P.  Williams.  The 
teachers  are:  F.  W.  F"isher,  principal  ;  Miss  Harriet  N.  Davis,  precept- 
ress; Mrs  Ann  G.  Jones,  primar\-.  The  successful  manner  in  which 
the  primary  department  has  been  conducted  b\-  the  "  veteran  "  in- 
structor, Mrs.  Ann  G.  Jones,  is  deserving  of  special  mention.  This  lady 
has  had  charge  of  this  department  since  the  Union  School  was  founded. 
She  was  also  a  teacher  for  several  years  in  the  district  school  of  Rush- 
ville,  and  has  taught  continuous!)'  for  forty  years.  The  citizens  of 
Rushville  and  vicinity  may  well  feel  proud  of  this  grand  institution  of 
learning. 

Middlesex  Center  has  a  new  district  school-house  of  ample  dimensions 
and  capacity  for  the  accommodation  of  the  place  and  vicinity.  It  is  of 
brick,  substantially  built,  and  cost  $3,000.  The  citizens  of  Middlesex 
(as  they  should)  take  great  pride  in  their  village  school. 

The  village  of  Branchport,  in  the  town  of  Jerusalem,  is  possessed  of 
one  of  the  best  and  most  substantial  of  school- houses.  Its  construction 
is  of  stone,  and  it  has  long  been  considered  as  one  of  the  best  managed 
district  schools  of  the  county. 

Perhaps  no  town  in  the  county  is  supplied  with  all  that  goes  to  make 
up  good  district  schools  than  is  the  town  of  Benton.  The  school-houses 
are  a  model  of  neatness  and  convenience.  Great  care  is  also  taken  by 
the  trustees  in  the  selection  ot  well  qualified  teachers.  The  school  at 
Benton  Center  is  known  as  an  exceptionally  fine  school,  as  is  also  the 
one  near  Ferguson's. 

One  of  the  finest  and  most  substantial  school  buildings  in  the  county- 
was  erected  in  1887-88  in  the  village  of  Dresden,  in  the  town  ofTorrey. 
It  has  accommodations  for  150  students  and  has  all  the  improvements 
of  the  best  regulated  district  schools.  The  citizens  of  Dresden  have 
reason  to  be  proud  of  their  splendid  school  facilities.  Its  cost,  including 
lot,  was  not  far  from  $4,000. 

In  closing  this  chapter  congratulations  are  in  order  to  all  who  are  in- 


THE    VINEYARDS.  237 

terestod  in  tlie  success  and  prosperity  of  the  public  schools.  The  free 
school  system  of  tlie  State  of  New  York  has  been  a  source  of  incalcu- 
lable good  to  ail  the  people.  The  educational  interests  of  the  county 
have  kept  at  least  even  pace  vvitii  its  development  and  growth  in  other 
directions.  It  is  safe  to  say  that  the  schools  of  Yates  compare  favorabi}- 
with  tliose  of  her  sister  counties  throughout  the  State.  Their  generous 
and  hearty  support  in  the  past  is  a  credit  to  the  good  sense  of  the  citi- 
zens. The  old  school-houses  are  fast  giving  way  to  convenient  and 
substantial  structures  with  all  modern  improvements.  Tlie  people  are 
awake  as  never  before  to  the  value  of  institutions  of  learning. 

The  signs  arc  full  of  hope  and  encouragement;  the  present  is  an  age 
of  culture  and  general  diffusion  of  knowledge  such  as  the  world  never 
before  witnessed.  The  old  adage  that  "  knowledge  is  power"  is  being 
verified  more  and  more.  "  Excelsior  ! "  the  motto  of  our  State,  should  be 
adopted  as  the  motto  of  every  girl  and  boy  in  the  land.  "  Upward  and 
Onward  "  should  be  the  watchword.  With  our  schools  what  they  should 
be  under  the  blessing  of  the  Infinite  we  shall  show  progress  in  all  that  is 
good  and  beautiful  and  true. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


THK    VINEYARDS    .VXD    THEIR    I'Ki  mUL  1  >. 

THE  growing  of  grapes  for  commercial  purposes  is  of  comparatively 
recent  date.  The  early  settlers  in  this  county  found  vines  growing 
luxuriantly  in  the  thickets  wiiere  soil  and  moisture  were  congenial,  in- 
digenous to  the  soil  so  far  as  we  know.  "  With  regard  to  the  necessity 
of  attention  to  the  most  advantageous  climatic  conditions,"  says 
William  Saunders  (of  the  agricultural  department),  "it  is  enough  to  re- 
mark that  wlien  these  are  favorable  good  crops  of  fruit  are  the  rule,  and 
that,  too,  even  in  the  absence  of  experience  in  cultivation,  but  in  un- 
favorable locations  the  application  of  the  highest  attainments  in  the  art 
and  science  of  grape  ■  nUnrr    so  far  as  relates  to  |)runing,  manipulation 


238  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

of  culture,  and  management  of  soil,  will  not  insure  success.  Grape 
culture  has  now  reached  a  point  from  which  but  little  further  progress 
can  be  made  without  a  close  recognition  of  the  requirements  of  the  plant 
in  connection  with  local  climatic  conditions,  the  most  important  being 
that  of  freedom  from  heavy  dews,  freedom  from  those  cryptogamic  dis- 
eases, mildew  and  rot.  The  topographical  configuration  of  a  locality  is 
of  far  more  importance  than  its  geographical  formation.  When  the 
atmospheric  conditions  are  favorable  satisfactory  results  may  be  obtained 
even  from  poor  soils,  but  in  incongenial  climates  the  very  best  soil  will  not 
guarantee  success."  The  climate  being  exceptionally  free  from  fogs  and 
heavy  dews,  and  the  topographical  formation  of  the  shores  of  lakes 
Seneca,  Keuka,  and  Canandaigiia  being  eminently  fitted  to  the  growth 
of  choice  fruit,  have  done  much  toward  making  the  business  a  success. 
The  history  of  the  grape  industry  is  so  closely  allied  in  the  counties 
of  Yates  and  Steuben  that  it  becomes  necessary  to  give  some  facts  which 
do  not  apply  to  Yates  alone.  In  1836  J.  W.  Prentiss  began  planting  a 
vineyard  in  the  town  of  Pultney,  Steuben  County,  at  a  point  about  four 
miles  south  of  the  Yates  County  line.  This  seems  to  be  the  first  vine- 
yard planted  for  raising  grapes  to  be  sold  for  table  use  in  this  section  of 
the  State.  From  1840  to  1852  he  shipped  to  Bath,  Steuben  Count \', 
one  or  two  tons  of  Isabellas  in  bulk  annually,  which  sold  for  six  cents 
per  pound  to  regular  customers.  Production,  however,  increased  faster 
than  consumption,  consequently  he  was  soon  compelled  to  look  for  a 
more  e.Ktended  market.  In  1854  he  shipped  \o  New  York  cit)-  about  a 
ton  of  Isabellas  packed  in  tubs  made  by  cutting  apple  barrels  in  halves. 
Each  tub  was  packed  half  full,  when  a  thin  board  was  put  over,  press- 
ing somewhat,  a  thin  hoop  being  tacked  under  to  prevent  too  much 
pressure.  The  tub  was  then  filled  and  covered  much  like  a  tobacco  pail. 
The  tub  when  filled  held  seventy-  five  pounds.  These  sold  at  fifteen  cent- 
per  pound,  arriving  in  market  in  good  condition.  He  continued  ships 
ping,  but  the  ne.\t  ton  broke  the  market  and  Mr.  Prentiss,  being  his  own 
salesman, had  to  have  boxes  made  of  pasteboard  to  contain  ten  pounds; 
then  re  packed  the  fruit  from  the  tubs  into  the  boxes,  and  managed  by 
using  time  and  perseverance  to  make  satisfactory  sales.  This  shipment 
closed  the  business  for  that  year.  In  following  years  they  were  packed 
and  shipped  in  boxes  made  by  Mr.  Prentiss  at  his  vineyard,  and  sold  by 


THE    VIS'F.YARDS. 


239 


commission  merchants.  In  1852  Mr.  Reisenger,  a  GL-rman  vinoyaniist, 
heard  of  Wr.  Prentiss's  success  and  came  to  see.  Upon  being  satisfied 
tliat  the  CLihivation  of  the  grape  could  be  made  a  success  lie  made  a  con- 
tract with  David  Wagoner  to  plant  a  vineyard  of  Catawbas,  especially 
for  wine  and  brandy.  Wagener  was  to  find  the  land  and  pay  all  expenses 
and  Reisenger  was  to  do  the  work,  dividing  the  profits  equal!}-.  There 
were  about  three  acres  set  in  1853.  The  spot  selected  for  this  vineyard 
was  on  the  lake  shore  about  three  miles  south  of  the  line  dividing  the 
counties  of  Yates  and  Steuben.  The  roots  were  set  after  the  manner  of 
planting  in  Germany,  four  feet  apart  each  way  and  trellised  about  four 
feet  high.  It  was  soon  found  a  change  was  needed.  Tliree  fourths  of 
the  vines  were  talcen  out,  the  trellis  made  higher,  and  it  is  now  one  of 
the  most  productive  vine\-ards  on  the  shores  of  Lake  Keuka. 

The  Isabella  was  planted  almost  exclusively  at  first ;  it  was  brought 
from  the  South  in  the  early  part  of  the  century,  where  it  had  been  the 
standard  variety  for  many  years.  The  newer  and  more  desirable  varie- 
ties were  seldom  found  outside  of  the  grounds  of  the  originators.  It 
was  yet  to  be  demonstrated  by  trial  whether  any  other  varieties  could 
be  planted  to  advantage. 

It  is  not  the  design  to  give  in  detail  the  names  of  the  planters  and 
dates  of  planting;  onlj-  a  few  of  the  earliest  will  be  mentioned,  and 
these  for  the  purpose  of  showing  the  sterling  points  and  gradual  increase 
of  the  industry.  The  earliest  planting  of  a  vineyard  in  Yates-  County 
seems  to  have  been  made  by  VV.  VV.  Shirland  on  a  piece  of  land  situ- 
ated in  the  town  of  Benton  almost  at  a  point  where  the  towns  of  Hen- 
ton,  Torrey,  and  ]\Iilo  meet.  It  was  set  to  Isabellas  in  the  early  part  of 
November  in  the  year  1855.  It  has  since  been  replaced  by  Concords. 
Mr.  Shirland  began  changing  to  Concords  in  1866.  The  vineyard  is 
one  of  the  best  and  most  productive  of  the  many  in  the  county.  One 
of  the  pioneers  in  the  business  was  John  Mead  in  Henton  near  the  Torrey 
line,  who  planted  his  first  vineyard  in  1861.  It  contained  three  acres; 
at  that  time  it  was  counted  a  large  one;  it  comprised  lialf  an  acre 
of  Isabellas,  a  large  proportion  of  the  balance  being  Concords;  some 
Catawbas  were  planted;  later  the  Isabellas  were  taken  out  and  Con- 
cords substituted.  The  Catawbas  were  so  uncertain  in  ripening  that 
they  were  abandoned.      The  Concords  are  still  in  full  vigor.     There  is 


240  HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUNTY. 

no  record  of  Concords  being  planted  previously.  The  original  vineyard, 
together  with  additions  thereto  made  at  later  dates,  is  now  owned  by 
Joshua  Mead.  One  of  the  earliest  if  not  the  earliest  planter  of  Dela- 
wares  was  Henry  Rose,  who  set  in  1861  three  acres  in  the  town  of 
Benton,  thoui,'h  included  in  the  corporate  limits  of  Penn  Van.  This 
vineyard  is  still  in  good  bearing,  the  original  vines  bearing  good  crops 
annually.      It  lias  since  been  enlarged. 

Joseph  F.  Crosby,  in  Harrington,  began  planting  in  1864;  in  that  year 
he  planted  six  acres,  comprising  one  of  Delavvares,  one  of  Dianas,  one 
and  one- half  of  Catawbas,  and  two  and  one  half  of  Isabellas.  The  Dela- 
ware, Catawba,  and  Diana  were  just  coming  into  prominence.  Mr. 
Crosby  was  freely  criticised  by  his  neighbors  for  planting  so  largely,  but 
facts  show  his  judgment  to  have  been  good,  as  can  be  undoubtedly 
proved  by  an  examination  of  his  vineyards  lying  just  north  of  Cros- 
by's Landing.  He  planted  freely  in  1866.  There  were  at  this  date 
several  vineyards  on  the  lake  shore  in  the  towns  of  Harrington  and 
Milo  of  the  Isabella  variety.  The  Catawba  had  yet  to  be  tested ; 
they  were  proving  of  value  in  Pleasant  Valley,  at  or  near  Hammonds- 
port,  and  in  Pultney  on  the  west  side  of  the  lake;  in  consequence  thereof 
those  who  intended  planting  began  adding  Catawbas  to  the  list  of  desir- 
able varieties.  The  price  of  roots  was  high;  some  parties  used  cut- 
tings put  in  the  vineyard  the  same  as  though  already  rooted  ;  in  some 
instances  this  proved  successful,  while  in  others  a  perfect  failure — the 
practice  never  gained  a  firm  footing  and  was  soon  abandoned.  On 
Bluff  Point  in  the  town  of  Jerusalem  planting  began  as  early  as  1862. 
William  F.  Van  Tuyl,  on  the  east  side  of  the  Point,  purchased  in  the 
spring  of  1862  of  William  Coons  forty  Catawba  roots  at  the  very  rea- 
sonable price  for  the  time,  six  cents  each,  and  of  Samuel  Wagener  1,200 
Catawba  cuttings  at  $5  per  thousand.  In  1 864  he  bought  of  Judge  Lar- 
rowe,  of  Hammondsport,  4,000  cuttings  at  $3  per  thousand,  of  which  he 
says  :  "The  majority  of  these  cuttings  were  planted  or  set  in  the  vineyard 
where  they  were  intended  to  grow,  the  result  being  that  about  one-half 
of  them  grew  and  made  strong  roots  so  that  we  were  enabled  to  fill  out 
the  ground  as  we  put  two  cuttings  in  each  hill."  Isabellas  also  formed  a 
part  of  this  vineyard.  The  first  sales  are  reported  as  follows:  Isabellas 
taken  to  PennYan  in  a  dry  goods  box  and  sold  at  nine  cents  per  pound 


THE    VINEYARDS.  ii^\ 

September  15,  1865  ;  September  17th  Catawbas  sold  to  Judge  Larrowe 
at  Hammondsport  at  twelve  and  a  half  cents  per  pound,  he  to  furnish  the 
boxes  in  which  they  were  marketed.  Abram  Van  Tuyl  planted  at  the 
same  time  and  manner  as  William.    These  vineyards  are  yet  in  full  vigor. 

Franklin  Culver  as  early  as  1861  planted  on  the  east  side  of  the  Point 
near  Kinney's  Corners  an  acre  or  two  of  Isabellas,  which  have  since 
been  removed  and  their  places  filled  by  more  desirable  varieties.  Plant- 
ing had  begun  on  Seneca  Lake;  occasionally  a  man  who  had  as  he 
thought  a  choice  location  had  planted  small  vineyards.  Anson  Dunlap 
on  the  shore  of  the  lake  near  Stiirkc)'  Station  had  planted  as  earl)-  as 
1862,  as  he  sold  a  quantity  of  grapes  at  Hammondsport  in  1866. 

On  lands  now  owned  by  the  Seneca  Lake  Grape  and  Wine  Company 
there  was  a  vineyard  of  about  three  acres,  part  Catawbas  and  part  Isa 
bellas,  planted  by  James  Valentine  about  1862.  A  stock  company 
called  the  Seneca  Lake  Wine  Company  bought  a  large  tract  of  land,  in- 
cluding the  above,  and  in  1867  extended  the  planting  to  more  than  125 
acres,  which  up  to  a  late  date  was  probably  the  largest  vineyard  in  the 
State  of  New  York.  The  varieties  included  loiias,  Catawbas,  Champions, 
Hartfords,  Prolifics,  Concords,  Delawares,  and  others.  A  large  stone 
building  was  erected  in  1870  for  the  manufacture  of  wines.  The  busi- 
ness had  already  been  started  in  another  building  now  used  for  a  barn. 
Vine  Valley  in  the  town  of  Middlesex,  on  the  shores  of  Canandaigua 
Lake,  is  peculiarly  adapted  to  the  growth  of  the  Delaware,  ripening  it  lo 
perfection  ten  days  in  advance  of  other  locations. 

But  few  grapes  were  planted  previous  to  1865  and  only  in  small  vim- 
yards.  The  results  warranted  larger,  until  the  valley  is  literally  filled  with 
good  productive  vineyards  covering  hundreds  of  acres.  Between  the 
years  1865  and  1 870  planting  was  done  at  a  rapid  rate  ;  lands  that  had 
previously  been  counted  of  little  value,  in  close  proximity  to  the  shores 
of  the  lakes,  some  of  it  steep  and  covered  with  a  dense  growth  of  young 
timber,  being  counted  the  best  for  grapes.  Before  worth  perhaps  twenty 
or  twenty-five  dollars  per  acre  it  rapidly  advanced  in  price,  $250  and 
more  being  paid,  many  large  proprietors  selling  in  lots  of  five  and  ten 
acres  for  vineyard  purposes.  Grapes  had  been  selling  at  good  paying 
prices.  It  was  held  that  no  fertilizers  would  be  needed.  The  prospect 
was  good  for  a  money- making  business.      Vineyards  instead  of  being 

31 


242  HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUXTY. 

small  as  heretofore  were  nuicli  more  extensive.  The  vineyard  owned  by 
H.  P.  Sturtevant&  Co.,  at  the  end  of  lihiff  Point,  one  of  the  finest  in  the 
county,  was  commenced  in  1865.  The  Pratt  &  Jillett  vineyard,  now 
owned  by  Harvey  Pratt,  was  commenced  in  1864.  The  McDowell  vine- 
yard and  many  others  were  commenced  within  a  \-ear  or  two  succeed- 
ing. McDowell  paid  for  lona  vines  $800.  Delawares  $250,  Con- 
cords $80,  and  Catawbas  $iOO  per  thousand.  The\'  were  planted  6x6, 
8x8,  or  10  X  10  as  the  judgment  or  fancy  of  the  planter  dictated.  Wire 
for  trellises  cost  elexen  to  twelve  cents  per  pound,  No.  12  being  the 
size  most  used.  Most  of  the  cultivation  was  done  by  hand.  These  prices 
and  methods  applied  very  generally  throughout  the  county. 

Eli  R.  Stever  planted  on  Bluff  Point  the  first  Zona  vineyard  of  any 
amount  in  1867.  That  >'ear  he  planted  twenty-five  acres.  It  was 
known  to  be  a  grape  of  the  best  quality,  either  for  the  table  or  wine. 
He  contracted  to  pay  $370  per  thousand  for  the  roots  and  give  the 
wood  for  six  years.  They  came  from  Dr.  Grant,  of  lona  Island,  N.  Y. 
They  were  propagated  under  glass.  The  year  following  twenty- five 
acres  more  were  planted  to  lonas  ;  these  were  bought  of  William  Grif- 
fith, of  North  East.  Pa.  They  were  grown  in  the  open  air,  costing  $120, 
with  the  fruit  for  the  first  year,  per  thousand.  Before  planting  the  land 
was  thoroughly  underdrained,  time  and  mone)'  being  spent  without 
limit  to  have  all  done  that  could  be  in  the  way  of  perfect  preparation  to 
make  it  a  success,  but  they  were  finally  abandoned,  being  of  no  value. 
In  1868  Mr.  Stever  planted  fifteen  acres  of  Delawares;  these  are  still 
in  good  bearing.  In  the  fall  of  1865  and  spring  of  1866  twenty- fi\e 
acres  of  the  "  Gulick  Brown  "  vineyard  at  Kinney's  Corners  were 
planted,  consisting  of  Delawares,  Concords,  Catawbas,  Isabellas,  and 
Dianas,  Concord  roots  costing  $80  and  sometimes  $100  per  thousand. 
J.  Warren  Brown  in  1867  planted  1 00  Delaware  vines,  and  a  much 
larger  number  of  Isabellas.  The  Delaware  roots  were  called  first-class, 
but  were  so  small  that  the  whole  100  were  taken  to  the  place  of  planting 
in  a  pan.  The  Delawares  planted  at  that  time  are  still  in  prime  order 
and  have  given  good  crops  annually;   the    Isabellas  have  been  grafted. 

Planting  went  on  rapidly  until  in  1872  over  400  acres  were  planted 
in  the  town  of  Jerusalem  alone.  In  Vine  Valley  there  were  about  140 
acres,  while  J.  T.  Henderson,  C.  N.  Wixom,  the  Seneca  Lake  Wine  and 


THE    VINEYARDS.  243 

Grape  Company,  together  with  many  others,  kept  pace  on  the  Seneca 
Lake.  The  prices  had  been  good,  the  vineyards  generally  successful, 
until  about  1870,  when  a  surplus  of  fruit  caused  grapes  to  sell  for  an 
average  of  three  cents  per  pound.  It  looked  as  though  enough  grapes 
had  been  planted  to  supply  all  (!eman<ls  for  a  long  time  to  come.  Many 
who  had  contemplated  planting  gave  it  up  ;  lands  decreased  in  price  al- 
most as  fast  as  they  had  advanced  five  years  before.  From  187 1  to 
1876  the  acreage  of  vines  was  not  extended  in  any  great  amount,  yet 
prices  were  gradually  working  up  again  and  the  prospect  generally 
seemed  to  warrant  more  grapes.  The  demand  for  both  table  and  wine 
was  increasing.  Beginning  about  1876  to  plant  again  the  acreage  has 
been  e.\'tended  until  it  is  estimated  about  7,000  acres  are  in  bearing, 
with  an  average  yield  of  above  10,000  tons  annually. 

In  i88t  George  C.  Snow,  on  the  Esperanza  Vineyards  located  on  the 
west  branch  of  Lake  Keiika,  i)lanted  the  first  Niagaras.  The  package 
used  for  shipping  at  first  was  a  bo.x  made  of  wood,  holding  ten  pounds 
placed  in  crates  holding  six  boxes.  These  gave  place  to  boxes  hold- 
ing five  pounds,  with  eight  boxes  in  a  crate,  and  these  were  superceded 
by  a  box  containing  three  pounds  with  twelve  in  a  crate.  These  were 
first  made  by  the  Messrs.  Prentiss  at  Pultney  and  Fairchild  at  Hani- 
mundsport.  In  1866  Messrs.  Hopkins  Brothers,  at  their  factory  in  Penn 
Yan,  began  making  boxes.  This  was  the  first  factory  in  Yates  County. 
They  sold  five-pound  boxes  in  crates  at  $80  and  the  three-pound  boxes 
in  crates  at  $65  per  thousand. 

James  \V.  Stever,  of  Branchport,  and  George  W.  Fenton,  on  the 
east  side  of  Lake  Keuka,  soon  after  began  manufacturing.  Baskets  began 
to  be  used  in  any  amount  in  1877.  They  rapidly  superceded  the  box. 
Baskets  containing  ten  pounds  were  used  until  about  1882,  when  the 
present  "  pony  "  or  five-pound  basket  took  precedence.  There  are  now 
eight  basket  factories  in  operation,  with  an  annual  output  of  3,000,000. 
Shipping  began  exclusively  by  express,  the  rate  being  $1.65  per  lOO 
pounds  to  New  York  city  and  the  same  to  all  the  large  cities  on  the 
seaboard.  They  began  to  be  shipped  by  freight  by  Charles  Hunter  & 
Co.  in  1868  at  sixty-  five  cents  per  100  pounds  in  car  lots,  the  rate  be- 
ing the  same  to  New  York,  Philadelphia,  or  Baltimore.  About  ten 
years  later  the  Northern  Central  Railroad  attempted  to  carry  grapes  by 


244  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

freight  in  small  lots.  It  was  far  from  satisfactory  ;  the  time  spent  in 
transit  was  too  long  and  quite  uncertain,  the  roads  not  having  facilities 
for  handling  such  perishable  freight.  The  care  they  received  was  too 
rough,  the  result  being  they  were  not  put  into  market  in  good  order. 

In  1880  J.  P.  Barnes  established  the  Barnes  Fruit  Line,  running  cars 
for  fruit  alone  from  Hammondsport  to  New  York  via  Bath  and  Ham- 
mondsport  and  Erie  Railroads.  The  grapes  were  loaded  at  Hammonds- 
port  and  unloaded  without  breaking  bulk  in  New  York  in  very  good 
time.  This  gave  a  good  outlet  to  the  Yates  County  growers  via  boat 
to  Hammondsport,  and  was  a  success.  In  1884  Mr.  Barnes  organized 
his  Boston  line  from  Blood's  station  on  the  Erie  road  to  Boston, 
giving  this  county  the  opportunity  to  take  advantage  of  the  Boston 
line  at  Bath.  In  1884  Mr.  Barnes  also  started  his  fruit  line  via  the 
Northern  Central  Railroad,  starting  his  cars  at  Canandaigua  and 
getting  his  grapes  between  that  point  and  Watkins.  At  this  place 
the  cars  were  closed  and  forwarded  rapidh'  to  their  destination.  Within 
a  year  or  two  succeeding  the  Northern  Central  Road  assumed  control 
of  its  fruit  business  and  is  giving  excellent  service.  This  company,  the 
Hollowell  &  Wise  Fast  Fruit  Line  over  the  Fall  Brook  Railroad  and 
the  Barnes  line  from  Hammondsport  over  the  Erie  road,  are  transport- 
ing nearly  the  whole  output  by  freight  both  east  and  west. 

The  organization  of  the  Pleasant  Valley  Wine  Company,  near  Ham- 
mondsport, opened  up  a  large  market  for  grapes  This  company  was 
organized  in  i860.  The  Urbana  Wine  Company  was  organized  in 
1865,  followed  by  others  until  there  are  nine  wine  companies  on  Lake 
Keuka  alone.  These  use  in  the  aggregate  several  thousand  tons  of 
grapes  annually,  drawing  quite  a  percentage  of  their  supply  from  Yates 
County. 

The  method  of  pruning  continues  practically  the  same  as  first 
adopted.  It  is  the  thorough  renewal  system  ;  occasionally  some  other 
method  has  been  attempted,  but  not  to  any  extent.  Grafting  has  been 
done  quite  extensively.  Many  of  the  early  planted  Isabellas  have  been 
changed  by  this  process  into  more  desirable  varieties.  The  method 
pursued  is  the  cleft  graft  and  is  the  quickest  way  to  change  varieties 
that  is  known. 

In  1 886  John  H.  Butler,  a  practical  and  extensive  vineyardist,  started 


THE    VINEYARDS.  24$ 

in  Femi  Van  the  Vineyardist,  a  journal  devoted  to  grape  culture  and 
kindred  interests.  It  is  a  horticultural  paper,  but  a  large  part  of  its 
space  is  given  over  to  discussing  the  intricacies  of  grape  growing.  Its 
columns  have  been  open  at  all  times  to  correspondents.  It  has  been 
invaluable  to  growers  as  a  medium  through  which  errors  could  be  cor- 
rected, new  ideas  relating  to  the  business  set  forth,  reporting  on  new 
varieties,  etc.      It  has  been  well  sustained. 

Some  diseases  have  made  their  appearance.  The  downy  mildew 
has  been  by  far  the  most  destructive,  sometimes  defoliating  vineyards 
as  well  as  causing  much  rotting  of  the  fruit.  The  foliage  of  the  Dela- 
ware is  very  susceptible,  but  the  fruit  is  almost  free.  Both  fruit  and 
foliage  of  the  Catawba  is  subject  to  its  ravages.  Powdery  mildew  has 
not  been  of  frequent  occurrence.  It  sometimes  attacks  the  Concord, 
doing  much  damage,  but  is  usually  not  widespread.  Hlack  rot  is  of 
recent  date.  In  1889  Colonel  Pearson,  of  the  Department  of  Agricult- 
ure, made  a  careful  examination  of  the  vines  in  this  section  and  found 
occasionally  an  infected  berry.  Careful  search  for  a  whole  day  resulted 
in  finding  a  handful  of  infected  berries  among  the  Catawbas  and  occa- 
sionally a  sported  leaf  It  is  a  dangerous  and  contagious  fungus  dis- 
ease, more  persistent  and  destructive  in  warm,  wet  seasons.  It  is  supposed 
when  once  fastened  on  a  section  or  vineyard  it  will  be  almost  impossible  to 
stop  it  if  the  conditions  are  right  for  its  dissemination.  Some  of  the  older 
growers  say  it  has  been  long  known  under  the  local  name  of  the  "  ap- 
ple rot,"  some  seasons  causing  heavy  losses.  This  as  well  as  other 
fungus  diseases  can  be  controlled  by  any  of  the  salts  of  copper  applied 
in  the  form  of  a  very  weak  solution  in  water  in  the  shape  of  a  fine 
spray.  Machines  are  made  for  the  purpose,  John  H.  Butler,  Horace  F. 
Mills,  and  G.  C.  Snow  being  the  first  to  apply  the  fungicide  by  horse- 
power in  1890. 

Anthracnose  is  found,  but  seldom  and  very  light ;  further  than  these 
the  vines  are  free  from  disease.  Among  insects  the /'/rj7/c7.rfrrt  has  done 
much  damage.  They  infest  the  roots  of  nearly  every  vine.  It  has  no 
doubt  caused  the  almost  total  failure  of  the  lona.  Most  varieties  are 
not  damaged  to  any  great  extent. 

Sometimes  the  Delaware,  Catawba,  and  Clinton  foliage  is  attacked  by 
the  tlirips  ;   if  bad  they  cause  much  damage.      No  method  has  been  de- 


246  HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUNTY. 

vised  whereby  they  can  be  killed.  Within  a  year  or  two  the  steel 
blue  beetle  has  made  its  appearance  in  sufficient  numbers  to  cause  a 
perceptible  loss.  No  effort  has  as  yet  been  made  to  check  its  ravages 
except  by  catching  them  by  hand. 

Some  important  ciiaiiges  have  taken  place.  The  early  vineyards 
were  trellised.  with  wooden  slats  nailed  to  stakes.  Wire  costing  eleven 
and  a  half  cents  per  pound,  fastened  to  the  stakes  with  wrought 
nails  next  came  in  vogue,  and  the  wrought  nails  were  succeeded  by 
small  staples  made  expressly  for  the  purpose.  Wire  now  is  used  cost 
ing  about  $50  per  ton.  From  all  sorts  and  kinds  of  packages  which 
have  been  tried  the  five  and  ten-pound  baskets  have  taken  precedence 
over  all  others.  Transportation  of  grapes  has  become  a  well  defined 
business.  Improvements  have  been  made  where  experience  showed 
the  need.  The  handling  of  the  enormous  amount  of  grapes  between 
the  vineyards  where  they  are  grown  and  the  purchaser  has  been  so  sys- 
tematized that  seldom  a  basket  is  lost  or  damaged,  and  at  rates  about 
one- half  below  those  charged  twenty-five  years  ago.  Where  two  tons 
broke  the  New  York  market  in  1852  today  thousands  of  tons  are  con- 
sumed, with  the  same  increase  in  proportion  in  all  the  markets.  The 
Isabella  at  first  was  supposed  to  be  the  only  variety  which  could  be 
grown  here;  it  has  now  been  almost  entirely  superceded  by  other  and 
vastly  better  varieties.  From  plantings  of  an  acre  or  two  in  widely 
separated  localities  we  now  find  an  aggregate  acreage  estimated  at 
7,000,  yielding  the  last  three  years  an  annual  average  of  10,000  tons. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

AGRICULTURE    IN    YATES   COUNTY.' 

THIS  county  was  formed  from  Ontario  on  February  5,  1823.  Rar- 
rington  and  Starkey  were  added  April  5,  1824.  The  surface  of 
the  earth  in  this  county  is  undulating,  and  is  divided  by  five  great  ridges 
extending  in  a   northerh'  direction,    which    gradually   descend   from  a 

>  By  James  Miller,  of  Jerusalem. 


AGRICUL  TURF..  247 

height  of  from  600  to  i.Soo  feet  above  Seneca  Lake  to  a  gentle  un- 
duhiting  region  in  the  towns  of  Torrey,  Benton,  Potter,  and  Middlesex. 
The  soil  varies  from  a  tenacious  clay  to  a  gravelly  loam,  but  the  greater 
portion  is  a  medium  and  contains  clay  intermixed  with  gravel  and 
loam,  and  is  well  adapted  to  grazing  or  tillage.  It  contains  an  abund- 
ance of  lime  for  agricultural  purposes,  and  of  potash,  also,  except  on 
the  highest  ridges. 

The  TuUy  limestone  crops  out  on  the  Keuka  outlet  and,  as  it  is  said 
to  contain  two  per  cent,  of  phosphoric  acid,  might  be  utilized  for  agri- 
cultural purposes,  as  that  is  the  most  deficient  element  of  plant  food  in 
the  soil.  There  are  also  numerous  deposits  of  muck  which  might  be 
utilized  to  improve  the  uplands.  The  county  has  great  natural  ad- 
vantages for  agriculture,  horticulture,  and  vinticulture.  Much  of  the 
soil  is  of  superior  fertility.  The  climate,  too,  is  tempered  by  the  great 
lakes  north  and  west  of  the  State  and  the  smaller  interior  ones,  the 
borders  of  which  are  well  adapted  to  fruit  and  especially  to  grape  and 
peach  growing.  The  former  are  of  superior  quality  and  their  pro- 
duction has  increased  from  small  to  vast  proportions.  At  the  time  of 
the  formation  of  the  county  only  a  small  portion  of  the  original  forest 
had  been  removed.  Most  of  it  was  settled,  but  only  small  clearings  had 
been  made.  Nearly  all  of  the  settlers  then  lived  in  log  houses.  Pot 
and  pearl  ashes  and  wheat  were  mainly  depended  upon  for  sale,  and 
only  a  small  amount  of  the  latter  was  produced  and  that  sold  for  but 
fifty  cents  per  bushel.  So  the  incomes  of  farmers  were  small,  but  as 
only  a  few  implements  were  used  to  cultivate  the  soil  and  secure  crops, 
and  as  garments  were  manufactured  and  made  at  home,  it  supplied  other 
wants.  Wages  were  low.  Farm  hands  labored  for  from  %6  to  $8  per 
month.     Girls  worked  for  from  four  shillings  to  six  shillings  per  week. 

A  protective  tariff  was  enacted  in  1824,  which  encouraged  manu- 
facturing and  diversified  labor.  Proportionately,  too,  many  people  had 
been  engaged  in  agriculture.  After  the  tariff  act  tiie  price  of  agricult- 
ural products  improved  and  wages  advanced.  A  "  woolen  bill  "  was 
enacted  in  1828,  which  rendered  the  duty  of  woolen  goods  more  specific, 
and  the  production  of  wool  thereafter  became  profitable  and  a  great 
source  of  wealth.  The  value  of  farm  lands  rapidly  advanced,  and  also 
all  farm  products  and  domestic  animals.      Labor  also  advanced  and  an 


248  HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUNTY. 

era  of  great  prosperity  followed.  CompetitiiHi  reduced  the  price  of  all 
manufactured  goods  so  that  they  could  not  be  profitably  made  at  home, 
and  household  manufacture  gradually  declined  and  the  spinning-wheels 
and  other  appurtenances  were  consigned  to  the  garret.  Log  huts  were 
abandoned  for  commodious  houses  and  stately  mansions.  But  this  era 
of  prosperity  was  checked  by  the  gradual  reduction  of  the  tarift'  from 
1833  to  1842,  when  it  was  at  minimum  rate.  A  financial  crisis  had  oc- 
curred in  1837  and  prices  of  all  farm  products  and  domestic  animals  had 
declined.  Good  cows  sold  for  $10  and  all  other  animals  in  like  pro- 
portion. Wages  of  farm  hands  had  declined  from  $15  and  $18  per 
month  to  $10  and  $12. 

A  protective  tariff  was  again  enacted  in  1842,  which  once  more  re- 
vived prices  of  farm  products.  This  was  changed  to  a  revenue  tariff  in 
1846,  but  the  Irish  famine  of  1846,  the  Mexican  war,  the  discovery  of 
gold,  and  the  Crimean  war  maintained  strong  prices  until  1857. 
After  the  close  of  the  latter  war  another  period  of  depression  occurred  and 
continued  until  1861.  After  the  commencement  of  our  Civil  war,  and 
after  the  enactment  of  the  protective  tariff  of  1861,  another  era  of  pros- 
perity prevailed,  which  was  checked  only  by  the  financial  panic  of  1873. 
Prices  again  improved  in  1878,  but  were  depressed  in  1885  by  o\er 
production  from  the  vast  amount  of  fertile  soil  brought  under  cultiva- 
tion in  the  West,  but  as  that  has  now  been  mainly  occupied,  and  as  the 
demand  has  equalled  the  supply,  agriculture  has  an  apparently  bright 
future  if  farmers  will  become  educated  and  avail  themselves  of  every 
advantage  and  pursue  mixed  husbandry. 

Wheat  and  wool  with  some  barley  were  mainly  depended  upon  in  this 
county  down  to  1852,  when  the  railroad  from  Watkins  to  Canandaigua 
was  completed  (now  a  branch  of  the  Northern  Central),  which  furnished 
transportation  for  fruit  and  perishable  products.  Since  that  time  the 
products  have  been  more  diversified.  Less  wheat  and  wool  have  been 
produced  and  more  of  other  cereals,  especially  barley.  Fruit  and  grape 
growing  has  become  a  leading  industry  in  many  localities.  The  pro- 
duction of  potatoes,  hay,  poultry,  and  eggs  have  greatly  increased. 
The  value  of  poultry  sold  in  1854  was  $12,494;  of  eggs,  $9,010.  In 
1864  the  value  of  poultry  sold  was  $21,460;  of  eggs,  $13,511.  In 
1874  the  value  of  poultry  sold  was  $33,179  ;  of  eggs,  $32,876. 


AGRICUL  TURE.  249 

The  nimiber  of  bushels  of  potatoes  produced  in  1854  was  57,912;  in 
1864,  126,813;  '"  1874,  194,246.  The  value  of  grapes  produced  in 
1854  was  $57;  in  1864,  $77,000;  in  1874,  2,784,439  pounds.  As  the 
census  was  not  taken  in  1885  we  cannot  state  the  increase,  but  up  to  the 
present  grapes  must  liave  increased  threefold  ;  also  small  fruit,  more 
especially  raspberries.  All  other  varieties  of  fruit  have  also  greatly  in- 
creased in  production. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  find  an  area  of  equal  extent  with  Yates  County 
having  a  more  fertile  soil  or  with  as  great  natural  advantages.  Hundreds 
of  men  have  commenced  with  small  means,  or  none  at  all,  and  became 
wealthy  or  secured  a  competenc)'  ;  and  for  the  benefit  of  )oung  men  we 
will  name  one  of  them,  John  Merrifield.  He  was  visited  in  November, 
1 89 1,  and  found  at  work  on  his  farm,  although  he  is  in  his  eighty- third 
year.  He  commenced  to  work  for  $6  per  month  and  increased  from 
year  to  year  until  he  received  $10  per  month.  He  saved  his  wages  until 
he  could  work  land  upon  shares,  and  soon  was  able  to  purchase  a  farm, 
and  at  one  time  owned  three  good  farms.  He  has  been  industrious, 
frugal,  and  temperate.  There  are  just  as  good  opportunities  for  young 
men  to  succeed  in  the  future  as  there  have  been  in  the  past.  Land  can 
be  purchased  for  less  than  the  improvements  have  cost,  and  with  im- 
proved husbandry  would  be  more  profitable  than  more  sought  occu- 
pations. 

Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  the  products  of  the  county  are  im- 
mense they  could  be  doubled  before  the  end  of  the  present  century, 
which  would  be  more  than  double  the  value  of  the  soil  and  quadruple 
the  profits.  This  cannot  be  accomplished  without  some  radical  ciianges. 
Waste  places  must  be  cultivated.  The  cultivation  must  be  deeper  to 
return  to  the  surface  the  elements  of  plant  food  which  have  been  leached 
from  it.  Farmers  must  be  more  thorough  in  subduing  noxious  weeds 
and  thistles  and  wet  soils  must  be  under-drained.  More  manures  and 
fertilizers  should  also  be  applied.  Improved  breeds  of  domestic  animals 
ought  to  be  substituted  instead  of  the  quality  now  kept.  Improved 
modes  of  feeding  should  be  adopted.  To  obtain  the  best  results  ani- 
mals should  constantly  have  a  full  supply  of  nutritious  food.  Profit- 
able results  have  been  greatly  reduced  many  times  during  extreme 
droughts  and  by  the  exposure  of  cattle  to  inclement  weather  late  in 
it 


250  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUXTY. 

the  season  when  pastures  have  become  scant  and  lost  mucli  of  their  nu- 
trition from  frosts,  and  also  by  compelling  animals  to  subsist  on  coarse, 
dry,  and  unnutritious  food  during  the  winter.  This  can  all  be  obviated 
by  the  use  of  silos  and  by  securing  the  southern  corn  for  seed.  Double 
the  amount  from  a  given  area  can  be  produced  and  the  cost  of  keeping 
can  be  greatly  lessened  ;  and  as  the  fodder  corn  may  have  double  the 
value  of  a  crop  to  husk,  and  requires  less  labor,  it  would  be  much  more 
profitable  for  farmers  of  this  county  to  purchase  corn  and  other  food 
from  the  west,  which  would  increase  the  manure,  and  with  a  judicious 
use  of  commercial  fertilizers  they  could  compete  with  the  West,  as  crops 
are  more  certain  and  local  markets  better  in  the  East. 

We  have  the  best  financial  system  and  government  in  the  world,  and 
as  the  future  success  of  farmers  greatly  depends  on  their  stability  it 
will  be  for  the  interest  of  every  tiller  of  the  soil  to  sustain  them  against 
agitators  who  are  trying  to  array  labor  against  capital.  Capital  has 
greatly  aided  agriculture  by  furnishing  transportation  for  farm  products, 
loaning  money  and  furnishing  it  to  pay  for  their  products,  and  as  every 
young  man  has  opportunit)'  to  become  a  capitalist  if  he  wishes  to  be, 
he  ought  to  improve  his  opportunit)-  and  not  envy  those  v\ho  iia\'e  suc- 
ceeded more  than  he.  Many  of  our  millionairs  were  rocked  in  the  cra- 
dle of  poverty,  and  with  a  stable  government  the  child  of  poverty  today- 
may  be  the  capitalist  of  the  next  generation.  But  the  changes  de- 
manded by  some  of  the  agitators  would  greatly  jeopardize  his  oppor- 
tunit)^  They  demand  money  issued  and  loaned  by  the  government  at 
two  per  cent,  on  land.  This  would  greatly  increase  the  price  of  land, 
and  those  who  have  none  could  not  be  benefited  b\'  it  and  it  would  be 
more  difficult  to  obtain.  Interest  should  be  regulated  by  supply  and 
demand  the  same  as  other  commodities.  High  rates  of  interest  can  be 
obviated  with  good  credit  and  prosperity  by  industrious  economy  and 
sobriety. 


FREEMA  SONR  V.  251 

CHAPTER  XVHI. 

FREEMASONRY    IN    YATES    COUNTY.' 

TME  rapid  growth  of  tliis  great  western  world  has  given  us  full  grown 
institutions  at  a  time  when  in  other  countries  they  would  have  been 
in  their  infancy.  It  is  unnecessar)'  for  the  historian  to  begin  with  an 
effort  to  un\fil  the  origin  of  Freemasonry  or  to  show  its  growth  with  the 
growth  and  progress  of  an  early  civilization,  to  trace  its  development 
through  untold  centuries.  It  is  enough  to  say  that  wherever  the  hand 
of  man  has  established  a  civilized  community  there  is  to  be  found  Free- 
masonry as  one  of  its  chief  corner  stones.  Yates  County  was  no  ex- 
ception. A  few  \ears  after  the  hardy  settler  had  cleared  off  a  portion 
of  the  forest  from  the  beautiful  and  fertile  country  lying  between  Penn 
Yan  and  Dresden  a  great  highway  was  opened  near  the  original  east 
line  of  the  Phelps  and  Gorham  purchase,  which,  taking  its  name  from 
this  line,  has  ever  since  been  known  as  the  Pre-emption  road.  It  ran 
from  Geneva  to  the  southern  portion  of  tliis  great  tract  and  promised 
to  become  the  great  line  of  trade  of  all  that  beautiful  countrj'.  At  in- 
tervals of  three  or  four  miles  along  this  highway  were  to  be  found  tav 
erns  of  a  rude  and  ])rimitive  fashion.  These  taverns  were  built  where 
neighborhood  roads  crossed  the  main  highway  and  were  gathering 
points  for  the  neighbors  as  well  as  resting  places  for  the  traveler.  The 
principal  article  of  refreshment  to  be  found  at  these  resting  places  was 
the  whisky  of  the  country,  which,  owing  to  the  cheapness  of  corn,  ignor- 
ance of  the  adulteration  of  modern  chemistry,  and  freedom  from  legal 
restraint,  was  within  the  reach  of  the  poorest  wayfarer.  The  proprie- 
tors of  these  taverns  not  infrequently  kept  small  stocks  of  those  goods 
most  needed  by  neighboring  settlers.  Sometimes  a  wagonmaker  or 
a  blacksmith  built  his  shop  or  set  up  his  anvil  at  the  same  four  corners, 
and  soon  the  proprietor  and  perhaps  a  few  of  his  neighbors  began  to 
think  that  their  settlement  was  the  beginning  of  a  great  city  that  would 
certainly  grow  up  and  surround  their  log  cabins.      At  one  of  the  most 

I  By  John  N.  Macomb,  jr.,  of  Branchport,  M.  Y. 


2  5  2  HIS  TORY  OF  YA  TES  CO  U.V  T  V. 

promising  of  tliese  centers  was  tlie  tavern  of  Tiiomas  Lee,  jr.,  whicli 
stood  wlieie  the  road  from  Dresden  to  Penn  Van  joins  the  Pre  emption 
road,  now  occupied  by  the  handsome  residence  of  Guy  Sliaw.  All 
indications  seemed  to  point  to  the  growth  of  a  prosperous  town  upon 
this  site. 

Prior  to  i8io  a  few  Masonic  lodges  had  been  establislied  in  the  coun- 
try west  of  Utica.  Some  of  the  members  of  these  lodges  had  found 
their  waj'  into  the  neighborhood  of  which  we  are  writing,  and  in  that  year 
a  "  warrant  of  dispensation  "  was  issued  b\'  the  Grand  Lodge  author- 
izing a  few  of  these  brethren  to  organize  a  lodge  and  do  all  regular  Ma- 
sonic work.  The  lodge  was  named  Vernon,  from  the  former  name  of 
the  township,  and  its  number  on  the  Grand  Lodge  registry  was  190. 
It  was  instituted  on  the  8th  of  May,  1810,  by  Parley  Phillips,  of  Geneva. 
The  names  of  the  members  of  the  lodge  at  its  institution  were  :  Dr. 
Joshua  Lee,  master  ;  Benjamin  Shaw,  senior  warden  ;  Thomas  Lee,  jr., 
junior  warden;  John  Hobart,  Robert  Patterson,  James  Schofield,  Reu 
ben  Weed,  Joseph  Havens,  Harry  Smith,  George  C.  Shattuck,  and  John 
Dow. 

On  the  I  2th  of  June  Timothy  Stewart  was  the  first  initiate.  \'ernon 
Lodge  held  its  meetings  for  some  years  in  the  house  of  Thomas  Lee,  jr. 
As  the  lodge  grew  in  numbers  and  as  funds  increased  a  better  room 
was  needed,  and  directions  were  given  for  building  and  a  committee 
was  appointed  to  superintend  the  work  This  work  must  have  been 
carried  on  slowly,  for  although  it  was  begun  in  tlie  spring  of  1815  it 
does  not  appear  to  have  been  finislied  for  more  than  a  year.  August 
6,  1 8 16,  it  was  "  Voted  that  we  receive  no  petitions  in  the  lodge  until  the 
room  is  finished  or  made  more  safe  for  doing  business."  During  this 
period  and  for  some  time  after  bills  were  presented  to  the  lodge  for 
labor  and  materials,  amounting  in  all  to  about  $600.  One  account 
dated  January  8,  1817,  was  presented  by  Thomas  Lee,  jr.,  "for  ma- 
terials of  building  the  lodge-room,  whisky,  etc,"  amounting  to  $273.45, 
from  which  it  would  appear  that  they  must  have  had  an  old-fashioned 
"  raising."  The  lodge  continued  to  occupy  at  Thomas  Lee,  jr.'s  until 
February  9,  1819,  when  the  first  regular  meeting  was  held  at  Asa 
Cole's  on  Head  street  in  Penn  Van,  west  of  Main  street.  A  special 
meeting  had  been   held   there  a  month   before,  however,  as  we   find  in 


FREEAtASOXRY.  253 

tlie  minutes  tliat  on  December  27,  1818,  it  was  "voted  that  the  instal- 
lation of  officers  elect  be  postponed  on  account  of  the  severity  of  the 
weather  until  Thursday  next,  the  31st  inst  ,  then  to  take  place  at  Asa 
Cole's  at  Penn  Van." 

On  the  14th  of  November,  1820,  the  lodge  resolved  to  move  to  a  room 
over  Cornelius  Masten's  office  and  on  the  19th  of  August,  1823,  the  lodge 
removed  to  Smith  M.  Cole's  on  Head  street,  Penn  Yan,  a  few  rods  east  of 
Main  street,  where  it  continued  to  meet  until  it  moved  into  the  new- 
building  of  M.  F.  Sheppard,  August  23,  1825.  The  lodge  had  un- 
doubtedly met  at  times  in  its  old  home  in  the  house  of  Thomas  Lee, 
jr.,  after  the  first  ineetings  were  held  in  Penn  Van,  and  it  was  not  until 
September  16,  1823,  that  it  was  "Voted  that  this  lodge  does  hereby 
relinquish  all  claim  or  demand  on  the  lodge- room  in  the  house  of 
Brother  Thomas  Lee,  of  whatsoever  name  or  nature,  and  that  Brother 
Thomas  Lee  does  relinquish  all  dues  from  the  lodge  to  him,  (he  hav- 
ing so  agreed,)  and  that  the  moveable  property  of  said  lodge  be  given 
up  to  the  lodge  when  called  for."  The  Shepparii  block,  which  stood 
on  the  west  side  of  Main  street  just  south  of  Head  street,  was  burned 
December  6,  1826,  and  the  lodge  moved  back  to  the  room  at  Smith  M. 
Cole's.  The  subject  of  a  Masonic  Hall  to  be  built  and  owned  by  the 
lodge  had  frequently  been  considered  and  lots  had  been  offered  to  the 
lodge.  On  the  9th  of  January, 1S27,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  buy 
a  lot  to  cost  $50  and  build  a  Masonic  Hail  upon  it  at  a  cost  not  to 
exceed  $650.  For  this  purpose  a  committee  was  "authorized  to  re- 
ceive the  funds  of  this  lodge  from  the  hands  of  the  treasurer  to  defray 
the  expense  of  said  building  as  far  as  the  same  will  extend,  and  to  circu- 
late a  subscription  among  the  fraternity  to  assist  in  said  building  with 
the  understanding  that  moneys  paid  on  said  subscription  be  refunded 
as  soon  as  funds  come  into  the  hands  of  this  lodge."  On  the  25th 
of  March,  1S28,  the  lodge  had  evidently  taken  possession  of  the  Masonic 
Hall ;  at  that  time  the  lower  floor  of  the  building  was  rented  to  Brother 
Hiram  Nash,  who  was  authorized  to  finish  it  at  a  cost  of  not  more  than 
$175  and  to  pay  himself  with  the  rent  at  $30  per  annum. 

By  the  end  of  the  year  1830  the  great  tidal  wave  of  anti-Masonry 
had  swept  over  the  country  and  Vernon  Lodge  was  one  of  the  wrecks 
left  in  its  path.  The  records  of  the  meetings  show  very  few  in  attend- 
ance.     On  the  4th  of  December  in  that  year  it  was 


254  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUXTY. 

"Resolved,  That  a  committee  be  appointed  to  sell  ail  the  real  and  personal  property 
of  this  lodge  for  the  purpose  of  paying  the  debts  of  said  lodge,  and  that  the  Master 
and  Wardens  are  hereby  authorized  to  execute  a  deed  and  such  other  papers  as  may 
be  necessary  to  secure  a  title  to  the  purchaser  of  said  premises." 

In  tlie  early  history  of  Vernon  Lodge  we  find  that  it  prospered 
financially  and  very  soon  became  a  lender,  the  members  borrowing  the 
lodge  funds  in  sums  varying  from  $i6  to  $30.  Charity,  that  greatest 
of  all  virtues,  abounded.  The  records  show  many  instances  of  relief 
being  extented  to'  the  unfortunate.  On  September  7,  1813,  it  was 
"  V^oted  that  ten  dollars  be  paid  to  Augustus,  George,  and  Stephen 
Reketh  to  redeem  our  brothers  in  Algiers,  in  bondage,"  and  on  March 
I,  1814,  "  Brother  Timothy  Smith  received  of  this  lodge  twenty  dol- 
lars for  the  alleviation  of  his  late  misfortune,  having  his  property 
burned  and  plundered  by  the  British  in  taking  Buffalo."  As  early  as 
1824  the  subject  of  a  Masonic  Home  was  brought  before  the  lodge. 
On  September  20th  of  that  year  Rev.  Brother  Joshua  Bradley  visited 
the  lodge  and  "delivered  an  address  on  the  importance  of  forming  a 
Masonic  Association,  submitting  a  plan  of  general  association  with 
power  to  loan,  to  buy  a  farm,  and  build  an  academy  for  Masons'  orphan 
children,  with  a  view  to  incorporation  to  disseminate  correct  Masonic 
information  requesting  representation  of  this  lodge  at  a  convention  to  be 
holden  at  Waterloo  on  the  second  Wednesday  in  October  next." 

The  festivals  of  the  two  Saints  John  seem  to  have  been  observed  from 
the  first,  either  at  home  or  with  some  sister  lodge.  On  June  24,  1824, 
Vernon  Lodge  laid  the  corner-stone  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church 
in  Penn  Yan.  The  minutes  of  that  date  read  .  "  It  being  the  anniver- 
sarj^of  S.  John  the  Baptist  Brother  A.  Woodworth  attended  as  marshal, 
formed  in  procession  marched  to  music,  were  joined  by  the  Grand 
Lodge,  received  the  ladies  in  form,  inarched  to  the  site  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  in  the  village  of  Penn  Yan,  attended  the  ceremony 
of  laying  the  corner-stone  of  the  edifice  in  Masonic  form  by  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Lansing  as  grand  chaplain  and  Dr.  Joshua  Lee  as  grand  master, 
were  favored  with  Masonic  discotusc  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Pomero)-,  marched 
in  procession  to  a  bower,  and  entertainment  prepared  by  Brother  Smith 
M.  Cole;   after  refreshment  returned  to  the  lodge-room." 

On  St.  John's  day,  1826,  an  invitation  was  received  from  Union 
Lodge,  No.  372,  at  Prattsburgh,  to  join  in  the  celebration  of  the  festival. 


FREEMASOXR  V.  255 

Consent  was  i;i\'cii  to  the  organization  of  Reatling  Lodge  (now  Dundee 
Lodge,  No.  123)  on  April  22,  1823,  and  to  Italy  Morning  Star  Lodge 
on  February  21,  1826. 

Disputes  sometimes  arose  between  brethren.  These  were  brought 
before  the  lodge  instead  of  being  taken  into  court  and  were  usually  set- 
tled by  a  committee  appointed  by  the  lodge.  A  difficult  case  having 
arisen  between  Thomas  Lee,  jr.,  and  Avery  Smith,  it  was,  as  usual,  re- 
ferred to  a  committee,  but  the  committee  failed  to  make  peace  between 
the  brethren  antl  the  matter  was  referred  to  the  lodge  as  a  committee  of 
the  whole  and  all  members  within  eleveti  miles  were  summoned  to  at- 
tend this  meeting.  Harmony  was  finally  restored.  In  those  days  of 
sparse  settlement  some  of  the  members  lived  at  considerable  distances 
from  the  lodge.  They  were  usually  compensated  for  this  disadvantage, 
as  we  find  on  F'ebruary  9,  1819  :  "Voted,  that  Brother  J.  Schofield  be 
exonerated  from  paying  his  quarterly  dues  to  this  date  in  consequence 
of  his  residing  at  an  extreme  distance  from  the  lodge."  Occasionally 
some  of  the  brethren,  although  beginning  well  and  coming  to  the  lodge 
"  of  good  report,"  became  backsliders  and  were  subjected  to  discipline. 
This  usually  consisted  of  suspension  for  a  definite  period.  One  brother 
was  suspended  for  six  months  for  anti- Masonic  conduct.  As  this  action 
bears  date  August  17,  18 18,  his  offence  could  have  had  nothing  to  do 
with  those  enemies  of  Freemasonry  who  found  a  "  good  enough  Mor- 
gan until  after  election."  A  committee  appointed  to  investigate  charges 
against  a  brother  rc[)orted  "  that  he  was  guilty  of  defrauding  brethren 
and  of  other  degrading  and  anti- Masonic  conduct,  and  that  he  is  irre- 
claimable." He  was  expelled.  A  committee  was  appointed  to  "ad- 
monish" a  brother  "for  immoral  conduct,"  against  whom  charges  had 
been  preferred.  The  committee  reported  at  the  next  meeting  "  that 
they  had  talked  with  him  and  that  he  had  promised  a  reformation,  and 
yet,  instead  of  reforming,  the  committee  reported  that  they  have  since 
seen  him  frequently  intoxicated."  He  was  summoned  to  attend  the 
next  meeting,  but  he  failed  to  do  so,  and  a  committee  was  appointed  "  to 
watcli  over  his  conduct."  He  was  finally  suspended  for  a  short  time 
and  the  committee  was  continued.  Several  reports  of  an  unfavorable 
nature  were  made  and  at  last  he  was  expelled.  Two  brothers  were  ex- 
pelled and  it  was  voted  that  their  expulsion  be  published  in  the  Geneva 
Palladium.     This  action  was,  however,  afterward  rescinded. 


256  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

Wliile  the  new  lodge- room  was  being  built  at  Thomas  Lee's  the  lodge 
was  short  of  funds;  an  account  was  rendered  for  work  and  the  stewards 
were  ordered  t<>  "  tax  the  members  that  attend  sixpence  a  night  so  far 
back  as  will  discharge  the  same."  This  plan  of  taxing  those  who  at- 
tended was  afterward  given  up.  It  was  a  good  deal  like  the  minister 
who  scolds  the  thin  congregation  in  stormy  weather  for  the  shoitcom- 
ings  of  the  "  rainy  day  Christians." 

In  those  early  days  traveling  was  difficult  and  expensive  and  the 
lodges  were  less  frequently  represented  in  the  Grand  Lodge  than  has 
been  the  custom  during  the  past  fifty  years.  The  only  notice  of  Vernon 
Lodge  having  been  represented  in  Grand  Lodge  was  in  1 826.  Brother 
Cornelius  Masten  was  appointed  to  represent  Vernon  Lodge  at  that 
meeting  and  he  was  directed  "  to  hail  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  State  of 
New  York  called  the  '  Country  Grand  Lodge,'  of  which  Stephen  Van 
Rensselaer  is  grand  master."  The  unfortunate  division  which  made 
two  Grand  Lodges  in  the  State  for  a  period  of  four  years  was  happily 
healed  the  next  year;  but  it  is  worthy  of  note  that  the  rural  lodges 
were  a  unit  in  their  resistance  to  the  aggression  of  the  city  Grand  Lodge, 
and  were  finally  successful  in  tlieir  demand  for  a  just  recognition.  Upon 
his  return  lirother  Masten  presented  an  account  against  the  lodge  of 
$20  for  Grand  Lodge  dues,  evidently  for  several  years  past,  and  $65.25 
for  his  expenses  in  attending  Grand  Lodge — all  of  which  was  paid. 

Many  of  the  members  of  Vernon  Lodge  were  prominent  in  the  build- 
ing up  of  Yates  County  and  their  names  come  down  to  us  as  among  the 
historical  iandmaiks  ofPenn  Yan  and  its  vicinity.  Of  all  those  brethren 
only  one  remains  with  us  who  was  made  a  Mason  in  Vernon  Lodge — 
Brother  Russell  R.  Fargo,  now  living  in  Pulteney,  N.  Y.  He  was  made 
a  Mason  on  January  17,  1826.  lie  was  supervisor  of  Milo  in  1846  and 
county  clerk  in  1847-49.  The  masters  of  Vernon  Lodge  were  Dr. 
Joshua  Lee,  Benjamin  Shaw,  Thomas  Lee,  jr.,  John  Powell,  Dr.  An- 
drew V .  Oliver,  Cornelius  Masten,  Samuel  Lawrence,  and  Ebenezer 
Brown. 

After  1830  Freemasonry  in  Penn  Yan  remained  in  a  dormant  con- 
dition for  fifteen  years,  during  which  time  a  number  of  brethren  moved 
into  the  village,  which  had  made  a  very  encouraging  growth.  After 
the  storm  of  anti- Masonry  had  spent  its  force,  and  those  who  promoted 


FREEMASONR  V.  257 

it  had  received  all  the  political  rewards  that  seemed  likely  to  come  from 
making  it  a  political  issue,  it  naturally  died  out,  and  Western  New  York, 
always  read\'  for  the  excitement  of  some  new  delusion,  turned  its  at- 
tention to  Millerism  and  other  like  sensations. 

In  1845  certain  brethren  in  Penn  Van  applied  for  and  received  a  dis- 
pensation for  a  lodf^e  to  be  named  Penn  Yan  Lodge.  It  held  its  first 
meeting  August  12,  1S45.  Its  officers  were  Samuel  L.  Bigelow,  mas- 
ter, and  Elijah  Higbj'  and  Eiisha  H.  Huntington,  wardens.  Clement 
W.  Bennett  was  one  of  its  early  initiates.  He  shortly  afterward  mo\ed 
to  Washington,  D.  C,  where  he  received  many  of  the  higher  degrees  and 
orders  of  Masonry.  He  was  at  one  time  commander  of  Washington 
Commandery,  No.  i,  of  that  city,  and  was  present  in  its  ranks  at  the 
laying  of  the  corner  stone  of  the  Washington  Monument  in  1849  ''"d 
again  in  1885  at  the  dedication  of  that  stupendous  edifice,  and  the  only 
member  of  that  commandery  thus  present  on  both  occasions.  Penn 
Yan  Lodge  does  not  seem  to  have  been  successful,  for  after  a  few  months 
existence  it  ceased,  leaving  very  little  to  mark  its  brief  career.  A  new 
dispensation  was  issued  to  Samuel  L.  Bigelow  as  master  and  Hiram 
Depew  and  Eiisha  H.  Huntington  as  wardens,  authorizing  them  to 
organize  Milo  Lodge,  No.  108. 

The  first  meeting  of  this  lodge  was  held  on  April  15,  1846.  On 
June  6th  following  a  charter  was  granted  by  the  Grand  Lodge,  and 
from  that  time  to  the  present  the  history  of  Freemasonry  in  Yates 
County  has  been  simply  the  quiet  record  of  successful  and  prosperous 
existence.  Milo  Lodge  met  for  a  short  time  in  the  old  Masonic  Hall  on 
Court  street,  but  soon  arranged  to  occupy  Odd  Fellows  Hall,  which  has 
been  its  home  ever  since.  December  23,  1852,  Milo  Lodge  gave  con- 
sent to  the  organization  of  Seneca  Lake  Lodge,  No.  308,  at  Dresden. 
The  members  of  Milo  Lodge  have  ever  been  earnest  and  enthusiastic  in 
all  Masonic  work  and  several  of  them  have  attained  to  the  higher 
honors  of  Freemasonry,  si.x  of  them  having  received  the  thirty- third 
degree.  It  is  said  that  it  is  the  only  lodge  in  the  State  that  has  been 
represented  in  the  chief  offices  of  the  four  grand  bodies  of  Freemasonry, 
severally  by  four  of  its  members.  These  are  Hon.  John  L.  Lewis,  who 
was  grand  master  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  New  York  from  1856  to  i860  ; 
Darius  A.  Ogden,  grand  high  priest  of  the  Grand  Royal  Arch  Chapter 
:i3 


258  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

from  1863  to  1865  ;  Joli"  N.  Macomb,  jr.,  grand  master  of  the  Grand 
Council  of  Royal  and  Select  Masters  from  1889  to  1891  ;  and  Charles 
G.  Judd,  grand  commander  of  the  Grand  Commandery,  Knights  Temp- 
lar, from  1858  to  i860.  A  short  sketch  of  these  brethren  will  appear 
after  the  history  of  each  of  the  bodies  with  which  they  were  more  prom- 
inently identified.  It  is  worthy  of  remark  in  this  place  that  Judge 
Lewis,  besides  holding  the  position  of  grand  master,  as  above  stated, 
was  grand  high  priest  of  New  York  from  1852  to  1855,  and  general 
grand  high  priest  of  the  General  Grand  Royal  Arch  Chapter  of  the 
United  States  from  1865  to  1868.  He  was  also  sovereign  grand  com- 
mander of  the  Supreme  Council  of  Sovereign  Grand  Inspectors-  Gen- 
eral of  the  Thirty-third  degree  of  the  Northern  Masonic  Jurisdiction  of 
the  Ancient  Accepted  Scottish  Rite. 

Hon.  John  L.  Lewis  was  born  July  17,  1813,  in  Torrey,  Yates  County, 
N.  Y.  After  receiving  an  excellent  education  under  the  direction  of  his 
father,  who  was  one  of  the  pioneer  school  teachers  of  Yates  County,  he 
came  to  Penn  Yan.  He  was  for  a  year  clerk  in  the  postoffice  ;  after  that 
he  devoted  himself  to  the  study  of  law,  part  of  the  time  in  the  office  of 
Henry  A.  Wisner  and  afterward  in  that  of  William  M.  Oliver.  He  was 
admitted  to  practice  in  the  State  and  United  States  Courts,  and  was  dis- 
trict attorney  of  Yates  County  from  1839  to  1847,  ^"d  county  judge 
and  surrogate  from  185  i  to  1855.  ^^  was  Regent  of  the  University 
from  February  7,  1 871,  to  the  time  of  his  death.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  four  subordinate  Masonic  bodies  in  Penn  Yan  and  the  presiding 
officer  of  each  of  them,  besides  holding  many  other  positions  in  them 
of  great  importance  and  responsibility.  It  was,  however,  in  his  con- 
nection with  the  Grand  Lodge  and  Grand  and  General  Grand  Chapters 
that  his  great  reputation  was  made  as  a  wise  and  accomplished  Mason. 
The  history  of  those  bodies  for  man}^  years  is  his  history.  It  was 
through  his  firm  and  consistent  course,  tempered  with  kindness  and 
courtesy,  that  the  two  great  unions  between  contending  Grand  Lodges 
were  brought  about,  and  in  effecting  these  results  he  won  for  himself 
the  enviable  character  of  peacemaker.  He  was  an  easy  and  fluent 
speaker,  thoroughly  conversant  with  the  history  and  principles  of 
Freemasonry,  always  prepared  to  interest  and  to  instruct.  As  a  Ma- 
sonic writer  his  reputation  was  world  wide,  and  while  occupying  thepo- 


FREEMASONRY.  259 

sitioii  of  general  grand  high  priest  he  was  appealed  to  by  companions 
upon  the  other  side  of.  the  Atlantic  for  true  Masonic  light.  He  died  in 
Penn  Yan  on  the  i  ith  of  June,  1889,  full  of  \ears  and  honors. 

Dundee  Lodge,  No.  123,  was  organized  as  Reading  Lodge  in  1823, 
and  was  located  in  Eddytown  about  two  miles  from  Dundee.  Its  first 
master  was  Dr.  Hosea  Palmer.  Samuel  Kress  was  the  first  initiate  and 
succeeded  Dr.  Palmer  as  master.  In  common  with  nearly  every  lodge 
in  Western  New  York  it  went  down  during  the  evil  days  of  anti- 
Masonry.  Probably  no  meetings  were  held  after  1830.  In  1847  it  was 
again  chartered  and  since  then  has  enjoyed  a  fair  share  of  the  pros- 
perity that  has  attended  upon  Free  Masonry  in  this  progressive  age.  In 
the  second  organization  Dr.  Hosea  Palmer  again  became  master  and 
held  that  position  for  some  time.  He  was  succeeded  by  John  T.  An- 
drews and  Edgar  Hoagland.  In  i860  the  Masonic  Hall  was  destroyed 
by  fire  and  the  furniture  and  records  were  burned.  In  i86r  the  lodge 
took  possession  of  the  rooms  it  now  occupies.  Dundee  Lodge  has 
prospered  financially  and  was  the  first  lodge  in  Yates  County  to  pay  off 
its  quota  of  the  hall  and  asylum  fund.  It  is  now  out  of  debt.  The  fol- 
lowing have  been  masters  of  Dundee  Lodge  since  i860:  Dr.  K.  W. 
Rogers,  Dr.  J.  A.  Chapman,  Dr.  J.  rl.  Shaw,  James  Spence,  Uriah 
Hair.  Darius  VV.  Perry,  M.  M.  Rollinson,  Myers  T.  Webb,  Joseph  Gibbs, 
G.  Anson  Beam,  Luther  M.  Hair,  H.  V.  L.  Jones,  Theodore  M.  Horton, 
Charles  Goble,  and  Edward  M.  Sawyer. 

Seneca  Lake  Lodge,  No.  308,  Dresden,  was  organized  under  charter 
June  II,  1853.  Orrin  W.  Giles  was  the  first  master  and  Ambrose  H. 
Condit  and  Caleb  J.  Legg  were  wardens.  The  organization  of  this 
lodge  came  after  all  excitement  in  our  county  had  passed  away,  either 
connected  with  the  early  settlement  of  the  country  or  its  growth  and 
progress,  or  that  connected  with  the  anti- Masonic  strife,  and  its  history 
contains  nothing  of  the  startling  nature  that  we  look  for  in  an  earlier 
time.  One  of  its  members.  Brother  E.  A.  Hotchkiss.  moved  to  the  West 
and  became  grand  high  priest  of  the  Grand  Chapter  of  Minnesota.  The 
following  brethren  have  been  masters  of  this  lodge  :  Orrin  W.  Giles, 
Ambrose  H.  Condit,  Aaron  R.  McLean,  George  W.  Brundage,  William 
Van  Norman,  Aaron  M.  Davis,  William  D.  Trimmer,  Lewis  B.  Dun- 
ning, Edwin  L.  Swarthout,  William  Brown,  Amos  A.  Norman,  John 
Thompson,  and  Judson  V.  Brown. 


26o  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

Rushville  Lodge,  No.  377,  was  organized  in  1854  in  the  prosperous 
village  of  the  same  name.  It  has  partaken  of  the  prosperity  of  that 
favored  portion  of  our  county,  and  like  some  other  ambitious  lodges 
has  owned  its  own  home  and  has  been  a  landlord,  as  there  are  two  stores 
under  the  lodge  hall.  Its  growth  has  not  been  great,  but  it  has  kept 
upon  its  membership  roll  the  names  of  many  of  the  substantial  men  of 
the  neighborhood. 

Penn  Yan  Chapter,  No.  100,  of  Royal  Arch  Masons  is  the  only  body 
of  Cnpituiar  Masonry  in  Yates  County.  It  was  organized  August  31, 
1825,  b)'  Companion  Richard  L.  Smith,  of  Auburn,  assisted  by  a  num- 
ber of  companions  from  abroad.  A  Masonic  address  was  delivered  by 
the  Rev.  D.  McDonald,  of  Geneva.  The  charter  bears  date  February  3, 
1825,  and  the  officers  named  therein  are  John  Powell,  high  priest;  Cor- 
nelius Masten,  king ;  and  Henry  Bradley,  scribe.  Penn  Yan  Chapter 
and  Vernon  Lodge  made  an  agreement  at  once  for  renting  Mechanics 
Hall  in  the  new  M.  F.  Sheppard  block,  heretofore  mentioned.  Each 
body  was  to  pay  half  the  rent,  which  amounted  to  $30  per  annum. 
The  chapter  was  well  supplied  with  regalia,  furniture,  etc.,  and  very 
wisely  carried  an  insurance  for  $300  upon  it.  When  this  building  was 
burned  in  December  of  the  next  year  the  insurance  money  which  it  re- 
ceived paid  its  debts  and  left  it  with  a  small  sum  on  hand.  The  chap- 
ter had  a  successful  existence  during  the  few  years  that  remained  before 
the  gathering  of  the  clouds  before  the  storm  of  anti -Masonry  warned 
the  members  of  danger.  In  addition  to  the  eighteen  charter  members 
there  were  added  as  neophytes  eighteen  and  by  affiliation  eight,  mak- 
ing a  total  membership  of  forty- four,  reduced  somewhat  by  withdraw- 
als. John  Powell  held  the  chief  office  until  December,  1826,  when 
Cornelius  Masten  was  elected  high  priest.  He  was  succeeded  the  next 
year  by  Dr.  A.  F.  Oliver.  The  minutes  show  but  one  meeting  in  1828 
and  none  after  that.  A  dispensation  for  a  rivival  of  the  chapter  was 
issued  July  4,  1846.  The  chapter  was  re-organized  September  loth  of 
that  year.  The  chapter  was  consecrated  and  the  officers  were  installed 
by  Thomas  Maxwell,  high  priest  of  Geneva  Chapter,  No.  36.  In  the 
revival  the  old  charter  was  restored  to  the  chapter.  The  new  officers 
were  Dr.  Andrew  F.  Oliver,  high  priest ;  John  Powell,  king ;  and  Cor- 
nelius Masten,  scribe.     The  chapter  found   a  new  home  in  Odd  Fel- 


fREEMASOAR  Y.  261 

lows  Hall,  which  it  has  occupied  ever  since  and  which  soon  after  be- 
came Masonic  Hall.  January  21,  1850,  Penii  Yan  Chapter  gave  its 
consent  to  the  revival  of  Fidelity  Chapter,  No.   JJ,  at  Trumansburgh. 

Darius  A.  Ogden  was  made  a  Royal  Arch  Mason  in  Penn  Yan  Chap- 
ter, served  as  its  high  priest  and  represented  it  in  the  Grand  Chapter  of 
the  State  of  New  York  where  he  was  elected  grand  high  priest,  which 
office  he  held  for  two  years.  He  continued  in  active  duty  in  the  Grand 
Chapter  and  as  chairman  of  the  committee  on  foreign  correspondence, 
and  as  such  conducted  the  relations  of  the  Grand  Chapter  of  New  York 
to  its  sister  Grand  Chapters  with  ability.  He  had  been  a  member  of 
all  the  Masonic  bodies  in  Penn  Yan,  and  had  received  the  thirty- third 
degree  as  an  honorary  member  of  the  Supreme  Council  of  the  Scottish 
Rite  in  the  Northern  Masonic  jurisdiction.  In  civil  life  he  liad  held 
important  positions,  having  been  for  some  years  consul  at  Honolulu. 
He  was  canal  commissioner  and  member  of  Assembly.  For  many 
years  he  had  been  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education  of  Penn  Yan 
and  a  trustee  of  Willard  Asylum.  He  was  born  in  Northville,  N.  Y., 
August  14,  1813,  and  died  in  Penn  Yan  on  May  4,  1889. 

Ontario  Council,  No.  23,  Royal  and  Select  Masters,  was  organized  in 
Geneva,  N.  Y.,  on  the  23d  of  February,  1864,  by  Grand  Master  Charles 
H.  Piatt,  who  issued  his  dispensation  for  that  purpose  on  that  date.  A 
charter  was  afterward  granted  to  it  by  the  Grand  Council  on  the  5th  of 
February,  1865.  For  about  fifteen  years  it  continued  to  hold  its  assem- 
blies in  Geneva,  with  a  moderate  degree  of  success.  At  the  assembly 
held  on  December  6,  1880,  it  was  decided  to  ask  the  grand  master  for 
his  dispensation  to  move  the  council  to  Penn  Yan;  to  this  request  he  ac- 
ceded, and  on  St.  John's  day,  December  27th,  the  officers  were  installed 
in  public,  with  the  officers  of  Milo  Lodge  and  Penn  Yan  Chapter,  in  the 
Masonic  Hall  in  Penn  Yan.  From  that  time  Ontario  Council  has  con- 
tinued to  shed  the  beauties  of  Cryptic  Masonry  upon  the  neophyte  in 
Penn  Yan,  which  is  expected  to  be  its  home  for  time  to  come.  The 
thrice  illustrious  masters  of  Ontario  Council  have  been  Corydon  Wheat, 
William  P.  Durrant,  John  N.  Macomb,  jr.,  Franklin  E.  Smith,  Orville  F. 
Randolph,  John  L.  Lewis,  Edward  Kendall,  J.  Henry  Smith,  and  Henry 
R.  Sill. 

John  N.  Macomb,  jr.,  was  appointed   grand   lecturer  of  the   Grand 


362  HISTORY  OF  YATES  CO  UN  ly. 

Council  on  the  gtli  of  September,  1880,  and  held  that  and  other  sub- 
ordinate positions  in  that  body  iinlil  the  loth  of  September,  1889,  when 
he  was  elected  grand  master  of  Royal  and  Select  Masters  in  the  State 
of  New  York,  which  position  he  occupied  until  September  8,  1891.  He 
was  made  a  Mason  in  Milo  Lodge,  No.  108,  F.  and  A.  M.,  on  August  6, 
1875,  and  received  the  Fellow  Craft's  degree  on  August  20th,  and  the 
Master  Mason's  degree  on  September  3d.  He  was  elected  master  of 
Milo  Lodge  on  the  20th  of  December,  187S,  and  served  as  such  for  two 
years.  On  St.  John  the  Baptist's  day,  June  24,  1885,  he  was  appointed 
district  deputy  grand  master  of  the  Twenty- first  Masonic  District,  and 
continued  to  discharge  the  responsible  duties  of  that  office  until  the  cor- 
responding date  in  1889.  On  the  24th  of  January,  1876,  he  received 
the  Mark  Master's  degree  in  Penn  Yan  Chapter,  No.  100,  of  Royal 
Arch  Masons,  the  remaining  degrees  of  Capitular  Masonry  being  re- 
ceived on  the  following  dates:  Past  master,  February  14th;  most  ex- 
cellent master,  April  loth  ;  and  Royal  Arch  Mason,  April  24th.  On 
the  9th  of  December,  1881,  he  was  elected  high  priest  and  held  that  po- 
sition for  one  year.  On  February  8,  1888,  he  was  appointed  assistant 
grand  lecturer  of  the  Sixth  District,  which  office  he  still  holds  He  re- 
ceived the  degrees  of  Cryptic  Masonry  in  Ontario  Council,  No.  23,  R. 
and  S.  M.,  in  Geneva,  on  the  5th  of  February,  1877.  On  the  4ih  of 
March,  1878,  he  was  elected  thrice  illustrious  master  of  the  council, 
and  continued  in  that  office  for  four  years.  He  is  the  present  grand 
representative  of  the  Grand  Council  of  Royal  and  Select  Masters  of 
Tennessee,  near  that  of  New  York.  On  the  20th  of  June,  1876,  he  re- 
ceived the  order  of  the  Red  Cross,  and  on  the  i8th  of  July  the  order  of 
the  Temple  in  Jerusalem  Commandery,  No.  17,  K.  T.  He  was  elected 
to  preside  over  the  commandery  as  its  eminent  commander  on  May  7, 
1878,  and  filled  that  position  for  six  years.  He  is  the  grand  repre- 
sentative of  the  Grand  Commandery  of  Knights  Templar  of  Kentucky, 
near  that  of  New  York.  In  the  Ancient  Accepted  Scottish  Rite  he 
received  the  degrees  and  holds  membership  in  the  bodies  in  the  valley 
of  the  Genesee  at  Rochester,  N.  Y.  On  September  19,  1882,  he  re- 
ceived the  thirty-third  degree  in  the  Supreme  Council  of  the  Northern 
Masonic  Jurisdiction  at  Boston,  and  became  an  honorary  member  of 
that  body. 


FREEMASON  R  Y.  263 

In  the  year  1848  the  first  effort  was  made  to  estabhsli  an  encampment 
of  Knights  Templar  at  Penn  Yan,  in  the  then  unoccupied  territory 
extending  from  Utica  to  Rochester,  and  from  Lake  Ontario  to  Pennsyl- 
vania. On  the  17th  of  May,  with  this  end  in  view,  John  L.  Lewis,  jr., 
and  Davison  Moshier  went  to  Rochester,  where  they  received  the  orders 
of  Masonic  Knighthood  at  the  hands  of  tiiat  veteran  Mason,  William  E. 
Lathrop.  Associating  with  themselves  several  other  Knights  of  the 
Order  in  February,  1849,  they  applied  to  Robert  R.  Boyd,  grand  mas- 
ter of  the  Grand  Encampment  of  the  State  of  New  York,  for  a  dispen- 
sation to  organize  an  Encampment^  at  Penn  Yan.  Owing  to  some  in- 
formality this  petition  was  not  received  ;  it  was,  however,  renewed  in 
the  following  June  in  proper  form,  and  was  presented  to  Grand  Master 
Boyd,  accompanied  by  the  required  fee  in  the  form  of  a  draft  for  $90, 
which  was  placed  by  the  grand  master  (who  was  at  that  time  also  grand 
secretary  of  the  Grand  Lodge)  in  the  tin  box  that  contained  the  Grand 
Lodge  funds.  In  the  scramble  for  the  spoils,  which  formed  an  import- 
ant event  in  that  unfortunate  and  unhappy  communication  of  the  Grand 
Lodge,  the  victors  bore  off,  among  other  treasures,  this  particular  draft, 
payment  of  which  was  stopped  at  the  bank,  and  it  was  not  until  the 
25th  of  February,  1 850,  that  the  dispensation  was  placed  in  the  hands 
of  the  petitioners.  It,  however,  bears  this  endorsement :  "  Granted  on 
payment  of  fees,  June  7,  1849.     J-  ^f-  Hatch,  G.  R.,  p.  t." 

On   the    9th    of  June,  1850,  a   charter  was   issued   signed  by  James 
Hegeman,  grand    master;  William   E.  Lathrop,   D.  G.   M.;  George  L. 
Thatcher,  grand   generalissimo;  and  John  L.  Lewis,  jr.,  grand  captain- 
general,   authorizing   Davison    Moshier  as  grand   commander ;  John  L. 
Lewis,  jr.,  as  generalissimo;  and  Cornelius  Masten  as  captain- general, 
to  confer  the  Orders  of  Knights  of  the   Red  Cross,  Knights  Templar, 
Knights  of  Malta,  Knights  of  the  Christian   Mark,  and   Knights  of  the 
Holy  Sepulchre.     The  petitioners  for  the  dispensation  were  as  follows 
Davison   Moshier,  of  Monroe   Encampment,  No.  12,   Rochester,  N.  Y. 
John  L.  Lewis,  jr.,  of  Monroe  Encampment,  No.  12,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 
Cornelius  Masten,  of  Morton  Encampment,   No.  4,  New  York,  N.  Y. 
William  M.  Oliver,  of  Columbian  Encampment,  No.  i.  New  York,  N.  Y. 
John   Daggett,   of    Genesee   Encampment,   No.    10,   Lockport,   N.    Y. 

1  The  name  encampment  was  changed  to  commandery  in  1857. 


264  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

Clement  W.  Bennett,  of  Washington  Encampment.  No.  I.Washington, 
D.  C;  William  C.  Bishop,  of  Louisville  Encampment,  No.  i,  Louis- 
ville, Ky.;  and  John  Trimble.  The  last  named  is  recorded  as  having 
received  the  Orders  of  Knighthood  in  Ireland,  but  no  encampment  is 
given. 

Tiie  name  "  Jerusalem  "  given  to  this  encampment  was  from  the 
original  name  of  the  township  in  which  its  asylum  is  situated.  The  first 
conclave  was  held  on  the  ist  day  of  March,  1850.  At  this  time  the 
only  commandery  occupying  any  portion  of  the  territory  named  in  the 
beginning  of  this  sketch,  besides  Jerusalem,  was  Salem  Town,  No.  16, 
at  Auburn.  Within  a  few  years  Jerusalem  Commandery  had  conferred 
the  Orders  of  Knighthood  upon  the  greater  part  of  the  material  resi- 
dent within  easy  reach  of  its  asylum,  none  from  the  more  distant  por- 
tions of  its  jurisdiction  applying  except  on  two  occasions,  when  they 
were  looking  toward  the  organization  of  new  commanderies. 

On  the  9th  of  April,  1852,  consent  was  given  to  the  organization  of 
St.  Omer's  Commandery,  No.  19,  at'  Elmira,  and  soon  afterward  De- 
Molay  Commandery,  No.  22,  was  organized  at  Hornellsville ;  these 
concessions  cut  off  a  very  important  part  of  the  territorial  jurisdiction  of 
Jerusalem  Commandery.  On  the  20th  of  Januarj',  i860,  consent  uas 
given  to  the  organization  of  Geneva  Commandery,  No.  29,  and  this  re- 
duced Jerusalem  practically  to  the  neighborhood  of  Penn  Yan,  for 
although  Ovid,  in  Seneca  County,  is  still  within  its  jurisdiction,  the  resi- 
dents of  that  village  find  it  more  convenient  to  go  to  Geneva  for  their 
orders  of  Masonic  Knighthood,  and  they  accordingly  go,  "  asking  no 
questions  for  conscience  sake." 

It  has  been  the  custom  for  many  years  for  the  subordinate  command- 
eries to  turn  out  as  a  guard  of  honor  to  the  Grand  Commandery  of  the 
State  at  its  annual  conclaves,  and  Jerusalem  Commandery  performed  this 
pleasing  duty  for  the  first  time  in  October,  1885,  at  Rochester,  and 
afterward  was  found  in  its  place  in  the  column  in  1 886,  at  Elmira  ;  and  in 
1887  at  Utica.  In  the  Grand  Commandery  of  the  State  Jerusalem 
Commandery  has  been  honored  by  the  election  of  Charles  G.  Judd  to  the 
office  of  grand  commander  in  the  years  of  1858  and  1859.  He  was 
born  in  Williamstown,  Mass.,  October  14,  1803.  He  was  graduated 
from  Williams  College  in  1824.      He  studied  law  and  was  admitted    to 


FREEMASONR  V.  265 

practice.  In  early  life  he  came  to  Penn  Yan,  was  district  attorney  from 
1831  to  1839,  and  ranked  high  in  his  profession  and  in  mental  attain- 
ments He  was  an  exemplary  and  public  spirited  citizen,  respected 
and  beloved  by  all  who  knew  him.  He  was  made  a  Mason  in  Milo 
Lodge,  No.  108,  April  9,  1847,  and  was  master  of  that  lodge  for  one 
year  from  December,  7,  1848.  He  was  made  a  Royal  Arch  Mason  in 
Penn  Yan  Chapter,  No.  100,  September  6,  1847,  and  ^^as  its  high  priest 
during  the  year  1852.  He  was  made  a  Knight  Templar  in  Jerusalem 
Commandery,  No.  17,  March  19,  1850,  and  was  chosen  eminent  com- 
mander in  1853,  and  again  in  1855,  serving  until  1859.  In  1857  he 
was  elected  grand  generalissimo  of  the  Grand  Commandery.  He  died 
at  his  home  in  Penn  Yan,  on  December  i,  1886. 

In  the  Ancient  Accepted  Scottish  Rite  dispensations  were  issued  for 
the  organization  of  three  bodies  to  be  held  in  Penn  Yan.  These  were 
named  Penn  Yan  Lodge  of  Perfection,  Jerusalem  Council  of  Princes  of 
Jerusalem,  and  Yates  Chapter  of  Rose  Croix.  These  dispensations  all 
bear  date  July  25,  1863,  and  are  all  directed  to  the  same  brethren, 
whose  names  are  as  follows:  John  L.  Lewis,  Darius  A.  Ogden,  Guy 
Shaw,  William  T.  Remer,  Peter  S.  Oliver,  James  Burns,  Clement  W. 
Bennett,  Spencer  S.  Raplee,  and  Samuel  R.  Fish.  These  bodies  were 
organized  and  kept  in  existence  for  some  years  under  these  dispensa- 
tions. The  several  degrees  over  which  they  had  jurisdiction,  viz  :  the 
fourth  to  the  eighteenth,  inclusive,  were  conferred  upon  a  few  Masons. 
It  was  found  difficult  for  the  little  band  of  faithful  workers  in  Penn  Yan 
to  keep  these  bodies  in  good  condition  in  addition  to  the  duties  that  de- 
volved upon  them  in  connection  with  the  bodies  already  existing,  so 
they  were  obliged  to  allow  the  dispensations  to  lapse  and  no  charters 
were  granted. 
34 


266  HIS  TORY  OF  YA  TES  CO  UA  T  Y. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


LAKE   KEUKA   AND   ITS   NAVIGATION. 

WERE  it  possible  for  the  plain,  methodical  and  matter  of  fact 
writer  of  history  to  become  at  all  romantic  or  sentimental,  he 
might  justly  say:  "Beautiful  Ogoyago  of  the  Senecas,  what  changes 
has  the  devastating  hand  of  man  wrought  in  your  appearance  during 
his  reign  of  an  hundred  years  ?  "  Where  once  alone  did  glide  the 
noiseless  canoe  are  seen  large  and  elegant  steam  craft,  each  freighted 
with  the  fruits  of  innumerable  vineyards,  or  laden  with  pleasure-seeking 
passengers.  But  to  lay  aside  romancing  and  come  to  the  material  facts 
it  may  be  stated  that  the  now  called  Lake  Keuka  is  peculiarly  the  pos- 
session of  Yates  County  despite  the  fact  that  its  upper  waters  lie  in  an 
adjoining  shire.  Seneca  Lake  bounds  Yates  County  on  the  east,  and 
Canandaigua  Lake  on  the  west ;  but  with  these  bodies  the  county  has 
nothing  in  common  except  incidentally  and  remotely.  But  with  Keuka 
the  situation  is  different.  Local  capital  and  industry  have  developed 
its  resources  and  placed  upon  it  the  most  elegant  lines  of  steamers  that 
ever  graced  an  interior  lake. 

To  the  ancient  Senecas  this  lake  was  known  as  Ogoyago,  while  to  a 
later  generation  of  the  same  occupants  the  name  Keuka  appears  to  have 
been  applied  to  the  lake.  But  this  is  a  disputed  question  and  the 
writer  may  be  treading  on  dangerous  ground  in  making  the  above  asser- 
tion. It  is  claimed,  and  upon  good  authority,  too,  that  the  true  Seneca 
name  of  this  lake  was  Keuka,  meaning  "  Lake  with  an  elbow,"  which 
is  truly  descriptive  of  its  outline  formation.  It  is  also  asserted  that 
Ogoyago  in  Seneca  means  "  Land  between  the  waters,"  fairly  descrip- 
tive of  the  promintory  called  Bluff  Point.  Both  of  these  statements 
may  be  and  perhaps  are  true,  and  yet  the  original  assertion  will  stand 
uninipeached ;  for  one  of  the  customs  of  the  ancient  Senecas  was  to 
name  their  lakes  and  rivers  after  some  peculiarly  prominent  point  of 
land  in  their  immediate  vicinity.  If  to  them  Bluff  Point  was  Ogoyago, 
so,  too,  might  the  lake  be  called,  and  that  legardless  of  the  fact  that 


NA  VIGA  TJON  OF  LAKE  KEUKA.  267 

Keuka,  "  lake  with  an  elbow,"  was  more  properly  descriptive  of  the  char- 
acter of  the  lake  itself 

But  this  is  a  comparatively  unimportant  subject  toars^ue  in  this  place. 
Both  sides  can  present  strong  arguments  in  support  of  their  positions  ; 
but  the  matter  is  satisfactorily  set  at  rest  in  the  fact  that  common  con- 
sent has  adopted  the  name  of  Lake  Keuka  as  proper  and  fitting  to 
Yates  County's  own  body  of  water.  It  may  be  stated,  however,  that 
tlie  white-faced  pioneers  gave  the  name  Crooked  Lake,  by  which  also 
the  lake  has  ever  since  been  known. 

Navigation  on  Lake  Keuka  has  passed  through  many  stages  and  con- 
ditions since  the  first  occupancy  of  the  region  by  the  white  man.  First 
there  was  the  dugout  or  birch  bark  canoe  used  alike  by  the  red  men  and 
the  white-faced  pioneer.  This  was  followed  by  the  flat  boat  period,  of 
which  Capt.  John  Beddoe  seems  to  have  been  the  pioneer.  His  craft 
was  of  three  tons  burthen  and  was  brought  to  Lake  Keuka  from  New 
York,  being  carried  over  the  territory  intervening  between  navigable 
waters.  Captain  Beddoe's  voyage  was  made  from  the  foot  of  the  lake 
to  his  tract  or  purchase  of  land  in  Jerusalem  in  1798.  The  flat  boat 
period,  however,  was  not  commenced  until  some  years  after  John  Bed- 
doe's  voyage,  nor  was  he  even  to  be  counted  among  the  early  regular 
lake  navigators. 

In  1833  the  Crooked  Lake  Canal  was  opened  for  business.  This 
brought  to  Lake  Keuka  an  importance  not  before  enjoyed,  and  follow- 
ing it  was  an  era  of  prosperity  that  even  the  most  ardent  pioneer  en- 
thusiast had  never  dreamed  of.  But  this  was  nothing  more  than  a  single 
onward  step,  and  the  importance  of  the  canal  and  occasional  sail  boat 
period  was  more  than  dwarfted  into  insignificance  by  the  appearance  of 
the  first  steamboat — \\\&  Keuka — built  and  put  upon  the  lake  in  1837, 
and  commanded  by  Capt.  Joe  Lewis ;  John  Gregg,  engineer.  The 
Keuka  was  owned  bj'  the  Crooked  Lake  Steamboat  Company,  the  prin- 
cipal stockholders  in  which  were  S.  S.  Ellsworth,  of  Penn  Yan  ;  John 
Magee,  and  \V.  W.  McKay,  of  Bath  ;  Thomas  W.  Olcott,  of  Albany  ; 
and  B.  Whiting,  of  Geneva.  Capt.  Joe  Lewis,  of  Geneva,  commanded 
the  Keuka  until  1841,  and  was  then  succeeded  by  John  Gregg,  her  for- 
mer engineer.  Four  years  later  the  boat  stranded  and  beached  near  the 
foot  of  the  lake.  She  was  dismantled  and  her  cabins  taken  to  form  the 
nucleus  of  the  present  summer  resort  known   as  the  Ark. 


268  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

In  1845  Captain  Gregg  built  the  steamer  5/«/^^«  and  was  her  captain 
until  the  spring  of  1864,  when  he  sold  her  to  Capt.  Allen  Wood.  She 
was  burned  in  July,  1864.  The  steamer  George  R.  Youngs  was  built  in 
1865  by  Capt.  Allen  Wood,  who  commenced  running  her  in  the  month 
of  September  of  that  year.  In  1S68  Captain  Wood  built  the  screw 
steamer  Keuka,  which  ran  for  a  few  years  and  was  then  sold  and  re- 
moved from  the  lake. 

In  1 87 1  the  firm  of  Crosby  &  Company,  composed  of  Morris  F. 
Sheppard,  Joseph  F.  Crosby,  and  Farley  Holmes,  bought  the  George  R. 
Youngs  of  Capt.  Allen  Wood,  and  changed  her  name  to  the  Steuben. 
In  1872  they  formed  the  Lake  Keuka  Steam  Navigation  Company,  of 
which  Farley  Holmes  was  president ;  Morris  F.  Sheppard,  secretary  and 
treasurer ;  and  Joseph  F.  Crosby,  superintendent.  They  built  the 
steamer  Yates.  Morris  F.  Sheppard  and  Joseph  F.  Crosby  sold  out 
their  interest  in  the  Lake  Keuka  Steam  Navigation  Company  to  Farley 
Holmes. 

In  1878  the  Keuka  Steamboat  Company  was  organized  at  Ilam- 
mondsport,  and  built  the  Lnln.  In  1880  the  Keuka  Navigation  Com- 
pany was  organized  with  Nelson  Thompson,  president ;  Ralph  T.  Wood, 
vice-president;  Morris  F.  Sheppard,  secretary  and  treasurer;  and 
George  A.  Sanders,  superintendent.  They  purchased  the  Lulu  of  the 
Keuka  Steamboat  Company  and  built  the  steamer  Urbaua.  In  1881 
the  Keuka  Navigation  Company  bought  the  Yates  and  Steuben  of  the 
Lake  Keuka  Steam  Navigation  Company.  In  1882  George  A.  San- 
ders resigned  and  W.  W.  Eastman  was  appointed  superintendent.  In 
the  winter  of  1883-84  the  steamer  Yates  was  burned  at  her  moorings  in 
Penn  Yan. 

About  this  time  William  L.  Halsey,  of  Rochester,  formerly  of  Steuben 
County,  became  interested  in  the  company.  In  1883,  owing  to  some 
misunderstanding  with  his  associates,  Mr.  Halsey  organized  the  Crooked 
Lake  Navigation  Company,  with  a  capital  stock  of  $12,000,  and  officers 
and  directors  as  follows :  William  L.  Halsey,  president ;  George  H. 
Lapham,  vice-president;  T.  O.  Hamlin,  secretary  and  treasurer;  O.  C. 
Knapp,  superintendent ;  directors,  W.  L.  Halsey,  O.  C.  Knapp,  T.  O. 
Hamlin,  W.  W.  Quackenbush,  W.  M.  Johnson,  George  S.  Weaver,  Allen 
Wood,  and  George  H.  Lapham.     The  new  company  built  and  put  upon 


NA  VIGA  TION  OF  LAKE  KEUKA.  269 

the  lake  the  large  steamers  Holmes  and  West  Braiieh  during  the  year 
1883,  and  set  up  an  opposition  to  the  old  line.  The  result  was  a  most 
bitter  enmity  between  the  contending  companies,  which  has  continued 
even  to  the  present  time.  The  Crooked  Lake  Company  put  the  fares 
down  to  ten  cents  to  any  point  upon  the  lake.  The  old  company  im- 
mediately followed  by  reducing  them  to  five  cents.  In  1884  Mr.  Ilal- 
sey  died  and  T.  O.  Hamlin  succeeded  to  the  presidency  of  the  company 
still  retaining,  however,  his  positions  as  secretary  and  treasurer.  In 
1887  Mr.  Knapp  died  and  was  succeeded  by  William  N.  Wise  as  su- 
perintendent In  1885  Morris  F.  Sheppard  was  elected  president  and 
treasurer  of  the  Keuka  Navigation  Company;  Nelson  Tiiompson,  vice- 
president  ;  and  William  T.  Morris,  secretary. 

In  1886  the  Lake  Keuka  Navigation  Company  was  formed  with  the 
following  officers :  Morris  F.  Sheppard,  president  and  treasurer;  F.  M. 
McDowell,  vice-president;  William  T.  Morris,  secretary;  and  W.  W. 
Eastman,  superintendent.  They  purchased  the  steamers  Urbatta  and 
Lulu  of  the  Keuka  Navigation  Company  which  was  dissolved. 

In  1887  the  Crooked  Lake  Navigation  Company  built  at  Penn  Yan 
and  put  upon  the  lake  the  steamer  William  L.  Halsey,  a  boat  slightly 
larger  than  the  Holmes.  The  present  officers  of  the  company  are  as 
follows:  Theodore  O.  Hamlin,  president,  secretary,  and  treasurer; 
H.  M.  Halsey,  vice-president;  W.  N.  W^ise,  superintendent;  George  E. 
Mumford,  H.  M.  Halsey,  George  S.  Weaver,  J.  W.  Davis,  George  Gib- 
son, J.  H.  Coryell,  W.  W.  Quackenbush,  and  T.  O.  Hamlin,  directors. 
On  January  i,  1890,  the  owners  of  the  Lake  Keuka  Navigation  Com- 
pany sold  out  to  Charles  W.  Drake  of  New  York  citj-. 

On  October  17,  1891,  the  Lake  Keuka  Navigation  Company  signed 
a  contract  with  the  Union  Dry  Dock  Company  of  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  for  a 
new  steamer  150  feet  in  length,  twenty-five  feet  beam,  steel  hull,  twin 
screws,  double  boilers,  two  triple  expansion  engines  of  the  capacity  of 
700  horse- power,  and  steam  stearing  gear.  The  speed  provided  for  in 
the  contract  is  twenty  miles  per  hour.  The  material  and  workmanship 
are  to  be  according  to  the  specifications  required  by  the  United  States 
government  in  its  contracts  for  first-class  naval  vessels.  The  cost  of  this 
boat,  including  its  furniture  and  upholstery,  will  be  something  over  $40,- 
000.     The  hull  will  be  constructed  in  Buffalo,  and  the  boilers,  engines, 


270  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

and  other  machinery  will  be  constructed  in  Brooklyn,  by  the  Coules 
Engineering  Company,  who  have  furnished  the  machinery  for  many  of 
the  recently  constructed  very  fast  vessels,  and  the  boat  will  be  put  to- 
gether and  launched  at  Hammondsport.  The  delivery  to  the  company 
is  guaranteed  to  be  not  later  than  May  15,  1892,  which  insures  to  the 
travellers  on  Lake  Keuka  additional  accommodations  for  next  season, 
which  will  in  time  revolutionize  the  inland  lake  traffic  of  this  entire  sec- 
tion of  New  York  State.  The  construction  of  this  boat  is  another  step 
in  the  scheme  for  the  development  of  Lake  Keuka,  adopted  by  the  par- 
ties who  have  recently  become  so  largely  interested  in  it. 


CHAPTER  XX. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN  OF  MILO,  AND  OF  THE  INCORPORATED 
VILLAGE  OF  PENN  YAN. 

THE  town  of  Milo,  as  at  present  constituted,  occupies  a  prominent 
central  position  among  the  civil  divisions  of  Yates  County.  Like- 
wise it  is  the  most  important  town  in  the  county,  deriving  that  charac- 
ter from  the  fact  that  within  its  territorial  limits  is  located  the  greater 
portion  of  the  village  of  Penn  Yan,  the  seat  of  justice  of  the  county  ; 
and  although  the  village  has  a  partial  separate  organization  from  the 
town,  yet  they  are  a  unit  as  far  as  the  election  of  town  officers  is  con- 
cerned. Milo  is  also  one  of  the  larger  towns  of  the  county,  and  is  the 
only  one  that  has  a  front  on  the  waters  of  Seneca  Lake  and  also  on 
Lake  Keuka.  This  double  frontage  is  of  value  to  the  town  and  its  peo- 
ple in  that  the  special  product  of  the  locality,  the  fruit  of  the  vine,  can 
be  successfully  grown  on  both  the  east  and  west  sides  in  particular, 
while  the  interior  lands  are  also  made  productive  in  the  same  industry 
by  reason  of  their  favorable  situation  between  the  lakes.  The  like  con- 
dition may  exist  in  other  towns,  but  no  locality,  except  Bluff  Point  in 
Jerusalem,  perhaps,  possesses  natural  advantages  equal  to  Milo.  But 
Bluff  Point  is  an  exceedingly  high  promontor\'  of  land,  not  valuable  for 


TOWN  OF  MILO.  271 

\ 
genera!  agricultural  pursuits,  while  Milo  is  a  vast  tract  of  comparatively 
level  land,  and  has  rich  and  fertile  soil,  which  yields  abundantly  to  the 
husbandman's  efforts,  both  in  farm  and  fruit  products.  In  addition  to 
this  Milo  possesses  the  principal  water-course  of  the  county,  i.  e.,  the 
outlet  of  Lake  Keuka,  which  in  its  flow  from  Keuka  to  Seneca  Lake  has  a 
descent  of  269  feet,  afl'ording  a  water-power  not  to  be  excelled  in  this 
region  of  the  State.  The  building  of  a  number  of  large  mills  along  the 
outlet  has  made  Milo  something  of  a  manufacturing  locality,  which, 
added  to  its  other  resources,  makes  this  the  most  important  town  of  the 
county.  Milo  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Benton  and  Torrey ;  east  by 
Seneca  Lake  ;  south  by  Starkey  and  Barrington  ;  and  west  by  Lake 
Keuka  and  the  town  of  Jerusalem.  Originally  the  town  of  Milo  formed 
a  part  of  the  district  of  Jerusalem,  an  organized  territory  in  the  nature 
of  a  township,  and  embracing  the  greater  portion  of  what  is  now  Yates 
County,  and  forming  a  part  of  Ontario  County  at  that  time.  In  1803 
the  town  of  Benton  was  formed  and  organized,  and  included  within  its 
boundaries  all  that  is  now  Benton,  Milo,  and  Torrey.  At  first  the  new- 
formation  was  called  Vernon,  but  as  that  name  had  been  given  to  an- 
other town  in  the  State,  Vernon  was  changed  to  Snell  ;  and  still  later, 
on  account  of  a  dissatisfaction  that  had  arisen  over  that  name,  to  Ben- 
ton, in  honor  of  Levi  Benton,  the  first  settler  within  the  town  now  so 
called. 

In  the  survey  of  this  region  under  the  ownership  of  Phelps  and  Gor- 
ham,  a  subject  fully  treated  in  a  preceding  chapter,  the  greater  part  of 
what  is  now  Milo  was  designated  as  township  No.  7,  first  range,  con- 
taining, presumably,  thirty-six  square  miles  of  land.  Being  in  the  first 
range  the  eastern  boundary  of  township  No.  7  was  the  old  pre-emption 
line.  Had  not  difficulties  and  complications  followed  the  first  survey 
of  the  line  referred  to,  it  is  probable  that  Milo,  as  afterward  organized, 
might  have  contained  only  the  territory  of  township  No.  7,  but  on 
account  of  what  did  occur  after  the  surve\',  the  region  to  the  eastward 
was  annexed  to  and  formed  a  part  of  this  town.  Township  No.  7  was 
one  of  the  several  areas  of  land  which  were  conveyed  by  proprietors 
Phelps  and  Gorham  to  the  New  York  Genesee  Land  Company,  better 
known  as  the  lessees,  in  satisfaction  to  them  for  the  withdrawal  of  their 
claims  to  the  Genesee  country  under  their  famous  long  lease.     By  the 


272  HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUNTY. 

grantees  the  lands  of  the  town  were  set  oft"  into  lots  and  drawn  for  by 
the  stockholders  of  the  company.  However,  there  was  a  strip  of  land 
in  No.  7,  and  commonly  called  "  the  garter,"  which  was  conveyed  by 
Caleb  Benton,  on  behalf  of  the  lessees,  to  James  Parker  for  the  Society 
of  Friends,  embracing  1,104  acres  bordering  the  pre-emption  line  on 
the  west  side. 

To  the  eastward  of  the  old  preemption  line  lay  a  vast  area  of  fertile 
lands,  claimed  alike  by  the  lessees  and  the  State.  Also  there  was  the 
tract  known  as  Lansing's  Location.  The  Friends,  tiie  pioneer  settlers 
of  the  region,  made  two  purchases  of  these  lands  embracing  1 4,000  acres, 
the  deed  therefor  being  executed  by  the  governer  to  James  Parker, 
William  Potter,  and  Thomas  Hathaway,  as  representatives  of  the 
Friends  Society.  The  land  between  the  old  and  new  pre-emption  lines 
was  deeded  to  the  Friends'  agents  by  Charles  Williamson,  he  represent- 
ing the  English  owners  as  successors  to  Robert  Morris.  The  latter  be- 
came owner  through  a  conveyance  to  him  by  Phelps  and  Gorham. 
There  were  other  owners  of  lands  now  a  part  of  Milo,  which  were 
found  to  be  within  the  proper  and  intended  Phelps  and  Gorham  pur- 
chase on  what  was  called  the  gore,  but  to  these  owners  the  State  of 
New  York  was  obliged  to  make  restitution  and  satisfaction. 

According  to  the  survey  of  the  town  of  Milo,  or  rather  of  township 
No.  7,  range  one,  the  western  line  brought  a  small  portion  of  its  terri- 
tory to  the  west  of  Lake  Keuka.  This  never  became  a  part  of  the  town 
proper  upon  its  organization,  but  was  annexed  to  and  made  a  part  of 
Jeruselem,  upon  the  organization  thereof  in  1803.  The  town  of  Milo, 
as  a  distinct  and  separate  jurisdiction  of  Ontario  County,  was  brought 
into  existence  by  an  act  of  the  legislature  passed  at  the  session  of 
1818.  The  first  proposed  name  for  the  town  was  Milan,  but  as  another 
townof  that  name  was  formed  about  the  same  time,  Samuel  Lawrence, 
one  of  the  representatives  in  the  Assembly  from  Ontario  County,  sug- 
gested for  this  town  the  name  of  Milo;  but  why  so  named  neither  rec- 
ord or  tradition  furnishes  an  explanation.  As  originally  constituted 
Milo  embraced  all  of  township  No.  7,  first  range,  except  the  portion 
west  of  Lake  Keuka,  and  all  the  territory  east  of  it  and  west  of  Seneca 
Lake.  The  town  was  called  upon  to  surrender  a  portion  of  its  lands  to 
the  formation  of  Torrey,  all  of  which  is  fully  explained  and  narrated  in 
the  chapter  relating  to  that  town. 


TOWN  OF  MILO.  373 

Pioneer  Settlement. — The  first  settlers  in  Milo  were  members  of  the 
Society  of  Universal  Friends,  who  came  to  the  region  in  1788  and  lo- 
cated upon  lands  the  ownership  of  which  they  knew  not  of  As  a  mat- 
ter of  fact,  at  that  particular  time  there  was  a  question  of  some  doubt 
as  to  whom  the  lands  did  rightfully  belong ;  whether  to  Phelps  and  Gor 
ham,  the  Lessee  company,  or  to  the  Senecas  of  the  Six  Nations.  But  the 
Friends  made  their  settlement  and  improved  the  lands,  not  in  defiance 
of  any  right  of  others,  but  because  the  country  was  congenial  to  them, 
and  they  must  have  had  some  firm  belief  that  they  could  acquire  title 
without  difficulty  or  disturbance.  This  they  afterward  did  acquire. 
But  the  settlement  by  the  Friends  is  not  a  proper  subject  of  narration 
in  this  connection,  as  the  site  occupied  by  them  was  set  off  from  Milo 
and  made  a  part  of  Torrey,  and  as  such  will  be  found  treated  in  the 
history  of  that  town. 

The  settlement  of  the  Friends  occupied  in  particular  that  portion  of 
the  town  of  Milo  that  was  formed  into  Torrey,  but  in  general  their  set- 
tlements reached  out  into  the  western  localities  from  the  lake,  and  ex- 
tended even  into  what  became  Benton.  The  names  of  the  members  of 
the  Friends  Society  are  mentioned  in  one  of  the  earlier  chapters  of  this 
work,  and  therefore  no  repetition  need  be  made  in  this  connection. 
Neither  is  it  necessary  to  this  chapter  that  they  be  mentioned  other- 
wise than  as  pioneers  of  the  locality. 

In  1869  Samuel  V.  Miller  and  Job  L.  Babcock,  acting  in  the  interest 
of  the  Yates  County  Historical  Society,  by  patient  and  persistent  ef- 
fort succeeded  in  making  a  reliable  list  of  the  early  settlers  of  Milo; 
those  who  dwelt  on  what  were  then  the  leading  north  and  south  thor- 
oughfares of  travel  througii  the  town,  and  which  were  commonly  known 
as  the  Lake  road,  the  Bath  road,  the  Telegraph  road,  and  the  East  road. 
The  results  of  their  labors  were  reported  to  the  society  and  eventually 
were  given  publicity  through  the  press  of  Penn  Yan.  From  their  re- 
port it  is  learned  that  the  first  settlers  on  the  Lake  road,  commencing  at 
the  Barrington  line  and  following  northward,  were  these  persons:  Jere- 
miah Decker,  Henry  Jacobus,  Jonathan  Gillis,  James  Coble,  Mr.  Wilson, 
T.  Di.xon,  W.  Helms,  John  Haight,  Simeon  Jacobus,  Warren  Smith, 
Dr.  E.  Shattuck,  and  Ceorge  Lamb,  each  of  whom  is  credited  with  hav- 
ing lived  on  their  respective  lands  in  1 806,  and  are  presumed  to  have 
35 


274  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

made  their  settlements  about  that  time.  John  McDowell  is  said  b)' the 
report  to  have  settled  at  the  foot  of  the  lake  in  1802,  although  his 
descendants  contend  that  his  settlement  was  made  there  in  1792. 

On  tlie  Bath  road,  so  called,  commencing  where  George  W.  Plymp- 
ton  now  lives  and  going  southward,  the  pioneer  settlers  were  John 
Rey  wait,  Joseph  Quick,  J.  W.  Hedges,  William  Yager,  Levi  Macomber, 
Charles  Lockwood,  Charles  Bundy,  Simeon  Thayer,  sen.,  William  Bailey, 
Joshua  Beard,  Hiram  Post,  Samuel  Boots,  William  Hedges,  Isaac 
Hedges,  Ezra  Cummings,  Benjamin  Thompson,  Moses  Thompson, 
Jonathan  Baile)',  John  Seeley,  and  George  Marring.  These  also  are 
credited  with  having  been  settlers  in  1802  and  1803. 

The  road  south  of  Penn  Yan  has  had  less  inhabitants,  there  appear- 
ing only  the  names  of  Peter  Coldren,  J.  Hollenbeck,  Susannah  Clau- 
ford,  Peter  Althiser,  and  Philip  Yokum.  They  were  settlers  of  1802 
and  1803.  On  the  east  road  there  appears  these  names:  Thomas  and 
Israel  Ferris,  Jedediah  Royce,  Lewis  Randall,  Samuel  Lockwood, 
Abraham  Downing,  Deacon  Maples,  Ezra  Smith,  John  Gulp,  John  Capell, 
Rev.  Ferris,  Reuben  Ferris,  Peter  Eastman,  Noah  Russage,  Jonathan 
Rector,  Abraham  Ferris,  James  Randall,  Absalom  Travis,  John  Miners, 
John  R.  Powell,  Roger  Sutherland,  Abraham  Prosser,  Benjamin  Down- 
ing, Peter  Heltibidel,  George  Gardner,  Abner  Gardner,  R.  Champlin, 
Simon  Sutherland,  credited  with  having  settled  about  the  years  1802 
and  1803.  On  the  road  east  from  the  lake  dwelt  about  the  same  time 
Ephraim  Althiser,  Philemon  Baldwin,  and  David  Hall. 

Let  the  present  generation  of  dwellers  in  Milo  glance  over  the  fore- 
going roll,  and  then  see  how  very  few  of  them  can  trace  their  ancestry 
back  to  the  residents  along  these  roads  during  the  first  years  of  the 
present  century.  It  was  indeed  an  arduous  task  to  enumerate  them, 
how  much  more  difficult  would  it  be  to  take  each  named  head  of  the 
family  and  relate  who  they  were,  where  they  came  from,  who  were 
their  children,  and  finally,  what  eventually  became  of  each  of  them. 
No  person  now  living  could  accurately  do  this  work. 

Records  of  Early  Families. —  John  and  Peleg  Briggs  were  pioneer 
settlers  on  the  location  where  is  now  the  hamlet  called  Milo  Center. 
They  were  followers  of  the  Friend.  The  children  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
(Bailey)  Briggs  were  John,  jr.,  David,  Ruth,  Ann,  and  Esther.  The 
Briggs  family  came  to  this  locality  from  North  Kingston,  Rhode  Island. 


TOWN  OF  MILO.  275 

Adam  Hunt  and  Mary  his  wife  were  natives  of  Rhode  Island,  and  came 
to  the  Friend's  settlement  as  pioneers,  locating  near  Milo  Center  on  the 
Garter.  Their  children  were  Sarah,  Silas,  Mary,  Abel,  Hannah,  I.ucy, 
and  Lydia. 

Lewis  Biidsell  settled  on  lot  18,  in  1792.  Hi;  contracted  with  Enoch 
Malin  to  build  the  first  dam,  flume  and  saw-mill  at  the  foot  of  Main 
street  in  Penn  Yan,  for  a  consideration  equivalent  to  fifty- five  pounds. 
Shortly  afterward  Mr.  Birdsel!  sold  the  property  to  David  Wagener 
and  moved   to  Seneca  County. 

Thomas  Lee  and  Waty  (Sherman)  Lee,  his  wife,  with  a  large  family, 
settled  on  lot  two,  in  1790.  Their  children  were  Abigail,  Mary,  Eliz- 
abeth, Waty,  Joshua,  Nancy,  Patience,  Thomas,  jr.,  James,  and  Sherman. 

John  Lawrence,  follower  for  a  time  of  the  Priend,  came  to  Milo  from 
New  Bedford,  Mass.  He  was  one  of  the  leading  men  of  the  settlement 
and  in  comfortable  circumstances.  His  wife  was  Anna  Hathaway,  rel- 
ative of  the  prominent  Thomas  Hathaway.  The  children  of  John  and 
Anna  Lawrence  were  Meiatiah,  Mary,  Samuel,  Reliance,  Anna,  Olive, 
John,  Sabra,  and  Silas.  John  Lawrence,  the  pioneer,  built  tlie  first  mill 
structure  on  the  privilege  now  utilized  by  John  T.  Andrews. 

William  W.  Aspell  and  family  settled  near  Milo  Center  in  18 16.  He 
was  born  in  Ireland.  His  children,  by  a  second  marriage,  however,  were 
David  B.,  Mary  A.,  and  Elizabeth  S. 

Richard  Henderson  was  born  in  Ireland  March  17,  1767,  and  died 
January  23,  1850.  His  wife,  Anna  Wagener,  was  born  September  10, 
1777,  and  died  November  13,  1864.  Their  children:  Samuel,  born 
Marcii  5,  1797,  married  Harriet  Arnot,  and  died  April  12,  1834;  David, 
born  December  25,  1798,  married  December  9,  1819,  died  February  15, 
1SS3;  Maria,  born  August  11,  1800,  married  Samuel  Gillette  May  9, 
1820,  died  April  6,  1886;  Mary,  born  March  16,  1803,  married  John- 
son A.  Nichols,  died  April  16,  1889;  Rebecca,  born  Novembers,  1805, 
married  George  Nichols,  first,  and  afterward  Nehemiah  Raplee,  lives  at 
Bath;  Elizabeth,  born  January  14,  1809,  married  Caleb  J.  Legg,  lives 
in  Torrey  ;  Richard,  born  January  15,  1810,  died  May  15,  1864;  Anna 
B  ,  born  July  11,  1812,  married  i^arnum  Mallory,  lives  in  Illinois;  Jane, 
born  June  I,  1814,  married  Smith  L.  Mallory,  lives  west;  Harriet,  born 
November  17,  18 16,  married  Louis  Millard,  lives  in  Dundee  ;  James  W., 


276  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

born  March  19,  1819,  married  Martha  A.  Drake,  and  lives  at  Milo 
Center;  Rachel,  born  July  9,  1 821,  married  James  C.  Longweli,  lives  at 
Penn  Yan.  Children  of  Richard  and  Rosalinda  Henderson  :  Samuel  S., 
born  October  9,  1836;  Charles,  born  February  27,  1838,  died  May  28, 
1872  ;  Marvin  and  Marsden,  born  April  2,  1842  ;  James  A.,  born  Oc- 
tober 6,  1845.  Richard  Henderson,  the  pioneer,  settled  between  Milo 
Center  and  Himrods  about  the  year  1795. 

Josiah  Jones  and  family  settled  near  Himrods  in  1806.  His  wife  was 
Sarah  Ellis,  who,  as  well  as  himself,  was  a  native  of  Rhode  Island.  Their 
children  were  Timothy,  Seth,  Nancy,  Abigail,  Eunice  and  Lydia  (twins). 

George  and  Hannah  Daviis  Fitzwater,  husband  and  wife,  came  to 
Milo  from  Pennsylvania  in  1799.  Their  children  were  John,  Sarah, 
George,  Hannah  and  Thomas  (twins),  and  Rachel. 

Samuel  Castner  was  a  pioneer  of  Milo.  His  wife  was  Mary  Magda- 
lene, daughter  of  David  Wagener.  Their  children  were  Rebecca,  Mary 
Ann,  Rachel  \V.,  Ann  M.,  Elizabeth,  and  Susan  S. 

Eliphalet  Norris  was  born  in  New  Hampshire  in  1763,  and  in  1792 
came  to  this  town,  locating  at  what  became  known  as  Norris'  Landing, 
where  he  established  a  trading  store.  In  1793  he  married  Mary, daughter 
of  Thomas  Hathaway,  who  bore  him  five  children,  viz.:  Thomas  H., 
Benjamin  G.,  George  W.,  James  H.,  and  Joshua  F. 

Silas  Spink  settled  on  the  Gore  in  1790.  He  was  a  native  of  Rhode 
Island,  and  journeyed  to  the  home  of  the  Friends  in  company  with  sev- 
eral other  persons  who  sought  a  home  in  the  New  Jerusalem.  Silas 
Spink  married  Martha  Briggs,  and  had  two  children,  Mary  and  Silas  VV. 
Spink. 

John  Supplee  was  a  pioneer  on  the  P'riends  tract,  coming  thither  from 
Philadelphia  prior  to  1790.  In  that  year  he  married  Achsa,  the  daughter  of 
Jonathan  Botsford.  Mr.  Supplee  first  located  in  Torrey,  but  after  one 
or  two  years  moved  to  the  locality  of  Himrods.  He  was  one  of  the  early 
distillers  of  the  region,  but  in  181  5  turned  his  attention  to  the  more 
agreeable  occupation  of  running  a  saw-mill  on  Plum  Point.  He,  in  1825, 
built  two  small  river  boats,  named  respectively  Trader  and  Farmer, 
in  which  lumber,  grain,  and  produce  were  carried  to  Albany.  Peter, 
John,  and  Jonathan  were  the  children  of  John  and  Achsa  Supplee. 

Mary  Gardner,  the  wife  of  George  Gardner,  formerly  of  Rhode  Island. 


TOWN  OF  MI LO.  277 

became  one  of  the  early  settlers  in  the  Friends  colony.  Her  liusband 
remained  in  the  East,  and  she  and  her  children,  Dorcas,  Abner,  and 
George,  came  to  the  Genesee  country,  locating  first  near  the  Friend's 
home,  but  later  moved  to  Milo.  Dorcas  Gardner  married  Eleazer  In- 
grahani,  jr.,  and  had  seven  children  :  John,  Abigail,  Mary,  George, 
Rhoda,  Rachel,  and  Nancy.  Abner  Gardner  married  Mary  Champlin, 
and  had  these  children  :  Mary,  George  W.,  Rowland  J.,  and  Abner. 
Abner,  sen.,  died  in  i860,  and  his  wife  two  years  earlier. 

Another  of  the  pioneers  of  Milo  was  Stephen  Card,  whose  settlement 
dates  back  to  1788.  Both  he  and  his  wife,  Hannah  Card,  were  natives  of 
Rhode  Island.  Stephen  Card  and  John  Reynolds  cleared  the  land  and 
sowed  the  firstwheatwest  of  Seneca  Lake.  Mr.  Card  first  settled  near  City 
Hill,  but  afterward  moved  to  a  farm  near  Himrods.  The  children  of 
Stephen  and  Hannah  Card  were  John  and  Sarah  Card.  Isaac  and 
Anna  (Boon)  Nichols  were  numbered  among  the  Rhode  Island  contin- 
gent of  pioneer  settlers  in  Milo.  They  were  followers  of  the  Friend, 
steadfast  and  true.  Isaac  Nichols  located  on  the  Garter,  and  after  him 
the  place  was  named  Nichols's  Corners,  afterward  and  now  known  as 
Milo  Center.  Isaac  Nichols  died  in  1829,  and  his  wife  nine  years  later. 
Their  children  were  George,  Alexander,  Benjamin,  and  Jacob.  George 
married  Hannah  Green,  and  had  one  child,  George  B.  Nichols.  Alex- 
ander married  Polly  or  Mary  Chambers,  and  by  her  had  these  children  : 
Josiah  G.,  Johnson  A.,  Alexander,  and  Loring  G.  Nichols. 

John  Plynipton  and  Rhoda,  his  wife,  both  natives  of  Massachusetts, 
came  toMilo  in  1795, and  settled  on  lot  17.  John  died  at  Deerfield,  Oneida 
County,  and  his  wife  in  1833,  at  West  Bloomfield.  Their  children  were 
Esther,  Rachel,  Moses  A.,  Aaron,  Rhoda,  John,  Polly  or  Mary,  and 
Henry.  Aaron  Plympton  married  Elizabeth  Heltibidal,  by  whom  he  had 
four  children,  Daniel  L.,  George  W.,  Ezra  W.,  and    Mary  E. 

Aaron  Bayard  and  his  family  were  pioneers  of  Benton,  having  set- 
tled in  that  town  in  1798.  Their  children  were  Joshua  and  Benedict. 
The  former  married  Martha  Blake,  and  moved  in  181 1  to  Milo,  locating 
on  lot  72.  Their  children  were  Allen,  Samantha,  Martha  Ann,  Eme- 
Hne,  Marietta,  Franklin,  Calista,  Serepta,  and  John  B. 

Sarah  Sutherland,  widow  of  Stephen  Sutherland,  of  Dutchess  Count>-, 
N.  Y.,  with  three  of  eleven  children  were  early  settlers  of  Milo.     The 


278  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

children  referred  to  were  Mead,  Lewis,  and  William.  From  these  three 
sons  have  descended  the  several  members  of  the  Sutherland  families  who 
now  live  in  Milo. 

Isaiah  Youngs  settled  in  1802  on  the  Potter  location,  near  Seneca 
Lake.  He  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey  and  there  married  Mary  Hag- 
gerty.  Their  children  were  Experience  and  Temperance  (twins),  Ste- 
phen, Peter,  George,  Mary,  and  Benjamin.  George  Youngs  was  prom- 
inently connected  with  the  early  history  of  his  town,  and  of  the  village 
of  Penn  Yan.  He  married  Rebecca  Pitney,  by  whom  he  had  these 
children  :  George  R.,  Isaiah,  Caroline,  Harriet,  Rebecca,  and  Phebe  Ann. 

Thomas  Bennett  and  Charity  (Hedges)  Bennett,  his  wife,  became  set- 
tlers on  lot  29  in  181 2.  After  clearing  and  improving  a  farm  Mr.  Ben- 
nett moved  his  family  to  Starkey.  Their  children  were  David  J.,  Polly, 
Elizabeth,  Jerusha,  Abraham  H.,  Esther, Thomas,  Sally,  Samuel,  Nancy, 
Stephen,  Mehitable,  Sophia,  and  Charity. 

Benajah  and  Joshua  Andrews  were  pioneers  in  the  Friend's  settlement. 
The  former  was  an  early  school  teacher,  and  the  latter  was  a  merchant. 
Benajah  died  during  young  manhood.  Joshua  married,  in  1792,  Mary, 
daughter  ot  Thomas  Lee,  sen.  Their  children,  Jeremiah  B.,  Elizabeth, 
Sarah,  and  Maria. 

John  .Bu.xton  was  born  in  Yorkshire,  England,  August  5,  1764,  and 
came  to  this  country,  and  to  Milo,  in  1 800,  his  family  at  that  time  con- 
sisting only  of  himself  and  wife.  Their  children  were  Catharine,  John, 
Thomas,  Bridget,  and  Mary  Ann.  John  Bu.xton,  jr.,  married  Lois  Lord, 
of  Sharon,  Conn.,  by  whom  he  had  three  children,  John  J.,  Lois  Lavina, 
and  William   W. 

George  Goundry  and  his  wife,  Elizabeth  (Heslop)  Goundry,  were 
both  of  English  birth.  In  1798  they  came  to  America  and  to  Geneva. 
George  was  employed  to  look  after  the  Hopeton  mill,  which  brought 
him  to  this  county.  In  1802  he  bought  a  farm  on  the  Garter.  Tlie 
children  of  George  and  Elizabeth  Goundry  were  Thomas,  Elizabeth, 
Catharine,  George,  Ann,  Julia  A.,  Matthew,  and  Cornelius. 

Jephtha  I*".  Randolph  and  his  family  came  from  New  Jersey  and  set- 
tled on  lot  15  of  the  Potter  tract  in  1809.  His  children  were  William, 
John,  Daniel,  David  F.,  Finch  F.,  Eliza,  Morris,  Jephtha  F.,  and  Aza- 
riah. 


TO  WN  OF  MILO.  279 

John  and  Solomon  Finch,  brothers,  with  their  famiUes  settled  on  Sen- 
eca Lake  in  1808.  John  moved  from  this  town  to  Michigan.  Solo- 
mon married  Sally  Randolph,  by  whom  he  had  eleven  children,  viz.: 
Azariah,  Nathaniel,  David,  Solomon,  John  R  ,  Betsey,  Keziah,  Catha- 
rine A.,  Caroline,  Jeffrey,  and  Lewis.  The  second  wife  of  Solomon 
Finch  was  Phylura  Markham. 

Amzi  Bruen,  the  ancestor  of  the  Bruen  families  now  living  in  Milo, 
was  born  in  New  Jersey  in  1799.  His  wife  was  Catharine  Hall,  daughter 
of  John  A.  Hall.  The  children  of  Amzi  and  Catharine  Bruen  were 
John  H.,  George.  Sarah  A.,  Horace  R  ,  Eveline  H.,  Austin  H.,  and 
Augustus. 

The  pioneer  of  the  Struble  family  in  Milo  was  Adam  Struble,  who 
was  of  Holland  Dutch  descent,  but  himself  a  native  of  New  Jersey. 
His  wife  was  Mary  Dean.  In  18 14  the  family  came  to  Milo  and  settled 
near  Himrods.  Adam  Struble  died  in  1867  and  his  wife,  Mary,  in  1868. 
Theirchildren  were  Moses,  Henry,  Levi.  Louisa,  Dean,  Sidney, Phebe,  Ira, 
Hannah,  Elizabeth,  Morgan,  Fowler,  and  Ellen.  Hanford  Struble,  the 
present  county  judge  of  Yates  County,  and  Dr.  Henry  A.  Struble  are  sons 
of  Levi  Struble  by  his  marriage  with  Mary  Misner.  Among  the  forty  or 
more  pioneers  from  Pennsylvania,  who  with  their  families  settled  near 
Himrods,  was  Malachi  Davis  and  his  family.  His  wife  was  Catharine  Gil- 
kerson,  and  the  children  who  came  to  this  town  were  Jonathan,  Samuel, 
Rachel,  Jesse,  John,  Malachi,  and  Nathaniel. 

Jacob  Fredenberg  is  said  to  have  been  a  settler  in  Milo  of  earlier  date 
than  the  Friends.  He  was  a  refugee  from  Massachusetts,  having  fled 
the  State  during  the  famous  Shay's  rebellion,  and  took  up  his  abode 
with  his  wife  and  children  on  Jacob's  Brook,  in  the  north  part  of  Milo 
as  afterward  organized.  He  is  said  to  have  come  here  in  1787.  The 
Senecas  permitted  the  settlement  but  restricted  his  liberties. 

The  family  of  James  Knapp  settled  in  Milo  in  18 15.  He  had  been 
a  soldier  of  the  Revolution,  and  was  with  General  Sullivan  on  his  famous 
campaign  against  the  Senecas.  His  wife  was  Lucy  G.  Ball.  Their 
children  were  Anna  B.,  Samuel  C,  Augustus,  and  Pamelia.  Augustus 
Knapp  married  Margaret  Heltibidal,  by  whom  these  children  were 
born:  George  H.,  Marsena  V.  R.,  Aaron  P.,  Samuel  A.,  Mary  L., 
Charles  F.,  Oliver  C,  William  C,  and  Franklin. 


28o  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

In  1803  Jonas  Yocum,  Philip  Yocum,  his  son,  George  Heltibidal,  son- 
in-law,  John  Reynalt,  and  Peter  Coldren  with  their  famiUes  came  from 
Northumberland,  Pa.,  and  settled  near  Penn  Van.  George  Heltibidal 
was  a  man  of  influence  and  large  means,  and  had  much  to  do  with  the' 
early  affairs  of  the  locality.  He  died  in  1808.  His  children  were 
Elizabeth,  Peter,  Catharine,  George,  Polly,  Jacob,  Margaret,  Phebe,  and 
John. 

David  Lee  came  from  Putnam  County  and  located  at  the  foot  of  the 
lake  in  18 12,  but  afterward  moved  to  Pulteney.  His  wife  was  Patty 
Mead,  by  whom  he  had  eight  children  :  Polly,  Jacob,  Robert,  Rachel, 
Joseph  R.,  Jehiel,  Erastus,  and  David  B. 

In  1 80 1  John  Capell,  then  a  resident  of  Middlesex,  Mass.,  married 
Sally  Blood  and  immediately  afterward  came  to  Yates  County  and  to 
Miio,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade,  that  of  millwright.  He  eventually 
moved  to  a  farm  just  out  of  Penn  Yan.  The  children  of  John  and 
Sally  Capell  were  Harriet,  Columbus,  John,  Eliza  Ann  and  Mary  Ann 
(twins),  Daniel,  Racelia,  Henry,  William  P.,  Emily,  and  Thomas  A. 

Simeon  Thayer  was  the  pioneer  in  Mile  of  a  family  that  has  been  as 
prolific  as  perhaps  any  in  the  town.  He  was  born  in  this  State,  as  also 
was  his  wife,  Elizabeth  Lucas,  whom  he  married  in  1805.  They  fiist 
settled  on  Lot  35,  but  afterward  moved  to  the  lake  shore  about  five 
miles  from  Penn  Yan.  Their  children  were  Jacob,  Joseph,  James,  Sam- 
uel, Sally  Ann,  Simeon,  David,  William,  Laura,  Emeline,  Reuben,  An- 
drew, and  John. 

Samuel  V.  C.  Miller  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  born  in  1781.  In 
1806  he  married  Esther  Cutter,  also  of  New  Jersey,  and  came  to  Mile 
in  1822,  settling  on  the  Lake  road.  Samuel,  the  pioneer  died  in  1852, 
and  his  wife  in  1858.  Tiieir  children  were  Maria,  Isabel,  John  C, 
Sarah  P.,  Samuel  V.,  Abram  and  Esther  (twins),  Susan  C,  Ephraim  C, 
David,  Phebe  A.  W.,  Stephen  W.,  and  Robert  F. 

Libbeus  and  Comfort  (Booth)  Cleveland  were  natives  of  Vermont,  but 
became  residents  of  Milo  in  181 1.  They  were  the  parents  of  four 
children:  Hannah,  Naomi,  Stephen  H.,  and  Harriet.  Comfort  Cleveland 
died  in  1831,  and  in  1839  Libbeus  married  Lavina  Onderdonk. 

Augustus  Chidsey,  native  of  Connecticut,  became  a  resident  of  Milo 
in  1817,  settling  on  lot  17.      His  wife  was  Anna  Rathbun,  by  whom  he 


TOWN  OF  MI LO.  28 1 

had  five  children  :  Freelove,  Augustus  C,  Sarali,  Samuel  B.  and  Joseph. 
His  second  wife  was  Sarah  Bidlack,  who  bore  him  three  children, 
Frank,  Anna,  and  Ambrose. 

Charles  and  Catharine  (Smith)  Babcock  were  natives  of  Connecticut 
and  New  York  respectively,  and  became  residents  of  Milo  in  i8i6,  set- 
tling on  lot  45.  Both  died  in  1829.  Their  children  were  Job,  Eunice, 
Abiram,  and  Stephen. 

Thomas  Baxter  was  born  at  Kinderhook,  N.  Y.,  in  1776,  and  iiis 
wife  Lavina  Benjamin  Baxter,  was  born  ten  years  later.  They  lived  for 
many  years  in  Seneca  Count}',  but  in  1839  moved  to  Milo,  locating  on 
lot  29.  He  died  in  1864.  Their  children  were  Mahala,  William,  Eliza- 
beth, Isaac,  Phebe,  Caroline,  and  Gilbert. 

Terry  Owen  and  his  wife,  who  before  marriage  was  Polly  Finch,  both 
of  Orange  County,  N.  Y.,  came  to  Milo  in  1810,  settling  near  Seneca 
Lake,  south  of  Dresden.  Terry  died  in  1821  and  his  wife  in  1844. 
Their  children  were  Nathaniel,  Hannah,  Jonathan,  William,  Julia, 
Daniel,  Ira,  Isaac,  and  Maria. 

Three  brothers  and  one  sister,  Frederick,  William,  Luther,  and  Sophia 
Spooner,  children  of  Benjamin  and  Freelove  Spooner,  settled  in  Milo 
during  the  pioneer  period,  about  or  after  1800.  Frederick  and  his  wife 
Martha  were  parents  of  four  children  :  Calvin,  Benjamin,  Polly  and  Ber- 
lin. William's  children  were  William,  Elizabeth,  Bennett,  Polly,  Alan- 
son,  and  Cynthia.  The  children  of  Luther  and  Hannah  (Allen)  Spooner 
were  Luther,  Allen,  rreelove,  Benjamin,  Leonard  T.,  and  James  C. 

Peter  Eastman  and  Sarah  his  wife  located  on  the  "Pine  Tract"  in 
Milo  in  18 18.  They  afterward  moved  to  Seneca  County,  Ohio.  Their 
children  were  John  W.,  Daniel  W.,  Polly,  James  T.,  Peter  O.,  Moses 
W.,  William  W.,  Henry  M.,  and  Charles  L. 

George  F.  Swarthout  was  the  fifth  son  of  Anthony  Swarthout,  jr.,  and 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Ovid,  October  28,  1790.  He  married  Rowena 
Russell,  of  Barrington,  December  3,  1818,  and  settled  in  Barrington  in 
1819.  In  1843  he  settled  in  Milo,  three  miles  south  of  Penn  Yan, 
where  he  died  July  13,  1853.  His  children  were  Seymour,  William 
R.,  Irene,  Willis,  Norton  R.,  Anthony,  John,  George,  Nancy  N.,  and 
Heman  S. 

John  Armstrong  settled  on  lot  12,  on  land  purchased  by  his  father  in 

3G 


282  HISTOR  Y  OF  YA  TES  CO  UN  T  Y. 

1793.  His  wife  was  Sarah  Embree  whom  he  married  in  1822,  and  by 
whom  he  had  two  children,  Mary  Ann  and  Henry.  The  former  was 
born  in  182J  and  died  in  1858.  Henry  was  born  in  1824,  married 
first  Adaline  Hunt,  by  whom  he  had  three  children,  Charles  H.,  Marion, 
and  John.  His  second  wife  was  Mercy  J.  Ikiggs.  The  youngest  son, 
John,  now  lives  on  the  old  farm.  He  married  Lucy,  daughter  of  John 
Sheppard,  and  has  one  child. 

Charles  Roberts  came  from  Philadelphia  to  Milo  iii  1799.  He  mar- 
ried Hannah  Stone  and  settled  on  lot  14,  near  Milo  Center.  He  was 
the  first  town  clerk  of  Milo,  holding  that  office  from  1818  to  1837.  He 
died  in  1839,  and  his  wife  in  1861.  Their  children  were  Charlotte, 
Charles  H.,  Robert,  and  Clarissa. 

Andrew  Stone  was  a  pioneer  of  Milo.  His  wife  was  Mary  Davis, 
by  whom  he  had  these  children  :  Jesse,  Hannah,  Sarah,  John,  Mary, 
Samuel,  Andrew,  Ruth,  and  Eliza.  The  family  came  to  the  county 
in  1799.  Thomas  Hollowell  was  the  head  of  a  pioneer  family  in 
Milo,  which  family  consisted  of  his  wife  and  three  children,  William, 
Joseph  and  Thomas.  William  was  born  in  1774,  and  married  Hannah 
Hunt.  Joseph,  born  in  1776,  married  Eleanor  Smith,  of  Milo,  who 
bore  him  ten  children  :  Mary,  Thomas,  Joseph,  Hannah,  Ann,  Martha, 
William,  John  K.,  James,  and  George. 

In  addition  to  the  above  families  of  parents  and  one  generation  of 
their  descendants,  all  of  whom  were  pioneers  in  Milo,  there  can  also  be 
mentioned  others  who  are  also  to  be  placed  in  the  same  class,  and  a 
faithful  record  requires  at  least  the  mention  of  their  names.  Peter  H. 
Brown  settled  in  the  town  in  18 16.  John  Corner  and  his  family  came 
here  in  1812.  Allen  Vorce  and  his  family  settled  on  lot  51  in  1818. 
Jonathan  J.  Hazard  and  Patience  his  wife  and  their  family  became  resi- 
dents of  Milo  during  the  early  years  of  this  century.  Their  children 
were  Jonathan  J.,  Griffin  B.,  Joseph  H.,  Thomas,  Susanna,  and  Abigail. 
The  Perry  family  were  early  settlers  in  the  town,  and  were  in  good 
numbers.  The  children  of  the  pioneer  parents,  James  and  Eliza- 
beth Perry,  were  Thomas,  Lewis,  Phebe,  David,  Enos,  Abigail,  Amaril- 
lis,  Delila,  and  William.  Gilbert  Baker  became  a  settler  on  lot  8  in  Milo, 
in  181 1.  His  wife  was  Margaret  Connor,  by  whom  he  had  children, 
viz. :  John  C,  Samantha,  Jane,  Darius,  Lucinda,  Eliza,  Jonathan  G., 
Cynthia,  and  Gilbert  D. 


TO  ITW  OF  MILD.  283 

Where  now  is  situated  the  principal  business  portion  ©f  the  village  of 
Penn  Van,  was  prior  to  1796  an  extensive  area  of  untilled  and  unin- 
habited land.  In  that  year  David  Wagener  became  the  owner  by  pur- 
chase of  nearly  all  this  tract,  extending  north  to  about  the  present 
Court  street,  and  including  about  275  acres  of  land.  David  Wagener 
was  the  head  of  one  of  the  most  prominent  pioneer  families  of  Yates 
County,  and  he  was,  moreover,  a  faithful  and  ardent  follower  of  the 
Friend.  He  was  born  January  25,  1752.  His  wife,  Rebecca  Supplee, 
whom  he  married  Januar)'  13,  1774,  was  born  November  25,  1749.  As 
near  as  can  be  determined  at  this  time,  David  Wagener  came  to  the  New 
Jerusalem  in  1791,  from  which  will  be  discovered  the  fact  by  reference 
to  the  following  record,  that  nearly  all  of  his  children  were  natives  of 
Pennsylvania,  near  or  at  Norristown,  from  whence  the  family  came  to 
Yates  County.  The  children  of  David  and  Rebecca  were  as  follows: 
Abraham,  born  November  9,  1774;  Mary  Magdalene,  born  February 
14,  1776;  Anna,  born  September  10,  1777;  Melchoir,  born  January 
31,  1779;  Elizabeth,  born  August  27,  1780  ;  David,  born  April  27,  1783  ; 
Rebecca,  born  January  i,  1785;  Lament,  born  November  13,  1787; 
Rachel,  born   September   11,    17S9;    Rebecca   (2d),   born   February    i, 

1794- 

It  is  said  that  David  Wagener  came  to  live  upon  his  lands  at  Penn 
Yan  soon  after  making  the  purchase  ;  and  that  he  dwelt  for  a  time  in  a 
log  house.  In  1796  he  commenced  the  erection  of  a  saw-mill  on  the 
south  side  of  the  outlet,  but  in  constructing  a  dam  across  that  stream 
contracted  a  severe  cold  that  ultimately  resulted  in  his  death.  He  died 
August  26,  1799,  and  his  body  was  buried  in  the  cemetery  west  of 
where  the  village  was  built  up.  He  donated  this  land  for  burial  pur- 
poses, and  was  himself  the  first  person  to  be  interred  therein. 

To  his  eldest  child,  Abraham,  David  Wagener  devised  that  part  of 
his  lands  which  lay  north  of  the  outlet,  while  to  his  second  son,  Melchoir, 
likewise  descended  the  lands  south  of  the  stream.  Abraham  subse- 
quently purchased  Melchoir's  portion  and  the  latter  moved  to  Pultney, 
Abraham  came  upon  the  lands  immediately  following  the  death  of  his 
father,  completed  the  improvements  the  latter  had  begun,  and  became 
one  of  the  foremost  men  of  the  county.  No  man  contributed  more  than 
he  to  the  establishing  and  building  up  the  village.     The  story  of  his  life 


284  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

and  actions  is  told  on  later  pages  of  this  chapter,  relating  particularly  to 
village  history. 

Abraham  VVagener  settled  near  Himrods  in  1792,  but  afterward 
moved  to  Penn  Yan.  On  May  26,  1796,  he  married  Mary  Castner,  by 
whom  he  had  seven  children:  David,  Samuel,  Jacob,  William,  Mary, 
Charles,  and  George.  In  1809  Mary,  wife  of  Abraham  Wagner  died, 
and  in  181 1  he  married  Joanna  Edmandson  of  Philadelphia,  who  bore 
him  these  children  :  Abraham  N.,  George,  Annette,  Henry  N.,  Hen- 
rietta, Henrietta  (the  first  child  of  that  name  having  died  in  extreme 
infancy).      Abraham  Wagener  died  May  21,  1853. 

The  surname  Sheppard  is -well  known  throughout  Yates  County. 
The  pioneer  of  this  prominent  family  was  Morris  F.  Sheppard,  born 
at  Germantown,  Pa.,  November  28,  1774.  In  1799  Mr.  Sheppard 
came  to  Penn  Yan.  Me  had  heard  of  the  Friend,  possible  he  knew  her, 
but  he  never  became  her  follower.  By  occupation  Mr.  Sheppard  was  a 
cloth  fuller  and  established  himself  in  that  business  soon  after  arriving 
here.  Later  he  added  a  tannery  to  his  business  interests.  On  October 
22,  1801,  Mr.  Sheppard  married  Rachel,  daughter  of  Peter  Sujiplee,  by 
whom  he  had  children  as  follows  :  George  Ashbridge  Sheppard,  born 
September  11,  1802,  died  February  26,  1874;  Sarah  Fletcher  Shep- 
pard, born  July  26,  1804,  married  September  14,  1843,  to  Eli  Sheldon, 
died  October  5,  1849;  John  Shoemaker  Sheppard,  born  June  18,  1S06, 
died  at  Geneva  March  2,  1828;  Charles  Clement  Sheppard,  born  June 
9,  1808  ;   Susan  Sheppard,  born  February  26,  181 2,  died  July  28,  1842. 

Charles  Clement  Sheppard  married,  May  26,  1835,  Jane  W.,  daugh- 
ter of  Henry  Bradlej'.  Their  children  were  Jane  S.,  born  July  21, 
1838,  married  William  Patteson,  died  in  Chicago  in  1865;  John  Shoe- 
maker, born  August  iS,  1840,  married  January  21,  1866;  Morris  F. 
Sheppard,  born  July  20,  1843  !  Henry  Bradley  Sheppard,  born  July  10, 
1845,  died  April  6,  1865  ;  Susan  Sheppard,  born  September  26,  1847, 
died  April  24,  1861  ;  Charles  Clement  Sheppard,  jr.,  born  October  20, 
1851,  died  December  30,  1855;  Sarah  Fletcher  Sheppard,  born  De- 
cember 15,  1856,  wife  of  Hatley  K.  Armstrong.  Charles  C.  Sheppard 
died  January  17,  1888. 

Dr.  William  Corn  well  came  to  Penn  Yan  about  the  year  1809.  He 
was  an  educated  physician,  and  in  connection  with   his  practice  taught 


TOWN  OF  MILO.  285 

school  for  a  time.  He  also  studied  law  and  was  admitted  to  practice. 
He  married  Sarah  Chidsey,  of  an  old  and  respected  family  of  Milo,  by 
whom  he  had  ten  children  :  John,  Achsa  Ann,  Emily,  William  Augus- 
tus, Henry  Baldwin,  Elizabeth,  Samuel,  Caroline,  George  Rathbun,  and 
Frances  Helen. 

Those  who  have  been  mentioned  in  the  foregoing  brief  sketches  were 
pioneers  in  Milo,  and  upon  them  fell  the  burden  of  the  labor  incident  to 
all  pioneer  improvements.  They,  and  perhaps  others  whose  names  are 
now  lost,  paved  the  way  for  succeeding  generations  of  their  children 
and  their  childrens'  children  ;  and  substantial  has  been  the  reward  and 
inheritance  left  to  many  of  them.  Of  the  old  pioneers  the  majority 
were  probably  farmers,  while  some  wrought  at  trades,  and  still  others 
were  merchants  or  manufacturers.  But  each  and  all  of  them  were 
earnest,  industrious  workers  in  the  direction  in  which  nature  best  en- 
dowed them  with  qualities  of  mind,  body  and  heart. 

Pioneer  settlements  in  Milo  began  with  the  coming  of  the  Friend's 
colony  in  1788,  and  so  rapid  was  the  growth  in  population  and  develop- 
ment that  the  year  1820  found  the  town  to  possess  2,612  inhabitants, 
about  400  families,  and  there  were  then  in  operation  seven  grist-mills, 
fourteen  saw-mills,  three  fulling-mills,  one  oil-mill,  four  carding  ma- 
chines, six  distilleries,  three  asheries,  and  tw^o  trip-hammers.  Today  the 
town  has  but  three  gristmills,  no  fulling-mills  nor  carding-machines, 
no  more  than  three  saw-mills,  and  fortunately  but  one  distillery. 

In  1 818  the  town  of  Milo  was  set  off  from  Benton  and  given  an  in- 
dependent corporate  organization.  The  first  town  meeting  was  held 
April  7th,  at  the  house  of  Isaac  Nichols,  and  then  the  first  town  officers 
were  elected  as  follows :  Avery  Smith,  supervisor ;  Charles  Roberts, 
town  clerk;  George  I.  Remer,  collector;  Benedict  Robinson,  George 
Nichols,  and  George  Youngs,  assessors  ;  Richard  Henderson  and  Roger 
Sutherland,  overseers  of  the  poor  ;  Isaac  Hedges,  David  Briggs,  and 
Solomon  Finch,  commissioners  of  highways  ;  Isaac  Nichols,  Thomas 
Hathaway,  and  Allen  Vorcc,  school  commissioners  ;  Samuel  Hender- 
son, Joel  Gillette,  John  Randolph,  James  N.  Edmondson,  Peter  Young, 
and  Luther  Sisson,  school  inspectors  ;  George  I.  Remer,  Stephen  Youngs, 
David  J.  Bennett,  and  Walter  Wolcott,  constables.  Prior  to  1855  the 
annual  town  meetings  were  held  at  Milo  Center,  but  the  setting  off  of 


286  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

Torrey  in  1853,  and  the  increase  in  number  of  inhabitants  in  and  about 
Penn  Yan,  so  changed  the  center  of  population  in  the  town  that  a  vote 
of  the  electors  determined  upon  the  county  seat  as  the  place  for  hold- 
ing elections. 

The  designation  of  Penn  Yan  as  the  seat  of  justice  of  Yates  County 
gave  Milo  an  important  advantage  over  the  other  towns,  and  was  of  the 
greatest  benefit,  directly  and  indirectly,  to  the  people  of  the  town.  The 
civil  jurisdiction  of  Milo  extends  over  and  includes  the  village,  and  the 
whole  people,  electors,  unite  in  the  election  of  town  officers.  This  situ- 
ation has  advantages  and  objections,  but  these  are  not  proper  subjects  for 
discussion  here.  Penn  Yan  has  a  corporate  character  independent  from 
Milo,  and  elects  its  own  officers  for  municipal  government.  Likewise 
the  village  of  Penn  Yan  has  a  history  which  is  distinct  from  that  of  the 
town  at  large,  and  this  is  made  the  subject  of  special  and  extended 
mention  on  the  later  pages  of  the  present  chapter.  Outside  of  the  vil- 
lage of  Penn  Yan  Milo  has  three  trading  localities  or  centers,  but  neither 
of  them  has  ever  organized  a  population  of  importance  sufficient  to  en- 
title it  to  any  corporate  character.  The  hamlets  of  Milo  are  Himrods, 
Milo  Center,  and  Second  Milo  as  at  present  known. 

Himrods,  the  hamlet  proper,  is  located  on  lot  No.  6  of  the  Potter 
location,  and  was  originally  called  Himrod's  Corners,  after  Wilhemus  L. 
Himrod,  the  founder  of  a  store  at  the  place  in  1 831.  Through  the  vil- 
lage courses  Plum  Point  Brook,  a  small  stream  having  no  present  im- 
portance because  of  the  devastation  of  the  forests  of  the  locality,  but 
formerly  furnishing  power  sufficient  to  run  mills.  Himrod's  Corners  was 
the  name  of  the  postoffice  established  here  in  1832,  and  so  continued  for 
many  years  and  until  changed  to  the  more  dignified,  and  perhaps  more 
appropriate  name  of  Himrods. 

But  Himrod's  Corners  and  Himrods  have  never  succeeded  in  acquir- 
ing any  special  importance  either  in  mercantile  pursuits  or  in  point  of 
population.  Its  greatest  glory  was  attained  in  the  construction  of  the 
Northern  Central  Railroad,  a  condition  subsequently  slighted  improved 
by  the  building  of  the  Fall  Brook  line  as  at  present  known. 

The  pioneer  industry  of  the  hamlet,  or  its  locality,  was  the  distillery 
business  established  about  1794  by  Richard  Matthews  ;  and  this  appears 
to  have  been  about  the  only  enterprise,  except  farming,  that  was  con- 


TOWN  OF  MILO.  287 

ducted  in  the  vicinity  until  Mr.  Himrod  started  his  store  in  1831. 
Stephen  Card  was  a  pioneer  in  the  Friend's  settlement,  but  in  later 
years  took  up  his  residence  where  Himrods  now  is,  and  here  he  built 
and  maintained  a  public  house,  such  as  the  present  generation  would 
call  a  tavern  or  hotel.  This  he  conducted  for  many  years.  Tiie  next 
hotel  was  that  built  by  Garrett  S.  Ayers  in  1835,  which  passed  through 
several  owners  and  finally  was  transformed  into  a  double  dwelling.  In 
1S61  William  S.  Semans  built  the  Eagle  Hotel,  a  fairly  large  and  well 
appointed  hostelry.  It  is  now  the  property  of  John  Sheppard,  and  con- 
ducted by  his  son-in-law,  Frank  Knapp. 

The  mercantile  business  interests  of  Himrods  have  been  represented 
by  numerous  proprietors  since  the  time  of  Wilhemus  Himrod,  the  suc- 
cession including  Gilbert  R.  Riley,  Ellis  &  Baker,  John  and  Jephtha 
F.  Randolph,  Marshall  &  Sherman,  William  S.  Ellis,  Philip  Drake, 
Jonathan  G.  Baker,  Miles  G.  Raplee,  Peter  Wyckofil",  Cornelius  Post, 
William  S.  Semans,  Amos  E.  Van  Osdol,  Covert  &  Chubb,  George 
Svvartz  and  Hiram  Swartz.  The  last  two  named  are  the  present  lead- 
ing merchants  of  the  village.  In  addition  to  these  there  may  be  men- 
tioned the  grain  business  of  S.  Nelson  Jones. 

The  first  Baptist  Church  of  Milo  is  the  only  religious  society  having 
an  abiding  place  at  Himrods.  The  earlier  meetings  of  this  denomination 
in  this  locality  commenced  in  the  year  1803,  and  were  conducted  by 
Elder  Simon  Sutherland  at  Nichols  Corners  and  other  places  best 
suited  to  the  convenience  of  the  members.  In  1804  an  organization 
was  begun  at  the  house  of  Thomas  Hollowell,  and  completed  in  1805, 
March  13th,  at  the  Raplee  school  house  at  East  Milo,  then  having  a 
membership  of  twenty  nine  persons.  It  was  not  until  1833  that  the 
society  had  sufficient  strength  to  erect  a  church  home,  but  at  the  time 
named  the  edifice  at  Himrods  was  built  at  a  cost  of  $1,400.  This  house 
was  used  by  the  society  until  1S68,  and  then  replaced  by  the  present 
large  and  attractive  church  building.  As  this  is  the  only  church  build- 
ing at  Himrods,  or  in  that  immediate  vicinity,  its  congregation  is  made 
up  of  church  goers  of  various  denominations  as  well  as  by  the  Baptist 
portion  of  the  community.  The  present  membership  reaches  nearly 
125.  Among  the  ministers  of  the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Milo  can  be 
recalled  the  names  of  Revs.  Simon  Sutherland,  John  B.  Chase,  B.  R. 


288  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

Swick,  Enos  Marshall,  Hezekiah  West,  James  Pease,  J.  Batchelder,  A. 
Wells,  J.  Sabin,  A.  W.  Sunderlin,  J.  Parker,  A.  K.  DeGroat,  M.  Liver- 
more,  John  Rooney,  W.  W.  Holt,  and  others  whose  names  have  become 
lost. 

In  the  extreme  south  part  of  the  town  of  Milo,  about  two  or  three 
miles  west  from  Himrods,  in  the  Goundry  neighborhood,  so-called,  was 
built  many  years  ago  a  Freewill  Baptist  Church.  The  society  was  or- 
ganized about  or  soon  after  1838,  the  result  of  the  labors  of  Stephen  S. 
Lanning  and  Ezra  F.  Crane,  ministers  of  the  Freewill  Baptist  faith. 
Gilbert  Baker  was  one  of  the  most  prominent  leaders  of  the  society, 
and  the  one  upon  whom  fell  a  burden  of  the  society's  indebtedness. 
The  church  was  built  at  Baker's  Corners,  on  lot  eight,  at  a  cost  of  about 
$1,250.  The  society  was  prospered  for  a  time,  but  at  length  fell  into  a 
decline  with  result  in  final  dismemberment. 

Milo  Center  as  commonly  known  but  properly  Milo,  is  a  small  ham- 
let of  about  two  dozen  houses,  a  store,  a  shop,  hotel  and  possibly  a  few 
other  light  industries  situated  in  the  eastern-central  part  of  the  town- 
ship. This  point  was  originally  known  as  Nichols  Corners,  so-called 
from  the  pioneer  family  of  the  locality,  of  which  family  Isaac  Nichols 
was  the  head  and  parent.  And  even  to  this  day  the  surname  Nichols, 
representing  descendants  from  the  same  ancestor,  is  frequent  in  this  part 
of  Milo.  Isaac  Nichols's  son,  Isaac,  jr.,  appears  to  have  been  the  prime 
mover  in  the  endeavors  to  establish  a  village  at  this  point,  and  what- 
ever was  accomplished  in  this  direction  was  mainly  due  to  him.  He 
opened  a  public  house  at  the  Corners  in  1820  and  was  the  first  post- 
master after  an  office  had  been  established  there.  George  B.  Nichols 
and  Herman  Smith  were  the  pioneer  merchants  of  the  berg.  During 
the  stage  coach  period  Nichols  Corners  or  Milo  was  a  point  of  some  im- 
portance, but  when  railroads  superseded  the  slower  means  of  travel  the 
village  lost  much  of  its  old-time  importance.  It  is  now  no  nearer  than 
a  mile  from  Milo  station  on  the  Northern  Central  road. 

During  the  period  of  its  existence  the  Center  has  had  a  number 
of  successful  merchants,  among  whom  can  be  recalled  the  names  of 
Nichols  &  Smith,  Joseph  C.  Stull,  William  Holden,  Denreau  &  Fiero, 
Abel  B.  Hunt,  Moses  W.  Eastman,  George  Hollowell,  H.  F.  Anderson, 
Schuyler   Sutherland,  George  W.  and  W.  H.  Millard.     Among  the  va- 


TO  IVN  OF  MILO.  289 

rioiis  landlords,  proprietors  of  the  public  house  in  the  village,  have  been 
Isaac  Nichols,  jr.,  Philip  Drake,  Manchester  Townsend,  V .  F.  Randolph, 
John  Clark,  M.  Depew,  Patrick  Byrne  and  others.  The  present  land- 
lord is  Silas  Spink. 

The  only  public  building  at  the  village  is  the  Milo  Center  Methodist 
Church,  a  society  having  an  incipient  organization  as  early  as  1797, 
and  drawing  its  membership  from  throughout  the  entire  township.  The 
pioneer  meetings  which  resulted  in  the  founding  of  the  church  were  con- 
ducted by  William  Smith,  a  local  preacher  of  some  prominence.  Early 
meetings  were  held  at  the  Spink  school-house,  the  log  school  house  in 
the  Friend's  settlement,  and  at  William  Smith's  and  Joseph  Hollowell's 
residence.  In  1821,  or  about  that  time,  the  societ}'  became  definitely 
organized,  and  in  1833  the  articles  of  association  were  filed  to  make  the 
organization  perfect.  A  lot  was  purchased  from  Isaac  Nichols,  upon 
which,  at  a  cost  of  $2,000,  the  first  church  edifice  was  erected.  It  was 
dedicated  in  September,  1833.  In  1862  substantial  repairs  were  made, 
but  in  1869  the  building  was  remodeled  and  enlarged  at  an  expense  of 
$4,000.  Among  the  early  class  leaders  were  Samuel  Kress,  sr.,  Samuel 
Castner,  Abraham  Prosser,  William  W.  Aspell,  Thomas  Goundry,  Ben- 
jamin B.  Spooner,  M.  D.  Jackson,  John  B.  Hollowell,  Archibald  Stro- 
bridge,  H.  F.  Anderson,  P.  J.  Seeley,  Samuel  Depew,  H.  T.  Aspell,  W'ill- 
iam  Hollowell,  L.  M.  Millard,  S.  C.  Hatmaker,  N.  B.  Raplee. 

Second  Milo  is  the  name  that  has  been  applied  to  one  of  the  hamlets 
of  the  town  of  Milo,  but  this  name  appears  to  have  been  given  the  only 
public  building  of  the  place,  viz.,  the  Second  Milo  Baptist  Church. 
Formerly  and  even  to  the  present  day  this  particular  locality  has  been 
known  as  Cat  Head.  But  Second  Milo  has  never  acquired  much  of  a 
population  ;  neither  has  it  any  important  industries  or  business  inter- 
ests. The  erection  of  the  meeting-house  brought  to  the  place  what- 
ever of  importance  it  possesses.  The  hamlet  is  situate  in  the  central- 
western  portion  of  the  township,  at  the  four  corners  made  by  the  inter- 
section of  the  telegraph  road  and  the  principal  east  and  west  thorough- 
fare of  the  town. 

Although  Second  Milo  is  a  settlement  of  no  great  extent,  it  is  never- 
theless the  center  of  a  rich  agricultural  district.  In  this  locality  are  the 
excellent  farms  of  James  A.  Thayer,  Isaiah  Youngs,  Lewis  Swartliout, 
37 


290  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

Ira  Owen,  Abner  Gardner,  Rowland  J.  Gardner,  J.  P.  Castner,  Andrew 
Longwell,  Gilbert  Baxter,  Daniel  Plaisted,  Frank  Maloney,  and  others  of 
whom  mention  might  worthily  be  made  in  the  same  connection.  In  fact 
this  particular  locality  can  boast  of  as  rich  and  productive  farm  lands  as 
can  be  found  in  Vates  County,  and  tiie  husbandmen  resident  hereabouts 
are  as  thrift)',  progressive,  and  public- spirited  as  their  lands  are  valuable. 

West  from  Second  Milo  about  one  mile  is  historic  ground,  but  con- 
nected with  it  is  but  very  little  known  history.  On  the  farm  of  Lewis 
Swarthout,  on  a  little  circular  rise  of  ground  of  some  two  acres  in  ex- 
tent, once  stood  a  fortification  of  some  kind,  but  by  whom  built,  by 
wliom  occupied,  and  for  what  particular  purpose,  both  record  and  tra- 
dition are  silent ;  they  furnish  no  satisfactory  information.  That  the 
fort  at  one  time  existed  there  can  be  no  shadow  of  doubt,  for  traces  of 
it  oven  at  this  late  day  are  still  discernible.  The  only  mystery  sur- 
rounding the  subject  grows  out  of  the  doubtful  causes  that  necessitated 
its  construction.  Here  was  the  interior  country  of  the  Senecas'  vast 
possessions,  and  not  within  hundreds  of  miles  was  there  an  enemy  ; 
from  which  we  reason  that  the  Indians  themselves  could  not  have  built 
the  fortress.  The  French  Jesuits  and  adventurers  traveled  the  country 
of  the  Iroquois  and  built  forts  at  various  places  for  their  own  protec- 
tion. But  of  the  principal  defenses  erected  by  them  we  have  sufficient 
record,  and  any  mention  of  this  one  is  not  to  be  found.  It  is  hardly 
fair  or  reasonable  to  suppose  that  this  fort  could  have  been  the  handi- 
work of  a  pre- historic  race  of  occupants. 

The  Second  Milo  Baptist  Church  had  its  inception  in  the  early  meet- 
ings held  by  Eider  Simon  Sutherland  during  the  first  years  of  the  pres- 
ent century,  although  it  was  not  until  the  year  1832  that  the  society 
was  provided  with  a  church  home.  The  first  organization  was  effected 
in  181  I  under  the  name  of  South  Ikiiton  Baptist  Church,  for  then  Milo 
as  a  township  was  unknown.  But  when  Milo  was  set  off  from  Benton 
and  formed  into  a  township  the  name  became  inappropriate.  There 
was  already  another  Baptist  society  in  the  town,  and  for  convenience 
and  accurate  designation  the  name  of  this  society  and  church  was 
changed  to  the  Second  Baptist  Church  of  Milo,  and  afterward  to  the 
Second  Milo  Baptist  Church.  The  first  church  building  of  the  society 
was   erected    in    1832  at   the   southwest   corner  of  lot  21,  at  a  cost  of 


TO  WN  OF  MILO.  291 

$1,200.  In  1851  a  new  meeting-house  was  built  for  the  society  on 
the  same  site  at  a  cost  of  nearly  $3,000.  Reuben  P.  Lamb  was  the  first 
pastor  of  the  society,  he  assuming  the  duties  in  1830,  and  wasordained 
in  1 83 1.  He  resigned  in  1836  and  was  succeeded  by  Eider  A.  VV. 
Sunderiin,  the  latter  remaining  fourteen  years.  Others  in  succession 
amongthe  early  pastors  were  Philander  Shedd,  John  Smith,  N.  Fergu- 
son, George  Balcom,  S.  S.  Bidvvell.  William  Dunbar,  Thomas  Allen, 
and  Moses  Livermore.  The  Second  Milo  Baptist  Church  now  numbers 
about  150  members. 

The  Ark  has  become  one  of  the  fixed  institutions  and  localities  of 
the  town  of  Milo,  and  one  which  is  deserving  of  at  least  a  passing  no- 
tice in  this  chapter.  There  once  was  a  boat  on  Lake  Keuka,  called 
Keuka,  which  in  the  course  of  events  became  a  wreck  and  was  beached 
near  the  north  end  of  the  lake.  Calvin  Carpenter,  an  old  lake  sailor 
and  boatman,  purchased  the  abandoned  craft,  took  from  it  its  cabins, 
mounted  them  on  a  scow,  and  anchored  near  the  now  popular  sulphur 
springs.  The  boat  with  its  cabins  was  called  The  Ark,  and  from  that 
time,  1850,  to  this  present  the  locality  has  always  been  known  as  "  The 
Ark."  The  investment  by  Mr.  Carpenter  was  in  the  nature  of  a  busi- 
ness venture  and  it  proved  a  success.  In  1873  the  old  structure  was 
removed  and  replaced  with  a  substantial  frame  building,  but  the  old 
name  was  retained.  In  1880  the  property  was  sold  to  David  E.  Dewey, 
who  has  succeeded  in  building  up  the  Ark  and  its  surrounding  locality 
into  a  popular  summer  resort. 

Manufacturing  on  the  Outlet. — F"rom  the  foot  of  Lake  Keuka  to  Sen- 
eca Lake  the  distance  is  about  seven  or  eight  miles.  The  surface  of  the 
former  above  the  latter  is  267  feet.  From  a  time  far  back  of  the  first 
white  settlement  in  this  region  the  discharge  waters  of  Lake  Keuka 
have  passed  through  a  narrow  channel  and  coursed  generally  eastward 
through  the  present  towns  of  Milo  and  Torrey,  and  eventually  emptied 
into  Seneca  Lake.  It  was  the  falling  of  these  waters  over  the  rocks  that 
first  attracted  the  attention  of  the  Friend's  emissaries  to  this  side  of  Sen- 
eca Lake,  and  they  were  the  first  to  utilize  the  power  for  manufacturing 
purposes.  P'rom  that  time  to  this  present  the  so-called  outlet  has  been 
the  chief  center  of  manufacture  in  Yates  County,  and  the  greater  por- 
tion  thereof  has   been  an   industry  of  the  town  of  Milo.      At  not  less 


292  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUXTY. 

than  a  dozen  places  along  the  stream,  and  at  every  point  where  the 
waters  could  be  profitably  diverted,  has  there  been  some  industry  built 
up  and  operated.  During  the  first  twenty-five  or  thirty  years  of  the 
present  century  the  manufactures  were  chiefly  lumber,  flour,  feed,  and 
potashes,  while  abundant  have  been  the  distilleries  in  the  same  locality. 
The  saw-mills  are  all  gone.  The  distilleries  and  potashes  have  like- 
wise disappeared,  and  the  flour  and  feed- mills  number  but  three  within 
the  jurisdiction  of  Milo.  Of  the  latter  the  farthest  down  the  stream  in 
this  town  is  the  present  May's  mills,  the  waters  here  being  utilized  for 
running  a  feed-mill  and  a  saw- mill.  This  was  one  of  the  ancient 
Wagener  mill- sites,  and  has  passed  through  different  ownerships  and 
uses,  .''t  one  time  being  the  fulling  mill  of  Caleb  Legg,  then  of  the  Hen- 
dersons, and  finally  deeded  to  Walter  May  about  twenty-two  years  ago. 

In  1828  an  act  of  the  State  legislature  authorized  a  survey  to  be 
made  in  order  to  determine  upon  the  advisabihty  of  constructing  a 
canal  of  sufficient  magnitude  to  admit  of  freight-boat  passage  between 
Seneca  and  Keuka  Lakes.  The  scheme  was  found  practicable  and  the 
result  was  that  in  April,  1829,  the  Crooked  Lake  Canal  was  ordered  to 
be  built.  Work  of  construction  was  commenced  in  1830  and  was  com- 
pleted in  1S33.  It  was  eight  miles  long,  but  along  its  course  it  was 
found  necessary  to  put  in  twenty-seven  locks.  Lake  Keuka  was  its 
feeder  and  Seneca  Lake  its  outlet.  This  canal  was  of  inestimable  ben- 
efit to  Penn  Yan  and  to  the  country  up  Crooked  Lake,  and  while  it 
took  much  of  the  water  that  was  needful  in  supplying  power  to  the 
factories  along  its  course  the  owners  derived  great  advantage  in  that 
they  were  aided  by  the  canal  in  transporting  their  products  to  market. 
The  ranal  was  in  operation  about  forty  years  and  then  abandoned  by 
the  State,  but  for  a  time  it  was  maintained  at  the  expense  of  intersted 
manufacturers  of  the  town  and  locality. 

A  few  years  after  the  abandonment  of  the  old  Crooked  Lake  Canal 
a  few  of  the  enterprising  business  men  of  Penn  Yan,  prominent  among 
whom  were  Oliver  G.  Shearman,  William  H.Fox,  John  T.  Andrews,  2d, 
Franklin  E.  Smith,  George  Wagener,  and  Calvin  Russell,  inaugurated 
a  movement  having  for  its  end  the  building  of  a  railroad  along  the  line 
of  the  unused  State  highway.  For  tliis  purpose  they  caused  to  be  in- 
corporated and  organized  the  Penn  Yan  and   New  York  Railway  Com- 


TOWN  OF  MI LO.  293 

pany.  Oliver  G.  Shearman  was  its  president;  Franklin  E.  Smith,  sec- 
retary ;  Henry  Tuthill,  treasurer ;  and  Ohver  G.  Shearman,  Henry 
Tuthill,  John  T.  Andrews,  2d,  William  H.  Fox,  John  S.  Sheppard, 
George  Wagener,  Perley  P.  Curtis,  John  H.  Butler,  and  Calvin  Russell, 
directors. 

In  the  face  of  many  obstacles,  and  opposed  by  doubting  influences 
on  the  part  of  ultra-conservative  citizens  and  a  few  malcontents,  these 
men  set  themselves  to  work  to  accomplish  the  task  of  procuring  a  line 
of  road  to  connect  Penn  Yan  and  the  lake  with  the  Fall  Brook  line  at 
Dresden.  As  an  incentive  they,  or  part  of  them  at  least,  purchased  the 
old  Sheets  &  Castner  and  Gillett  mills,  which  they  moved  back  from 
Main  street  and  then  rebuilt,  with  results  that  are  today  apparent  to 
every  resident  of  the  locality,  although  to  the  investers  themselves  it 
was  a  personal  sacrifice  and  pecuniar}'  loss.  More  than  this,  they  raised 
the  grade  of  the  street  in  front  of  the  mills  and  caused  to  be  built  the 
substantial  stone  arch  bridge  that  now  crosses  the  outlet  in  the  very 
heart  of  the  village. 

In  1878,  after  many  months  of  planning,  and  scheming,  and  arguing 
with  the  powers,  they  succeeded  in  obtaining  from  the  legislature  an 
act  which  authorized  the  Commissioners  of  the  Land  Office  to  convey  to 
the  Penn  Yan  and  New  York  Railway  Company  all  the  lands  between 
the  blue  lines  of  the  Crooked  Lake  Canal,  with  certain  reservations,  re- 
strictions, and  conditions,  which  are  not  material  to  this  narrative.  The 
consideration  of  this  transfer  by  the  State  was  $100,  but  the  cost  in 
fact  to  the  proprietors  of  the  enterprise  and  paid  by  them  individually 
amounteii  to  at  least  fifteen  times  that  sum.  Having  at  last  secured  a 
clean  right  of  way  from  lake  to  lake  by  virtue  of  the  deed  referred  to 
and  the  purchase  of  other  interests,  an  arrangement  was  at  once  made 
witii  the  Fall  Brook  Coal  Company  to  build  and  equip  the  road.  This 
work  was  completed  about  the  1st  of  August,  1884,  and  the  first  train 
passed  over  the  line  on  the  3d  of  that  month.  Immediately  after  this 
event  the  Penn  Yan  and  New  York  Railway  Company  sold,  transferred, 
and  set  over  to  the  I'all  Brook  Companj-  all  the  right,  title,  and  interest 
which  the  former  had  acquired,  either  from  the  State  or  from  individ- 
uals. More  than  that  the  I'enn  Yan  and  New  York  Companj-  paid  their 
grantee  compan\-  a  bonus  of  $20,000  for  bringing  about  this  mucli  de- 


294  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

sired  consummation.  This  fund  was  created  through  the  efforts  of  the 
local  company,  and  was  contributed  by  the  generous  residents,  princi- 
pally of  Milo,  Benton,  and  Torrey,  and  a  few  from  Jerusalem. 

This  digression  from  the  general  course  of  our  narrative  has  been 
suggested  by  the  fact  of  the  almost  inseparable  connection  existing  be- 
tween the  present  operating  railroad  company  and  the  several  manu- 
facturing interests  along  the  line  of  its  road.  Each  leans  upon  the  other 
in  a  great  measure,  and  their  interests  are  mutual.  The  daily  output 
of  freight  from  the  mills  alone  is  said  to  average  about  seven  or  eight 
car  loads.  Passenger  traffic  must  be  added  to  this,  also  incoming 
freights,  to  furnish  any  adequate  idea  of  the  magnitude  of  the  company's 
business. 

However  important  or  interesting  might  be  the  recital  of  history  of 
the  old  mills  that  formerly  and  originally  occupied  the  sites  now  used 
in  the  manufacturing  on  the  outlet,  the  same  cannot  be  done  with  any 
degree  of  accuracy  or  thoroughness.  Therefore  let  them  be  passed,  and 
let  the  attention  of  the  reader  be  turned  to  the  chiefest  of  those  that  do 
now  exist,  and  which  have  contributed  so  much  to  the  prosperity  of 
the  village  and  town  during  the  last  fifteen  to  twenty-five  j'ears.  The 
manufacturing  industries  situated  within  the  limits  of  the  village  will  be 
found  mentioned  in  that  branch  of  the  present  chapter  which  relates 
particularly  to  the  county  seat;  wherefore  it  becomes  necessary  to  here 
refer  to  those  that  are  located  outside  the  village  and  in  the  town  of 
Milo. 

With  the  single  exception  of  May's  mills,  the  present  operating  in- 
dustries on  the  outlet  below  the  village  limits  and  as  far  down  as  Dres- 
den, are  tliose  devoted  to  the  manufacture  of  paper  from  straw,  and 
slightly  from  rags.  .The  pioneer  of  this  special  industry  in  this  locality 
was  William  H.  Fox,  who  with  his  brother,  under  the  name  of  L.  & 
W.  11.  Fo.x,  bought  the  old  Youngs  &  Hewins  mill,  so-called,  or  rather 
the  old  Yates  mills,  formerly  occupied  for  the  manufacture  of  flour,  feed, 
plaster,  and  as  a  saw  mill,  and  converted  it  into  a  paper  mill.  This  was 
in  1865.  After  about  one  year  L.  Fox  retired  from  the  firm,  and  W.  H. 
Fox  continued  the  business  as  sole  proprietor  until  1884,  when  Perley 
P.  Curtis  became  a  partner,  under  the  style  of  Fox  &  Curtss,  which  firm 
has  operated  continuously  and  successfully  to  the  present  time.     Their 


TO  WN  OF  MILO.  295 

manufactures  embrace  all  grades  of  wrapping  paper,  for  which  they 
operate  two  machines.  The  daily  output  of  this  firm  runs  from  six  to 
nine  tons.     The  Fox  &  Curtis  plant  is  called  "  Keuka  mills." 

The  Cascade  mill  was  started  in  1867,  by  a  company  com]3rising 
George  R.  Youngs,  William  C.  Joy,  S.  S.  Raplee,  and  John  Wilkinson. 
It  was  in  Torrey,  but  as  an  industry  incident  to  the  outlet  it  may  be 
appropriately  mentioned  here.  The  firm  saw  money  in  the  paper  mak- 
ing business,  or  at  least  they  thought  they  did,  but  results  showed  dif- 
ferently. The  plant  was  destroyed  by  fire,  and  about  the  same  time 
the  firm  failed.  After  this  the  mill  privilege  was  for  some  years  idle, 
but  in  1882  Charles  J.  Cave,  of  New  York,  purchased  the  site  and 
erected  on  it  a  straw  paper-mill,  producing  the  same  general  commod- 
ity as  do  the  others.  This  mill  has  two  machines  and  puts  out  four  or 
five  tons  of  paper  daily. 

The  Milo  mills  are  the  property  of  John  T.  Andrews,  2d,  of  Penn 
Van.  Near  the  site  was  formerly  Tuall's  distillery.  From  that  owner- 
ship it  passed  to  Russell  &  Co.,  composed  of  Calvin  and  Henry  Russell 
and  Frank  Krum.  They  bought  the  privilege  about  186S,  and  distilled 
high  wines  until  1871,  when  the  property  was  changed  into  a  paper- 
mill.  The  firm  dissolved  about  1874,  all  its  members  except  Calvin 
Russell  retiring.  In  the  spring  of  1882,  John  T.  Andrews,  2d,  became 
Russell's  partner,  and  so  continued  until  December,  1888,  and  then 
succeeded  to  the  entire  ownership  and  management  of  the  enterprise 
Mr.  Andrews  made  radical  changes  and  enlargements  to  the  property 
in  1889,  in  fact  building  an  almost  entire  new  factory.  The  new  mill 
commenced  making  straw  wrapping  paper  in  April,  1S90.  It  has  three 
improved  machines  with  a  total  capacity  of  about  twelve  tons  of  paper 
per  day.  This  is  the  most  extensive  mill  of  its  kind  on  the  outlet,  and 
one  of  the  largest  in  the  country. 

The  Seneca  mills  come  next  in  point  of  time  of  founding.  They  are 
owned  and  operated  by  Russell  &  Co  ,  Calvin  Russell  being  the  active 
partner  in  the  concern.  The  firm  has  two  machines  with  a  capacity  of 
six  or  eight  tons  of  paper  per  day.  The  plant  and  projierty  include  an 
area  of  about  forty  acres.  This  mill  also  furnishes  the  electric  light  for 
Penn  Yan  village.  This  privilege  was  formerly  used  as  a  pulp-mill,  and 
the  site  has  a  history  reaching  back  into  the  early  years  of  the  century. 


296  HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUNTY. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  more  particular  mention  cannot  be  made  of 
this  present  large  enterprise,  but  the  most  faithful  inquiry  directed  to 
the  active  proprietor  has  failed  of  its  chief  purpose,  and  been  unre- 
warded by  data. 

The  Yates  mills,  so-called,  until  quite  recently  owned  and  operated 
by  Sluitts  &  Wilson,  were  started  in  1887,  succeeding  the  spoke  factory 
and  feed-mill  formerly  of  Seymour  Shutts,  and  afterward  owned  by 
John  Shutts.  During  the  late  fall  of  1891  the  firm  of  Shutts  &  Wilson 
was  dissolved,  Mr.  Wilson  retiring.  Soon  after  this  the  Shutts  Manu- 
facturing Company  was  incorporated  and  duly  organized  for  the  pur- 
pose of  operating  the  mills.  The  product  of  this  factory  is  straw  board, 
or,  more  commonly  known,  card  board.  Under  the  new  management 
the  capacity  of  the  mills  is  increased.  A  short  distance  below  the  Fox 
&  Curtis  mills  stands  an  unoccupied  factory  building  of  good  propor- 
tions and  of  fair  appearance.  Here  was  once  a  cloth-mill ;  then  a  flax- 
mill.      Originally  a  saw- mill  occupied  this  site. 

In  accordance  with  a  generally  observed  custom  in  closing  this  branch 
of  the  present  chapter,  it  is  deemed  expedient  to  append  the  succession 
of  supervisors  and  justices  of  the  peace  of  the  town  of  Milo  from  the  or- 
cranization  of  the  district  to  the  present  year.  These  are  considered  the 
leading  offices  filled  at  each  town  meeting;  the  supervisor  being  the 
nower  of  the  town,  while  the  justice  is  regarded  as  his  second  in  author- 
ity and  importance.     The  succession  is  as  follows  : 

Supervisors. — Avery  Smith,  1818-23;  Samuel  S.  Ellsworth,  1824- 
07-  George  Youngs,  1828-31  ;  Jeremiah  B.  Andrews,  1832;  James  C. 
Robinson,  1833;  Joshua  Lee,  1834;  Abel  Buckley,  1835;  Samuel 
Stevens,  1836;  Gilbert  Baker,  1837;  George  I.  Renier,  1S38;  Jere- 
miah B.  Andrews,  1839-40;  Smith  L.  Mallory,  1841-42;  Nelson 
Vorce  1843;  Ray  G.  Wait,  1844;  Samuel  J.  Potter,  1S45  ;  Russell  R. 
Far"0,  1846;  Charles  Lee,  1847;  Adam  Clark,  184S-49;  William 
Baxter,  1850;  James  Lawrence,  1851-52;  Charles  Hubbard,  1853, 
'55;  John  C.  Sheetz,  1854,  i860,  1863-67;  Stephen  B.  Ayres,  1856; 
Daniel  W.  Streeter,  1857,  '59;  Nathaniel  K.  Beardsley,  1858;  Charles 
Waf^ener  1861,1868;  Melatiah  H.  Lawrence,  1862  ;  Theodore  Bogart, 
1869-71,  1873;  George  D.  Stewart,  1872;  Franklin  E.  Smith,  1874; 
John  C.  Sheetz,  1875;   Daniel  Lanning,  1876-79  ;   Evan  J.  Potter,  1880; 


VILLAGE  OF  PENS  VAN.  297 

Rowland  J.Gardner,  1S81  ;  Samuel  S.Ellsworth,  18S2-83;  Franklin 
E.  Smith,  1884;  Edson  Potter,  1885-87;  Charles  Hunter,  1888-89; 
William  T.  Beaumont,  1890-91. 

Justices  of  the  Peace. — James  Parker  was  four  times  appointed  justice 
of  the  peace,  the  third  time  in  1799,  and  again  in  1S04;  Benedict  Rob- 
inson in  1796;  Eliphalet  Norrisin  1799;  Hezekiah  Townsend,  in  1808, 
and  held  the  office  many  years;  Abraham  Wagener  in  1808,  iSii,  and 
1820;  Thomas  Lee,  in  1813  ;  Morris  E.  Sheppard  in  1813  and  1816. 
George  Youngs  and  Henry  Wisner  were  also  justices  by  appointment. 
Since  the  office  became  elective  the  succession  of  justices,  with  dates  of 
election,  has  been  as  follows:  George  Youngs,  1829,  '33,  ''l^'j,  and  '41  ; 
Avery  Smith,  1830;  Henry  A.  Wisner,  1831;  Luther  Sisson,  1832; 
George  B.  Nichols,  1834;  Asa  Norton,  1835;  Samuel  J.  Potter,  1836, 
'40;  R.  G.  Wait,  183S;  Samuel  Stevens,  1839;  Darius  A.  Ogden, 
1841;  Amos  Y.  Carr,  1842,  '46,  '50;  Thomas  H.  Locke,  1843,  '47; 
Jesse  Davis,i844;  A.  J.  Mclntyre,  1845;  Peter  Youngs,  1848;  Green 
Kenyon,  1849;  Benjamin  L.  Hoyt,  1850,  '53,  '57,  '61,  '65,  and  '69; 
James  V.  Van  Alen,  185  i,  '55  ;  George  Van  Osdol,  1852  ;  Hixson  F. 
Anderson,  1854,  '58,  and  '()2\  William  S.  Seamans,  1856,  '60,  '64,  and 
'84;  John  Sloan,  1859;  John  L.  Lewis,  jr.,  1863,  '6"],  and  '71  ;  Jacob 
H.  Sheppard,  1866,  '70;  Jeptha  F.  Randolph,  1868;  J.  Wells  Taylor, 
1 87 1,  '72.  '80;  D.  A.  Ogden,  1S73;  Charles D.  Davis,  1874;  Benjamin 
L.  Hoyt,  1875,  '79;  D.  F.  Randolph,  1876;  Lewis  B  Graham,  1877; 
Charles  D.  Davis,  1878,  '82,  and  '86;  Abraham  Gridley,  1881,  '85; 
Delos  A.  Bellis,  1883,  '87,  '91  ;  Garrett  A.  Bigger,  18S8;  William  H. 
Fiero,  1889;   David  B.  Aspell,  1890. 

HISTORY  OF  THE  VILLAGE  OF  PENN  VAN,  THE  SEAT  OF 
JUSTICE  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

In  the  northern  portion  of  township  No.  7,  of  the  first  range,  better 
and  more  commonly  known  as  the  town  of  Milo,  at  a  point  near  and 
about  the  foot  of  Ogoyago,  or  Crooked  Lake,  where  the  waters  find  an 
outlet  through  a  narrow  channel,  and  eventually  discharge  into  Seneca 
Lake,  nature  provided  a  splendid  site  upon  which  civilized  man  might 
build  up  a  thriving,  prosperous  village.     That  consummation  has  been 

3» 


298  HIS  TOR  ] '  OF  YA  TES  CO  UN  T  Y. 

readied,  in  fact  was  attained  nearly  three-quarters  of  a  century  ago,  but 
eacli  succeeding  year  lias  witnessed  some  material  improvement,  some 
development  of  new  resources,  until  by  slow  stages  it  has  grown  to  con- 
tain a  population  of  more  than  4,000  souls,  and  is  provided  with  all  the 
enterprises,  the  industries  and  commercial  advantages  that  can  be  found 
in  any  interior  village  in  the  limpire  State. 

Little  did  that  worthy  old  pioneer,  that  steady- going,  honest  plodder, 
follower  of  the  "  Friend,"  David  Wagener,  think  or  dream  that  on  the 
tract  of  land  bought  b}'  him  in  1796,  would  ever  be  built  up  a  munici- 
pality, and  become  the  seat  of  justice  of  a  county.  But  could  David 
Wagenci'  have  lived  a  half  score  of  years  longer,  and  observed  the 
march  of  improvement  and  settlement  on  his  ancient  estate,  it  is  ex- 
tremely doubtful  if  he  would  ever  have  consented  to  the  adoption  of 
that  singularly  odd  and  unique  appellation  of  Penn  Van,  for  the  little 
burgh.  And  it  would  have  been  an  equally  astonishing  thing  had  that 
good  and  earnest  pioneer  been  able  to  then  look  into  the  far  ofl"  future 
and  see  standing  where  he  built  the  primitive  grist- mill,  on  the  south 
side  of  the  outlet,  a  large  four-storied,  modern  structure,  capable  of 
manufacturing  an  hundred  barrels  of  flour  daily,  when  his  own  little 
mill  could  at  best  produce  not  more  than  one  or  two  barrels  in  the 
same  time.  These,  and  a  thousand  and  more  of  other  changes  might 
be  recalled,  to  show  the  advancement  in  almost  every  branch  of  trade 
that  has  been  worked  in  the  last  three-quarters  of  a  century.  These 
comparisons  are  interesting  to  old  and  young  alike;  to  the  aged,  for 
they  show  that  the  grand  march  of  improvement  and  progress  in  this 
locality  has  kept  even  step  with  the  onward  movement  elsewhere,  and 
interesting  to  the  j'ounger  generations,  for  it  brings  to  them  an  under- 
standing of  how  their  forefathers  lived,  and  against  what  obstacles  they 
had  to  contend  to  establish  themselves  securely  in  life  and  leave  a 
goodh' inheritance  to  their  children. 

The  founding  of  a  village   where  Penn  Yan   now  stands  was  the  out 
growth  of  necessity,  and  not  of  design.      It  was  a  natural  consequence, 
and   not  the  result  of  speculative  schemes.     David  Wagener ^  bought 

'  In  this  connection  the  statement  may  be  made  that  the  northwest  corner  lot  in  Milo.  No.  37, 
was  originally  the  property  of  George  Wheeler,  a  pioneer  in  Benton.  The  land  was  given  bv  him 
lo  Robert  Chissom  and  James  Scofield.  who  are  said  to  have  settled  thereon  in  1791. 


VILLAGE  OF  PENN  VAN.  299 

the  lands  because  they  were  desirable,  and  not  that  he  is  believed  to 
have  contemplated  the  building  up  of  a  village.  But  Mr.  W'agener  did 
not  live  to  enjoy  the  substantial  fruits  of  his  purchase  in  this  immediate 
locality.  He  died  in  1799,  and  his  estate  in  lands,  on  which  the  village 
stands,  was  inherited  by  his  sons,  Abraham  and  Melchior  Wagener. 
In  area  the  estate  embraced  276  acres,  lying  both  north  and  south  of 
the  outlet ;  that  part  north  of  the  stream  fell  to  Abraham,  while  his 
brother  became  the  owner  of  the  lands  on  the  south  side.  Eventually, 
however,  Abraham  succeeded  to  the  ownership  of  the  whole  tract. 

To  Abraham  Wagener,  therefore,  attaches  all  credit  for  taking  the 
initial  steps  that  resulted  in  a  substantial  village  corporation.  In  1801 
he  took  active  measures  in  having  surveyed  and  constructed  a  highway 
leading  from  Canandaigua  to  Newtown  (now  Elmira).  This  road  soon 
became  an  established  mail  route,  and  a  postoffice  was  located  soon 
afterward  at  Abraham  Wagener's  house.  He  was  the  first  postmaster, 
and  the  name  of  the  office  was  Jerusalem,  being,  as  this  locality  then 
was,  within  the  district  called  Jerusalem. 

On  the  first  of  January,  1800,  Mr.  Wagener  moved  into  "  town,"  and 
occupied  a  dwelling  built  the  year  before  for  his  use.  This  was  the  first 
frame  building  erected  on  the  village  site,  and  stood  where  later  was  the 
Miles  Benham  tavern,  the  old  structure  forming  a  part  of  the  hotel  as 
afterward  established.  The  building  was  burned  in  1841.  When  Mr. 
Wagener  came  here  to  reside  there  were  three  log  cabins  within  his 
tract,  all  .standing  on  the  stream  called  Jacob's  Brook,  and  occupied  by 
Indians  and  their  families.  These  primitive  inhabitants  \\  ere  tenants  by 
the  sufferance  of  l\Ir.  Wagener,  they  having  no  title  nor  claim  to  the 
land  they  occupied.  Tiiey  are  said  to  have  remained  for  a  time,  but 
the  constant  arrival  of  white  settlers  caused  them  to  retire  from  the 
neighborhood. 

The  stream  heretofore  mentioned  as  "Jacob's  Brook,"  a  name  by 
whicli  it  lias  ever  since  been  known,  has  its  source  or  head  waters  in  the 
town  of  Benton,  wheiice  it  flows  into  the  village  and  passes  through 
the  business  center,  a  few  rods  east  of  Main  street,  and  discharges  into 
the  outlet  in  rear  of  the  Russell  &  Birkett  grist  and  feed- mill.  Con- 
cerning the  derivation  of  its  name,  Jacob's  Brook,  there  has  for  many 
years  been  a  difference  of  opinion,  some  authorities  contending  that  the 


300  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

name  was  applied  in  allusion  to  an  old  Indian  who  lived  near  tlie  stream, 
and  whose  name  was  Jacob,  while  others  assert  that  the  name  was  given 
in  reference  to  Jacob  Wagener.     The  latter  is  probably  correct. 

For  fourteen  years  after  his  appointment  Abraham  Wagener  held 
the  office  of  postmaster  at  his  little  village  ;  but  he  was  otherwise 
honored  in  public  affairs.  In  1808,  he  was  appointed  justice  of  the 
peace  for  the  town  of  Snell,  which  then  included  all  that  afterward  be- 
came Benton  and  Milo.  This  office  Mr.  Wagener  held  for  about  twenty- 
five  years,  and  from  his  long  continued  incumbency  thereof  became 
generally  known  as  "Squire"  Wagener,  by  which  name  he  was  called 
as  long  as  he  lived. 

Abraham  Wagener,  the  founder  in  fact  of  the  village,  was  in  all  re- 
spects the  honorable,  straightforward,  public-spirited  citizen  ;  a  man  of 
large  means  and  much  influence  in  the  town.  The  land  on  which  the 
court-house  was  built  was  his  voluntar)-  gift,  while  also  the  main  thor- 
oughfare through  the  village  was  donated  and  laid  out  by  him.  Of 
course  these  things  greatly  enhanced  the  value  of  his  property  in  the 
locality,  but  at  the  same  time  they  forwarded  the  interests  of  other  per- 
sons who,  perhaps,  were  less  able  or  less  inclined  to  give  than  was  he. 
Squire  Wagener  continued  to  reside  in  Penn  Yan,  as  the  village  after- 
ward was  named,  imtil  1833,  in  which  j-ear  he  moved  to  Bluff  Point, 
where  he  occuj'jied  an  elegant  stone  mansion  which  he  had  erected  dur- 
ing that  year.  However,  before  his  removal  to  Bluff  Point,  Squire 
Wagener  built  a  second  residence  in  the  village,  which  stood  on  the 
land  now  in  part  occupied  by  the  Knapp  House,  about  where  the  din- 
ing-room of  that  hostelry  is  situated.  This  dwelling  is  believed  to  have 
been  erected  in  1816,  and  to  it  was  given  the  name  of  Mansion  House. 
This  name  was  preserved  in  after  )'ears.  when  the  building  was  changed 
in  character  and  occupancy  and  ])ut  to  hotel  use.  In  rear  of  the  house 
stood  the  old  famous  Wagener  apjile  tree,  so-called  from  its  owner,  the 
one  who  planted  the  seed,  nourished  and  cultixated  the  s])rout,  and  dis- 
tributed its  seed  in  return  throughout  the  vicinity,  the  yield  of  which  has 
always  been  known  as  the  Wagener  apple.  Now  the  old  Mansion  House 
has  become  a  part  of  the  more  modern  Knapp  House  ;  the  apple  tree  has 
been  cut  down  that  the  land  may  be  used  for  other  purposes,  and  the 
founder  of  the  village,  its  pioneer  and  most  influential  and  useful  citizen. 


?^/  J  r/ 


VILLAGE  OF  PE.\'N   YAN.  301 

lies  buried  in  the  old  cemetery  which  his  father  gave  to  the  people  for 
the  interment  of  their  dead. 

The  W'ageiier  lands  proper  extended  from  the  outlet  northward  to 
the  immediate  vicinity  of  what  is  now  called  Court  street,  while  still 
farther  north  was  another  tract  which  passed  through  the  same  descent 
of  title  and  ownership,  and  eventually  found  its  way  to  divers  owners. 
It  was  upon  the  latter  tract  that  the  first  village  was  established,  at  the 
point  where  Head  street  crosses  Main  street.  The  highway  first  men- 
tioned formed  the  dividing  line  between  the  towns  of  Benion  and  Milo, 
as  afterward  established,  but  the  village  was  built  up  without  reference 
to  town  lines.  Therefore,  the  little  hamlet  lay  in  parts  of  two  towns, 
but  for  some  years,  and  until  Milo  was  set  off,  all  the  people  voted  and 
acted  in  the  same  manner  as  if  but  one  town  held  their  village.  When 
Milo  was  separated  from  Benton  the  residents  south  of  the  east  and 
west  road  voted  for  their  own  town  candidates,  while  those  north  of  the 
road  were  subjects  of  Benton  and  voted  for  nominees  therein.  And 
even  to  the  present  day,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  the  village  has 
become  incorporated  as  a  citj'  of  the  lesser  class,  the  residents  north  of 
Head  street  are  yet  Benton  people  and  vote  as  residents  of  that  town 
for  town  officers,  while  those  south  of  the  street  are  citizens  of  Milo  and 
vote  for  officers  therein.  In  addition  to  this  the  residents  within  the 
corporate  liinits  of  the  village  of  Penn  Van  choose  their  own  officers  for 
local  government,  and  in  the  corporation  elections  the  people  of  the 
town  do  not  participate. 

While  Abraham  Wagener  was  undoubtedly  the  most  prominent  and 
influential  man  in  the  village  during  the  days  of  its  infancy,  there  were 
others  who  contributed  in  no  small  degree,  building  up  and  improving 
the  locality  during  the  same  period.  Morris  F.  Sheppard  was  one  of 
the  persons  worthy  of  mention  in  this  special  connection.  Like 'Squire 
Wagener,  Mr.  Sheppard  was  a  native  of  l*ennsylva)iia.  He  also  was  a 
pioneer  in  this  locality,  one  of  the  early  settlers  in  the  little  hamlet,  and 
one  who  became  identified  with  its  business  interests  when  the  settle- 
ment was  founded.  He  started  a  tannery  and  also  a  fulling  or  cloth - 
mill  on  his  own  lands,  on  Sucker  Brook.  These  he  conducted  for 
several  years,  until  the  cutting  away  of  the  forest  trees  along  the  brook 
deprived  him  of  a  sufficient  water  supjily,  and  thus  compelled  him  to 
relinquish  his  manufacturing  cntcri'.rises. 


302  HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUNTY. 

Mr.  Sheppard  was  also  the  friend  of  and  fellow- worker  with 'Squire 
VVagener,  and  it  was  through  their  joint  efforts  that  the  village  became 
an  important  point  at  so  early  a  day.  These  men  were  the  leaders  of 
what  has  been  conveniently  termed  the  Pennsylvania  element  of  local 
population,  while  the  opposition,  tlie  Yankee  contingent,  were  under  the 
guidance  of  Mr.  Stewart.  After  the  senior  Sheppard  retired  from  active 
participation  in  business  he  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  Charles  C.  Shep- 
pard, who  appears  to  have  inherited  his  father's  business  qualities,  and 
who  also  was  a  man  of  worth  and  capacity,  not  only  during  the  early 
days  of  village  life,  but  in  after  years,  even  down  to  a  time  within  the 
memory  of  now  middle- aged  men. 

In  the  same  connection  there  may  be  mentioned  the  name  of  Asa 
Cole,  whose  place  of  abode  and  lands  la)-  within  the  town  of  Benton. 
Asa  was  a  pioneer  farmer,  and  in  connection  with  that  occupation 
opened  and  for  years  maintained  a  hotel  or  tavern  at  the  head  of  the 
street.  The  establishing  of  the  public  house  was  an  important  event  in 
the  early  history  of  the  village,  as  its  vicinity  at  once  became  a  center 
of  trade.  Here  the  stage  drivers  were  wont  to  stop  for  rest  and  re- 
freshment, and  here  the  weary  traveler  found  a  comfortable  lodging. 
In  those  days  the  hotel  was  a  popular  resort  for  all  classes  of  people, 
where  the  news  from  abroad  was  alwa\'s  to  be  learned,  while  the  land- 
lord himself  was  generally  regarded  as  somewhat  above  the  average  of 
mankind. 

But  at  last  the  worthies  who  constituted  the  influential  portion  of  the 
little  settlement  found  themselves  involved  in  a  serious  dispute,  all  be- 
cause they  could  not  agree  upon  a  proper  and  fitting  name  for  their 
village.  Numerous  conferences  were  held,  but  public  sentiment  was  so 
divided  that  no  result  could  be  reached.  In  the  meantime  various 
names  were  given  the  village,  but  most  of  them  were  applied  in  a  spirit 
of  derision.  A  number  ot  the  residents  called  the  place  Unionville, 
while  to  outsiders,  who  viewed  the  controversy  from  a  distance,  it  be- 
came known  as  Pandemonium.  The  Pennsylvanians  of  the  locality 
wished  a  name  that  would  recall  some  locality  of  their  native  State, 
while  the  Yankees,  the  settlers  who  came  from  New  England,  possessed 
an  equally  strong  desire  that  a  name  be  given  that  would  suggest  a 
loc.Uity  from  whence  they  emigrated.      However,  this  difficult  problem 


K^CX^iA^ 


(y^/^L^^ 


VILLAGE  OF  PENN  VAN.  303 

was  at  length  solved  by  the  good  offices  of  Philemon  Baldwin,  upon  the 
occasion  of  a  "barn  raising."  After  the  last  rafter  had  been  made  fast 
in  place  Mr.  Baldwin  climbed  up  the  frame  to  the  plate  and  there  ad- 
dressed the  assembled  people.  He  referred  to  the  dispute  concerning 
the  name,  and  then  remarked  that  as  part  of  the  inhabitants  were  Penn- 
sylvanians  and  part  Yankees  a  compromise  was  fair  to  both  factions, 
and  suggested  the  name  Penn  Yan  as  sufficient  for  both  parties.  This 
proposition  wa.s  agreed  to  and  the  christening  was  completed.  The 
naming  was  soon  afterward  ratified  in  the  chans^e  of  the  post  station 
from  Jerusalem  to  Penn  Yan. 

The  "head  of  the  street"  remained  for  many  years  the  center  of  busi- 
ness and  residence,  but  as  years  passed  away  dwelling-houses  became 
more  frequent  along  both  sides  of  the  highway  leading  to  Wagener's 
mill.  In  fact  it  was  not  many  years  afterward  that  this  locality  began 
to  assume  the  character  of  a  hamlet.  The  vicinity  of  the  outlet  and  the 
foot  of  the  lake  formed  a  highly  desirable  site  for  a  village,  for  boat  com- 
munication with  points  up  the  lake  opened  a  thoroughfare  of  trade  and 
travel  in  that  direction.  In  iSoo  a  road  was  surve}'ed  from  the  foot  of 
the  lake  about  two-thirds  of  a  mile  eastward,  Joseph  Jones,  Kzra  Cole, 
and  John  Plympton  being  the  commissioners  to  do  the  work.  Another 
road  led  from  the  Lee  place  to  Wagener's  mills  constructed  in  1806,  and 
three  years  later  commissioners  Morris  F.  Sheppard  and  Charles  Rob 
erts  laid  out  still  another  highway  leading  from  Piympton's  Bridge  to 
the  mills. 

The  opening  of  these  roads  was  made  necessary  to  accommodate  the 
Milo  people  in  getting  to  and  from  the  mills  on  the  outlet.  But  about 
the  time  the  work  was  commenced,  possibly  earlier,  another  little  settle- 
ment had  sprung  up  near  the  foot  of  the  lake.  This  locality  at  once 
became  a  rival  to  the  hamlet  at  the  head  of  the  street.  The  tract  was 
iaid  out  in  village  lots  and  many  improvements  were  made  there.  The 
name  of  Elizabethtown  was  given  the  place,  and  it  boasted  of  a  hotel, 
store,  and  several  dwellings.  The  tavern  was  built  by  Wallace  P'inch, 
who  was  succeeded  by  Peter  Heltibidal.  and  the  latter  in  turn  bj'  George 
and  Robert  Shearman.  Afterward  it  became  known  as  the  Kimball 
Hotel,  but  was  torn  down  many  years  ago.  Another  hotel  stood  where 
Charles  D.  Welle's  dwelling  is  erected,  but  that  hostelry  eventually  was 


304  HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUNTY. 

put  to  otlier  uses,  and  now  forms  part  of  the  houses  of  Mr.  Wells  and 
Calvin  Carpenter.  The  name  of  this  locality  was  changed  in  the  course 
of  a  few  }e;irs  from  Elizabethtown  to  Summer  Site,  and  as  such  contin- 
ued until  it  finally  merged  into  and  was  absorbed  by  its  more  successful 
rival — Penn  Van. 

The  little  rural  villages,  one  at  the  head  of  the  street  and  the  other 
at  the  foot  of  the  lake,  each  trying  for  mastery  in  the  matter  of  import- 
ance, could  produce  but  one  result,  and  that  the  gradual  growing  to- 
gether and  final  dissolution  of  the  name  of  the  lesser  burgh.  The  Wag- 
ener  mills  occupied  a  site  about  midway  between  them,  and  the  natural 
tendency  of  travel  and  trade  was  in  their  direction.  Abraham  Wag- 
ener's  dwelling^  stood  near  the  corner  not  far  from  the  mills,  and  he  of 
course  drew  improvements  toward  his  own  home.  On  the  corner  just 
north  of  his  house  was  a  store,  but  by  whom  built  and  by  whom  first 
conducted  the  writer  knoweth  not. 

During  the  first  twenty  or  thirty  years  of  its  existence  the  village  of 
Penn  Yan  was  rapidly  increased  both  in  population  and  industries.  The 
people  who  located  there  represented  all  trades  and  professions  inci- 
dent to  their  period,  but  to  mention  each  of  them  would  be  a  thing  ne.xt 
to  impossible.  Some  were  prominent  in  local  affairs,  while  others  were 
conservative  in  both  thought  and  action,  and  did  not  therefore  appear 
conspicuously  in  the  settlement.  By  1817  or  18 18  the  place  had  ac- 
quired a  population  sufficient  to  warrant  the  starting  of  a  newspaper — 
the  Peitn  Yan  Herald — through  which  channel  the  business  portion  of 
the  community  could  proclaim  themselves  and  their  wares  to  the  inhab- 
itants of  the  region.  But  the  one  great  event  which  gave  to  the  old 
village  its  greatest  upward  start  and  brought  to  it  a  considerable  popula- 
tion, was  the  erection  of  Yates  County,  and  the  designation  of  Penn  Yan 
as  the  county  seat.  This  occurred  in  1823,  and  from  that  time  dated 
the  certainty  of  future  growth  and  prosperity.  With  the  establishment 
of  the  county  seat  attorneys  came  to  practice  at  the  courts ;  to  get  the 
quiet  people  into  trouble  and  then  kindly  help  them  out  again. 

A  writer  of  village  history  of  Penn  Yan,  covering  the  period  from 
about  the  beginning  of  the  present  century  down  to  about  1832,  informs 

I  The  dwelling  of  Mr.  Wagener  was  originally  built  where  Quackenbush's  drug  store  now  is,  but 
was  afterward  moved  to  the  Knapp  House  site. 


VILLAGE  OF  PENN   VAN.  305 

us  as  to  the  principal  interests  represented  at  the  head  of  the  street,  and 
from  his  reininiscences  we  are  able  to  furnish  the  present  reader  with  a 
fairl)'  accurate  hst  of  the  businesses  conducted,  together  with  the  own- 
ers thereof. 

Lawyers. — Cornelius  Hasten,  George  H.  Green,  William  Shattuck, 
John  Willey,  Abraham  P.  Vosburgh,  Thomas  J.  Nevens,  Levi  Lyman, 
David  B.  Prosser,  Henry  Welles,  Welles  &  Treat,  Everett  Van  Buren, 
Prosser  &  Winants,  Prosser  &  Eno,  B.  W.  Franklin,  Henry  M.  Stewart, 
William  Cornwell. 

Merchants. — William  Babcock,  Hezekiah  Roberts,  Henry  Bradley, 
Bradley  &  Bissell,  Ira  Gould  &  Co.,  Eli  Shelden  &  Co.,  L.  G.  Budlong 
&  Co.,  E.  Mount,  John  Sloan,  John  H.  Bostwick  &  Co.,  James  W.  Nor- 
ris,  William  and  John  Brooks,  B.  Tyler  &  Co.,  Tyler  &  I*"o\vlc,  Augustus 
Stewart,  Milliken  &  Bradley,  Wlieeler  &  Sawyer,  William  T.  Scott  & 
Co  ,  Moore  &  Coffin,  Seabury  Kissam,  H.  J.  Lee. 

Physicians. — John  Hatmaker,  Walter  Wolcott,  Uri  Judd,  Roscius 
Morse,  A.  Woodwoith,  Francis  M.  Potter,  William  Cornwell,  William 
D    Cook. 

Watchmakers  and  Silversmiths. — Frederick  A.  Seymour,  Charles 
Scott,  A.  B.  Terrill,  C.  H.  Guiger. 

Carriage  Makers. — Melzer  Tuel,  Amaza  Tuel,  James  Cooley,  Timo- 
thy Brigden,  Ileman  Squires. 

Carriage  Painters. — George  Stimson,  Charles  Meeks,  Edward  Bow- 
ers, James  L  Broom. 

Carriage  Trimmers. — John  D.  Applegate,  Lewis  Ingalls,  Albert  Little. 

Cabinet  and  Furniture  Makers. — Samuel  F.  Curtis,  Amasa  Holden, 
N.  P.  Hawks,  William  Morris. 

House  Painters. — Stephen  Williams,  Jacob  Woodruff,  Alexander 
Edson. 

Mason. — Isaac  Youmans. 

Dentist. — Joseph  Elmendorf. 

Saddle  and  Harness  Makers. — James  Sears,  L.  Ilimrod  &  Co., 
Charles  P.  Babcock,  John  C.  Babcock,  Charles  Risden,  William  U.  Mc- 
Allister. 

Carpenters. — Jacob  Hovey,  Hubbel  Gregory,  Abraham  Prosser,  Eli- 
pha  Peckins, Rogers,  John  Horn,  D.  Reed. 

Hatters. — Ebenezer  Jenkins,  Sutton  Birdsall. 

39 


3o6  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

Grocers. — Higley  &  Haskill,  Benjamin  Remer,  John  Norcott,  Henry 
A.  Tyler,  George  W.  Mason. 

Baker. — John  D.  Applegate. 

Tailors. — Lewis  Vanderlip,  J.  Seymour,  George  Coole}',  Luther  Lee, 
Samuel  FuUager,  Henry  M.  Locke,  Morris  Earle,  Mihon  P.  Rurch. 

Shoemakers. — Hitchcock  &  Scofield,  John  Scofield,  Joseph  Eimendorf. 

Blacksmiths. — John  Powell,  Powell  &  Elliott,  Powell  &  Simonds, 
Aaron    Wood,    Abraham   Stctler,    Reuben   Stetson,    James    S.    Powell. 

Cooper. — Gideon  Maynard. 

Stoves,  Iron,  and  Tiinvare. — P.  Carson  &  Co. 

Guitsiniths — Gilbert  &  Bales. 

Wool  Carding  and  Cloth  Dressing. — Morris  F.  Sheppard,  Higley  & 
Haskill. 

■Tanners. — Morris  F.  Sheppard,  Henry  Hubbard,  Hubbard  &  Warner. 

Butchers. — Nathan  E.  Lacey,  Lyman  H.  Newton. 

In  1824  and  the  years  following,  the  newspapers,  or  at  least  one  of 
them,  [niblished  at  the  village,  was  called  the  Yates  Republican.  Its  edi- 
tor and  proprietor  was  Edv\ard  J.  Fowle.  At  the  time  or  during  the 
period  first  mentioned,  a  number  of  hotels  were  in  operation  at  the  head 
of  the  street,  prominent  among  which  was  the  "Penn  Yan  Hotel,  Stage 
House  and  Livery,"  Major  Asa  Cole,  proprietor.  On  the  opposite  side 
of  the  highway  and  on  the  corner  was  •'  Luman  Phelps's  Inn."  Mr. 
Phelps  died  in  the  business  and  was  succeeded  by  David  H.  Buell,  and 
still  later  by  Dr.  Jeremiah  B,  Andrews.  Another  public  house  in  the 
same  locality  was  that  known  as  "Smith  Cole's  Inn." 

Among  the  men  who  were  prominent  in  public  and  local  affairs,  and 
dwellers  within  the  vilLige  proper  at  an  early  day,  were  William  Bab- 
cock  and  Elijah  Spencer,  who  were  members  of  Congress  ;  Aaron  Re- 
mer and  Morris  F.  Sheppard,  members  of  Assembly;  Cornelius  Masten, 
county  judge;  Abraham  P.  Vosburgli  and  Edward  J.  Fowle,  surrogates; 
William  Babcock  and  Henry  Bradley,  county  treasurers;  Abner  \\'ood- 
worth,  Edward  Genung,  Robert  Buell,  and  Luther  Winants,  justices  of 
tiie  peace 

Of  course  the  readers  will  not  be  led  into  the  belief  that  the  persons 
and  firm-i  above  mentioned  were  in  business  at  the  head  of  the  street  at 
the  same  time,  for  such  was  by  no  means  the  case.     They  were  in  busi- 


VILLAGE  OF  PENN   VAN.  307 

ness  during  the  first  thirty  or  thirty-five  years  of  the  present  century, 
constantly  coming  and  going  as  is  the  custom  at  the  present  day. 

The  year  1832  or  thereabout  found  the  village  containing  a  popula- 
tion of  about  1,500  persons,  and  although  the  head  of  the  street  contin- 
ued thereafter  for  some  time  as  the  chief  center  of  trade,  along  down 
Main  street,  particularly  on  the  west  side,  was  a  number  of  residences 
the  places  of  abode  of  the  three  prominent  citizens  as  it  is  now.  There 
were  two  churches,  the  Presbyterian  and  Methodist ;  the  former  well 
up  the  street,  while  the  latter  stood  west  of  the  site  now  occupied  by 
the  church  of  that  denomination. 

The  court  house  stood  about  on  the  same  ground  as  does  the  present 
building,  and  was  built  in  fairly  close  resemblance  to  that  now  in  use, 
though  not  quite  so  large.  Where  is  now  the  residence  of  John  S. 
Sheppard  stood  a  hotel  building  built  originally  it  is  said  by  a  retired 
English  sea  captain,  and  which  was  called  "  Washington  House,"  but 
afterward  remodeled  and  put  to  use  as  a  boarding  and  select  school,  and 
then  called  "Yates  County  Academy  and  Female  Seminary."  At  this 
time  the  postoffice  occupied  a  small  one-story  buildiiig  standing  about 
where  is  now  the  residence  of  George  C.  Snow.  The  incumbent  of  the 
office  was  Ebenezer  Brown. 

The  lower  part  of  the  village  acquired  an  advantage  over  the  upper 
part  through  the  location  and  survey  of  the  Crooked  Lake  Canal.  The 
purpose  of  this  water-way  was  to  furnish  boat  passage  from  Crooked 
Lake  to  Seneca  Lake,  a  distance  of  eight  miles.  The  act  authorizing  its 
construction  was  passed  by  the  legislature  of  1828,  and  the  canal  was 
ordered  built  by  an  act  of  the  following  year.  The  work  of  construc- 
tion was  commenced  in  1830,  and  fully  completed  in  1833.  This  con- 
summation brought  business  to  the  lower  end  of  the  village,  and  corre- 
spondingly depressed  trade  up  at  the  corners.  The  coming  of  the  freight 
and  packet  boats  became  as  common  a  thing  as  was  the  stage  and  mail 
coach,  but  the  arrival  of  the  former  meant  more  than  the  latter.  A 
hotel  was  soon  afterward  built  for  the  accommodation  of  the  boatmen. 
It  rejoiced  in  the  odd  name  of  "Owl's  Nest,"  and  stood  on  Seneca  street 
just  west  of  Jacob's  Brook. 

One  of  the  more  prominent  men  at  the  lower  end  of  the  street,  dur- 
ing the  period  of  which  we  write,  was  George  Shearman.      He  came  to 


3o8  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

tl)f  village  in  or  about  i8o8  or '09,  and  from  that  time  forth  uascli^ely 
identified  with  its  business  interests.  He  liad  a  store,  standing  very 
near  the  corner  of  Main  and  Jacob  streets,  and  was  in  trade  something 
like  twenty-five  years  On  the  land  now  occupied  by  Hon,  George  R. 
Cornwell's  block  Mr  Shearman  built  a  hotel,  the  American,  which 
will  be  remembered  by  many  of  the  present  residents  of  mature  years. 
Mr.  Shearman  also  was  proprietor  of  a  potash  works  and  a  distillery; 
likewise  a  mill  on  the  outlet.  In  fact  he  built  and  established  two  mills 
and  two  distilleries.  He  contributed  toward  the  buildnig  up  of  his  part 
of  the  town  as  much  as  any  man  during  that  period. 

But,  however  gratif\'ing  it  miglit  be  to  the  reader  to  refer  to  each 
and  every  of  the  old  buildings  and  enterprises  of  Penn  Yan  during  the 
first  half  centurj'  of  its  history,  the  space  already  used  in  that  connec- 
tion warns  us  that  we  must  pass  to  another  branch  of  the  subject  and 
give  some  attention  to  things  that  were  and  are,  as  well  as  to  those  of 
which  it  can  only  be  said  that  they  have  been.  The  old  buildings  are 
nearly  all  gone,  some  by  the  ravages  of  fire  and  other  elements,  while 
many  have  been  torn  down,  having  become  unsightly  and  not  well 
adapted  to  the  uses  of  later  occupants.  The  first  buildings  were  mainly 
frame  structures,  built  in  rows,  having  room  enough  in  man)'  cases  for 
a  half  dozen  or  more  tenants  on  the  ground  floor,  while  the  upper  floors 
were  occupied  by  lawyers  and  doctors,  tailors  and  other  light  trades- 
men. And  after  the  destruction  and  removal  of  the  first  and  possibly  the 
second  series  of  buildings  of  frame,  the  owners  along  the  businees  streets 
commenced  to  build  with  brick. 

According  to  the  best  recollection  of  older  citizens  of  the  village  the 
first  brick-yard  was  situated  out  west  of  the  village  proper,  near  and 
just  beyond  the  present  sand-bank,  while  another  of  about  the  same 
period  was  near  the  foot  of  the  lake.  But  about  the  year  1820,  as  near 
as  can  now  bedetermined,  a  brick- yard  was  started  on  the  south  bank  of 
the  outlet  near  the  site  of  the  present  planing-mill.  Dr.  Rayment,  Eras- 
tus  and  Albert  Page  are  said  to  have  been  among  the  early  proprietors 
at  this  point.  The  clay  suppl>',  however,  soon  became  exhausted  and  the 
owners  moved  to  a  more  abundant  field  across  the  highwa)' — Lake  street, 
as  now  laid  out.  A  yard  was  in  operation  here  for  more  than  thirty 
\-ears,  and  the  brick  there  made    were    used   in    building   many  of  the 


VILLAGE  OF  PENN  VAN.  309 

older  residences  and  blocks  now  in  the  village.  It  was  discontinued 
about  twenty-five  years  ago.  The  imported  bricks  and  "bats"  were 
afterward  used  in  filling  depressed  places,  and  were  covered  over  with 
eartii.  Lake  street,  along  where  tlie  yard  was  in  operation,  was  in  this 
way  built  up  to  grade  level. 

Speaking  of  these  depressions  recalls  the  most  noticeable  one  in  the 
village,  tliat  at  the  foot  of  Main  street,  starting  near  the  north  end  of 
the  Knapp  House  block  and  extending  south  across  the  outlet.  In 
front  of  the  block  the  foot  passenger  descended  several  steps,  like  stairs, 
and  thence  was  a  gradual  decline  down  as  far  as  the  mills  and  the  canal, 
while  on  the  op[)osite  side  of  the  outlet  was  a  sharj)  ascent  before  level 
ground  was  reached.  The  present  mills  stand  at  least  fifteen  feet  higher 
than  did  the  Wagener  mills,  and  the  bridge  has  likewise  been  raised  to 
grade.  All  tiie  space  between  the  Knapp  House  and  the  laundry  is 
"  made  land." 

Incorporation  of  tlic  Village. — After  the  lapse  of  about  thiit>'  years 
from  the  time  of  the  first  improvement  within  the  limits  proper  of  Penn 
Yan  the  village  was  found  to  contain  a  sufficient  population  to  jus- 
tify its  people  in  assuming  municipal  character.  In  fact  such  course 
became  necessary  in  order  that  certain  established  interests  might  be 
protected  ;  that  there  might  be  regulated  its  internal  police;  that  a  fire 
department  might  be  established  and  controlled,  and  that  necessary  im- 
provements might  be  made  without  first  obtaining  the  sanction  and 
consent  of  the  town  of  Milo,  the  people  of  which  town  were  not  will- 
ing that  their  moneys  should  be  appropriated  to  uses  of  improvements 
from  which  thc\'  derived  no  substantial  benefit.  To  accomplish  this 
end  the  citizens  of  the  village  caused  to  be  presented  to  the  State  leg- 
islature a  bill  which  was  enacted  into  a  law  on  the  29th  of  April,  1833. 
The  enacting  clause  was  as  follows  : 

•'All  that  district  of  country  hereinafter  described  shall  be  known  and  distinguished 
by  the  name  of  the  ■  Village  of  Penn  Yan.'  that  is  to  say.  all  that  part  of  the  town  of 
Milo.  and  all  that  part  of  the  town  of  Benton,  in  the  county  of  Yates,  bounded  as  fol- 
lows: Beginning  at  the  northeast  corner  of  lot  Ko.  37,  township  No.  7,  first  range, 
thence  south  21  i  degrees  east.  60  chains.  50  links,  10  the  northwest  side  of  the  high- 
way leading  by  Samuel  Gillett  and  Robert  Shearman's  10  the  Crooke<l  Lake  :  thenre 
along  the  northwest  side  of  the  highway,  south  i6i  degrees  west.  15  chains;  thence 
38  degrees  west.  2  ch.iins  to  the  north  sitic  of  Gillett  street  ;  thence  on  the  north  side 
of  the  highw.iy.  south  59  degrees  west.  27  chains.  42  links  :  north  214   degrees  «est, 


3 1  o  HIS  TORY  OF   YA  TES  CO  UN  T  5 '. 

26  chains  to  the  south  side  of  lot  No.  37  ;  thence  along  said  line  north,  88  degrees  west. 
37  chains  and  62  links  to  the  southwest  corner  of  said  lot ;  thence  along  the  west  line 
of  said  lot.  north  three  degrees.  27  minutes  east,  64  chains  to  the  town  line  between 
Benton  and  Milo  aforesaid  ;  thence  along  said  town  line  south  80  degrees  east,  i  chain. 
25  links,  to  the  southwest  corner  of  lot  No.  64.  in  township  No.  8.  first  range  ;  thence 
along  the  west  line  of  said  lot.  north  3  degrees,  east  24  chains  and  25  links  ;  thence 
south  87  degrees  east,  49  chains;  thence  south  3  degrees  west,  24  chains,  50  linl;s.  to 
the  place  of  beginning." 

The  second  section  of  the  act  declared  that  "  tiie  iniiabitants  of  said 
village  shall  be  a  body  corporate  by  the  name  of  'Trustees  of  the  Vil- 
lage of  Pent!  Yan.'  " 

The  first  annual  meeting  was  provided  to  be  held  on  the  first  Monday 
of  June  next  (1833),  at  the  court-house,  at  which  time  the  voting  pop- 
ulation were  authorized  to  elect  five  trustees,  one  clerk,  one  treasurer, 
three  assessors,  one  collector,  one  police  constable,  and  five  fire  wardens. 
The  seventeenth  section  of  the  act  tlivided  the  village  into  three  fire 
districts,  viz.:  District  No.  1,  to  include  all  that  part  of  the  village  lying 
north  of  Court  street ;  No.  2,  to  include  all  the  village  lying  south  of 
Court  street,  and  its  east  and  west  continuation,  and  north  of  the  out- 
let ;  No.  3,  to  include  all  that  part  of  the  village  lying  south  of  the  outlet. 
But  the  village  of  Penn  Yan  at  the  present  time  includes  a  much 
larger  area  of  territory  than  was  embraced  within  its  original  limits. 
This  extension  was  made  necessary  by  increasing  population  and  busi- 
ness interests,  while  many  who  were  originally  outside  the  xillage 
sought  to  be  admitted  therein  that  they  might  have  the  benefit  of  its 
excellent  school  system,  as  well  as  other  advantages  not  accorded  them 
as  residents  of  the  townsliip. 

The  village  organization  was  niade  complete  by  the  election  of  offi- 
cers pi  ovided  by  the  act  of  the  legislature,  which  officers,  when  qual- 
ifietl  (the  trustees),  passed  and  adopted  ordinances  for  the  government 
of  the  village,  regulating  the  police  and  health  departments,  and  pro- 
viding for  adequate  protection  against  the  loss  and  destruction  of 
property  by  fire.  The  officers  chosen  at  the  election  above  referred  to 
were  as  follows:  Trustees,  Abraham  Wagener,  R.  N.  Morrison,  Rus- 
sell R.  Fargo,  Morris  F.  Sheppard,  and  John  Brooks;  assessors,  Eben 
Smith,  J.  W.  Squier,  E.  J.  Fowle  ;  clerk,  Henry  Eno.  The  whole  num- 
ber of  votes  cast  at  the  election  was  252.  Abraham  Wagener  was 
elected  president  of  the  board  of  trustees. 


VILLAGE  OF  PENN   VAN. 


311 


In  this  connection  it  would  be  desirable  to  furnish  a  succession  of  the 
principal  officers  from  the  organization  of  the  village  to  the  present 
time,  but  such  a  list  is  impossible  from  the  fact  that  the  old  minute 
books  have  been  lost.  In  the  office  of  the  village  clerk  there  are  found 
two  books  of  proceedings  of  the  board,  covering  the  period  from  about 
1852  to  the  present  time,  but  the  most  persistent  effort  has  failed  to 
discover  any  earlier  record.  Therefore  rather  than  to  furnish  a  partial 
list  of  village  officers  it  is  deemed  preferable  to  give  none  at  all. 

The  village  of  Penn  Van  was  incorporated  in  1833,  and  by  that  pro- 
ceding  it  was  in  part  separated  from  the  mother  town,  Milo,  yet  not 
wholly  so.  The  officers  who  govern  the  town  have  a  certain  control 
and  jurisdiction  over  the  village,  and  both  join  together  in  the  election 
of  township  officers.  The  village  is  subject  to  taxation  for  the  benefit 
of  the  whole  town,  and  the  township  outside  is  in  the  same  manner 
subject  to  taxation  for  certain  village  improvements.  In  addition  the 
village  raises  a  fund  by  tax  on  its  own  property,  which  is  devoted 
to  the  maintenance  of  its  special  institutions  and  for  its  own  special 
benefit.  The  people  of  the  village  vote  the  tax  which  creates  this  fund 
and  the  trustees  expend  the  same  according  to  their  own  judgment. 

The  early  pages  of  the  present  chapter  have  been  devoted  mainly  to 
the  histor)'  of  the  village  prior  to  its  incorporation,  but  tiie  question 
naturally  arises,  what  can  be  recorded  as  its  history  subsequent  to  that 
time?  It  is  absolute]}-  impossible  to  supply  to  the  reader  the  name  of 
ever)'  proprietor  of  a  business,  or  to  follow  correctlj'  the  changes  that 
have  taken  place  with  each  succeeding  year  since  1833,  but  the  village 
and  its  people  have  certainly  made  a  history,  and  an  important  and  in- 
teresting history  it  has  been.  It  is  written  in  tiie  existence,  past  and 
present,  of  every  church  society,  each  school  building,  and  the  multitude 
of  scholars  who  have  passed  through  its  cour.'^e  ;  written  in  every  busi- 
ness block  and  manufacturing  industry  that  has  been  built  up  during 
the  last  sixty  years.  Therefore  these  must  be  the  subjects  of  narration 
on  subsequent  pages. 

Educational  Institutious  of  Pcini  Van. — He  it  said  to  the  honor  of 
the  Board  of  Education  of  Fenn  Van  that  no  interior  municipality  in 
the  State  of  New  York  can  boast  of  a  better  system  of  common  school 
and  academic  courses  than  this   village.      As  a  recent  writer  has  truth- 


312  HISTORY  OF   VATES  COUNTY. 

fully  rernarkt'd,  "  illiteracy  has  but  poor  excuse  in  this  community." 
But  while  fairly  within  the  province  of  this  chapter  to  enter  into  a  de- 
tailctl  history  of  the  schools  of  Penn  Van,  the  necessity  for  so  doing  is 
in  a  measure  removed  by  the  thoroughness  of  the  educational  chapter 
in  the  general  histor)'.  However,  a  history  of  this  village  without  at 
least  a  brief  reference  to  its  educational  institutions,  past  and  present, 
would  indeed  prove  an  unfaithful  record. 

The  first  school  taught  within  the  limits  of  what  afterward  became 
the  village  of  Penn  Yan  was  that  conducted  by  Ruth  Pritchard,  the 
faithful  friend  and  co-worker  of  Jemima  Wilkinson.  This  most  esti- 
mable woman  had  kept  a  school  in  the  Friends'  log  meeting-house  in 
1796,  and  afterward  at  Benton  Center.  In  1797,  having  then  been  mar- 
ried to  Justus  P.  Spencer,  she  resided  near  this  locality  and  while  here 
started  a  little  school  and  thereafter  taught  the  youth  of  the  settlement 
for  some  years,  and  until  the  time  of  her  death  in  18 16.  During  this 
period,  and  in  18  [4,  John  L.  Cleveland  maintained  a  select  school  and 
numbered  among  his  pupils  several  who  afterward  became  prominent 
men  in  the  village.  George  A.  Sheppard,  Charles  C.  Sheppard,  Charles 
Wagener,  and  James  D.  Morgan,  sr.,  attended  Mr.  Cleveland's  school. 
John  L.  Lewis,  sr.,  is  also  remembered  as  having  been  a  teacher  for 
about  three  years,  commencing  in  1815.  In  1S20  Mr.  Gregory  con- 
ducted  a   grammar  school. 

The  old  school-house  of  the  village,  it  is  said,  stood  on  the  upper 
corner  of  the  present  academy  lot,  and  was  used  not  only  as  a  school, 
but  as  well  by  the  Presbyterian  society  as  a  place  of  worship.  A  short 
time  prior  to  1830  a  brick  school  was  built  west  of  the  older  house,  be- 
ing located  on  the  west  side  of  Liberty  street  as  afterward  laid  out. 
The  latter  was  in  use  until  1 843,  when  district  No.  13  of  Milo  built  the 
school  on  Head  street,  as  afterward  called.  So  near  as  can  be  learned 
from  scattering  records  and  untrustworthy  memory,  the  early  teachers 
in   the   several   school   buildings   alluded  to  were  as  follows  :     John  L. 

Lewis, Gregory,  Gurdon  Badger,  John  Smith,  Jason  Andrus,  in 

the  old  frame  building  on  Main  street ;  Pierpont  Dyer,  Joshua  E.  R. 
Abbott,  R.  P.  Lamb,  Jerome  Corey,  assisted  by  Ascha  A.  Cornwell, 
afterward  Mrs.  J.  S.  Glover,  Emily  Cornwell,  Hannah  Benedict,  Henry 
C.  Wheeler,  James  L.  Seeley,  Samuel  H.  Chapman,  Wilkinson, 


VILLAGE  OF  PENN   VAN.  313 

Adolphus  Kneelaiid,  Philetus  Olney,  Richard  Tajlor,  Jolin  Porter, 
William  A.  Coleman,  Henry  A.  Bninncr,  Slierman  Morse,  Celinda 
Soper,  Sophia  Ehvood,  Charles  Edson,  Henry  M.  Stewart,  Rev.  Edward 
Brown,  Cornelia  Locke,  Caroline  Cornwell,  Salina  Easton,  and  others 
as  early  teachers  in  the  Liberty  street  and  Head  street  buildings. 

In  1824,  or  the  year  followinjj,  the  lower  end  of  the  village  had  built 
its  first  school-house,  standing  on  what  is  now  Seneca  street,  but  then 
know  as  Ray  street,  and  nearly  opposite  the  site  of  the  Shearman  & 
Lewis  malt  house.  This  building  was  in  service  until  1842,  when  the 
Maiden  Lane  sciiool  house  was  erected.  Among  the  teachers  men- 
tioned in  connection  with  the  Seneca  street  school  were  Crinus  B. 
Feagles,  Austin  Feagles,  Selden  Chadwick,  Jethro  Bonney,  Hiram  Kid- 
der, A.  C.  Spooner,  B.  B.  Stark,  Mr.  McGuinn,  Benjamin  L.  Hoyt,  and 
a  Mr.  Moore.  Mr.  Hoyt  taught  this  school  in  1840  and  1841.  The 
lady  teachers  remembered  in  connection  with  this  school  are  Nancy 
Raymond,  Armenia  Tyler,  and  Susan  Shaw. 

In  1842  the  school-house  in  Maiden  Lane  was  erected,  and  here  at- 
tended a  fair  proportion  of  those  who  afterward  became  and  still  are  the 
leading  business  men  of  the  village.  The  play  ground  extended  to  Main 
street,  the  scholars  then  having  more  freedom  and  latitude  than  appears 
to  be  the  lot  of  the  present  generation  of  pupils.  Where  are  now  the 
stores  of  Roneke  &  Rogers,  Donahue,  Hazen,  the  First  National  Bank, 
L.  P.  Wagener,  and  others  below,  was  the  ball  grounds  occupied  by 
the  scholars  under  the  instruction  of  Joseph  Blooniingdale  and  teachers 
immediately  succeeding  him.  The  Maiden  Lane  school  has  been  main- 
tained to  the  present  day.  Originally  it  was  in  District  No.  12  of  the 
town  of  Milo,  but  for  many  years  has  been  a  part  of  the  free  school 
system  of  the  village.  Recalling  the  names  of  teachers  connected  with 
this  school,  these  are  found:  Joseph  Bloomingdalc,  Howard  R.  Miller, 
Mary  A.  Jocelyn,  Harris  Cale,  Samuel  Keifer,  Asa  Countr}nian,  Jay 
Calkins,  John  W.  Stewart,  E.  Hermon  Latimer,  Laura  Latimer,  Anna 
Matthews,  Jane  Stark,  Mary  A.  Bennett,  Sarah  S.  Hammond,  Juiia 
Hard,  Eliza  Casey,  Charity  Bishop,  Henry  R.  Sanford,  Almira  L.  Ho- 
bart,  and  possibly  others  whose  names  are  forgotten. 

At  the  foot  of  the  lake,  in  1825  or  thereabouts,  was  organized  dis- 
trict No.  9  of  the  town  of  Milo,  but   the  district  itself  has  now  become 

40 


3 1 4  HIS  TOR  V  OF  YA  TES  CO  UN  T  Y. 

mainly  absorbed  b}'  the  Union  District.  About  1824  or  '25  Van  Rens- 
selaer Vorce  had  a  school  in  Aaron  Plyinpton's  old  log  house,  and  after 
the  building  of  the  district  school  he  was  its  first  master.  Following 
him  as  pedagogue  were  Henry  H.  Tupper  and  Electa  Williams.  Other 
early  teachers  here  were  William  W.  Hartshorn,  Isaac  W.  Hartshorn, 
John  T.  Perkins,  James  Hartshorn,  Joseph  Bloomingdale,  Edward  Ran- 
dall, Mr.  Gillette,  and  Samuel  V.  Miller,  the  latter  in  1840  and  1841. 
Still  later  teachers  were  Sherman  Morse,  Jerome  Corey,  Lucien  Corey, 
and  Eber  Stone.  The  maintenance  of  a  school  in  this  part  ot  the  vil- 
lage was  necessary  even  after  the  absorption  of  the  locality  by  the 
Union  district.  Under  the  direction  of  the  Board  of  Education  in  1879 
the  brick  school  on  Lake  street  was  erected,  at  a  cost  of  about  $2,500. 
Since  that  time  the  school  here  has  been  a  part  of  the  excellent  system 
of  education  adopted  by  the  board,  and  is  now  one  of  the  juvenile  or 
primary  departments  of  the  village. 

The  Chestnut  street  school,  so-called,  likewise  originally  formed  a 
part  of  the  Milo  district  No.  4,  and  became  a  village  institution  by  ab- 
soiption  in  1879.  Its  patronage  is  derived  from  the  residents  east  of 
the  railroad.  The  union  district  erected  the  school  building  in  1879, 
the  cost  of  the  entire  property  being  more  than  $3,000.  The  first  vil- 
lage school  east  of  the  tracks  was  established  by  the  board  in  1876,  but 
prior  to  that,  and  as  early  as  1845,  old  district  No.  4  had  its  school, 
and  a  prominent  institution  it  was  Among  the  teachers  there  at  an 
early  da)'  were  Jethro  Bonney,  Benjamin  L.  Hoyt,  B.  F.  Cook,  and 
William  P.  Gaj'lord. 

The  several  institutions  heretofore  referred  to  as  being  schools  inci- 
dent to  the  village  had  their  origin  in  the  district  arrangement  of  the 
town  of  Milo,  and  afterward  became  schools  of  the  village,  or  more 
properly  the  union  district.  But  in  this  narrative  no  mention  has  yet 
been  made  of  that  leading  institution,  the  Acadeni)  ,  the  chiefest  of  the 
educational  interests  of  the  village,  and  one  with  which  there  is  con- 
nected more  history,  perhaps,  than  with  all  others  combintd.  A  de- 
scription of  the  academy,  its  origin,  growth,  and  value,  together  with 
mention  of  the  persons  connected  with  it  in  various  capacities,  is  re- 
served for  the  closing  pages  of  this  branch  of  municipal  history.  But 
in  the  present   connection  there  should   properly  be  made  some  refer- 


VILLAGE  OF  PENN  YAN.  315 

ence  to  other  educational  institutions  of  the  village  than  its  public  and 
district  schools;  those  that  aie  and  have  been  commonly  called  [irivate 
or  select  schools.  With  these  the  village  of  Penn  Yan  has  in  times  past 
had  an  abundant  supply. 

The  first  school  of  the  kind  of  which  there  appeais  to  be  an)-  recoid 
was  that  managed  by  John  W.  Willey,  who  also  was  a  lawyer  and  after- 
ward attained  some  distinction  as  the  first  mayor  of  Cleveland,  Ohio. 
Thomas  J.  Nevins  taught  public  and  private  schools,  and  it  was  largely 
through  his  efforts  and  influence  that  the  academy  was  founded.  Jane 
S.  Bellows  and  her  sister  Martha  Bellows  were  also  select  school  teach- 
ers in  the  village,  the  former  in  1825  and  the  latter  afterward.  In  the 
same  connection  mention  may  also  be  made  of  Mary  Jones,  Charity 
Sheldon,  Reuben  P.  Lamb,  Dan.  B.  Bradley,  Uriah  Hanford,  Orra  An- 
drus,  Jason  Andrus,  Asa  P.  Norton,  Samuel  H.  Northrup,  Jerusha 
Kinney,  Roscius  Morse.  These  are  said  to  have  been  teachers  prior  to 
the  founding  of  the  academy.  John  Brown,  said  to  have  been  a 
superior  teaclier,  conducted  a  select  school  near  the  rear  of  the  Baptist 
Church.  Among  the  other  teachers  in  the  same  building  were  Robert 
Murray,  Artemas  Bigelow,  Evan  W.  Evans,  Charles  Hopkins,  William 
H.  Lord.  Other  select  teachers,  whose  school  buildings  were  in  various 
parts  of  the  village,  were  Joshua  E.  R.  Abbott,  L.  P.  Paddock,  Nathan 
W.  Ayer,  John  Owen,  Mrs.  William  L.  Porter,  Helen  M.  Chamberlain, 
Mrs.  Robinson,  Miss  Rycknian,  Sarah  Wisner,  Maria  Lathrop,  Louise 
West.  Miss  Hubbard,  Maria  Benham,  Adelia  Benham,  Miss  Minor,  Ann 
Arnold,  Miss  Teall,  Elizabeth  Philbrick,  Celinda  Soper,  Jane  Stark, 
Sabra  Lapham,  Isabella  Sherman,  Sarah  Welles,  Josephine  Ellsworth, 
Henrietta  Starkweather,  and  others  whose  names  among  the  multitude 
of  teachers  from  time  to  time  conducting  temporary  schools  in  the  vil- 
lage may  possibly  have  been  forgotten  or  overlooked. 

St.  Michael's  School. — A  Catholic  parochial  school  was  started  in 
Penn  Yan  in  October,  1883,  under  the  general  supervision  of  the  Rev. 
Father  Eugene  Pagani,  the  worthy  priest  in  charge  of  the  local  parish. 
The  school  building  and  property  are  conveniently  situated  in  the  west- 
ern part  of  the  village.  The  lot  cost  $1,200,  upon  which  was  erected  a 
commodious  school- house  at  an  additional  expense  of  $6,400.  Interior 
improvements  and    fixtures   increased   the  total  cost   to   $10,000.      St. 


3l6  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

Michael's  school  is  conducted  by  several  faithful  sisters  of  the  Order  of 
St.  Joseph,  and  is  in  all  respects  a  useful  and  worthy  institution.  Being 
a  denominational  school,  the  expense  of  its  maintenance  is  borne  by  the 
parish. 

The  Penn  Van  Academy. — The  present  superior  educational  institu- 
tion of  the  village,  known  and  distinguished  by  the  name  of  Penn  Yan 
Academy,  was  founded  and  established  during  the  year  1857,  and  al- 
though then  an  original  conception  and  consummation,  it  was  indirectly 
the  outgrowth  of  one  of  the  ancient  educational  interests  of  the  village  and 
locality.  But  the  plan  upon  which  it  was  proposed  that  the  new  academy 
should  be  started  and  maintained  was  so  complete  and  elaborate,  and 
contemplated  so  radical  an  improvement  over  a  preceding  institution, 
that  between  the  two  and  their  s\'stems  of  management  there  was  no 
resemblance  whatever.  The  first  was  one  of  the  infant  interests  of  an  un- 
organized village  in  a  newl)'  erected  county,  while  the  later  was  designed 
to  be  a  modern  school,  founded  for  the  purposes  of  higher  and  more  ad- 
vanced education,  upon  a  broader  and  more  liberal  scale.  In  fact  the 
establishment  of  the  Penn  Yan  Academy  in  1857  was  a  grand  onward 
movement,  a  long  stride  in  the  work  of  advancement  and  progress;  but 
like  all  such  reformations,  the  subject  was  not  discussed  nor  the  work 
itself  accomplished  without  some  opposition  and  bitterness  of  feeling, 
encouraged  and  fostered  by  the  same  element  of  population  that  in 
every  community  invariably  opposes  each  and  every  proposition,  no 
matter  how  worthy  the  object,  that  calls  for  an  unusual  expenditure  of 
means  or  a  departure  from  ancient  customs.  However,  the  academy 
was  founded  and  put  in  operation  by  the  voice  of  a  good  majority  of 
the  people,  and  despite  the  efforts  of  its  opponents,  and  not  one  person 
lives  to-da\-,  whether  in  favor  of  or  opposed  to  the  plan  at  the  outset, 
but  that  realizes  that  what  was  done  was  for  the  best  interests  of  the 
village  and  locality,  and  of  the  greatest  value  to  the  people  of  the 
county.  But  as  we  are  supposed  to  refer  to  events,  so  near  as  may  be 
in  their  order  of  occurrence,  the  attention  of  the  reader  must  first  be  di- 
rected, briefly  however,  to  the  old  academy. 

It  was  during  the  time  in  which  Thomas  J.  Nevins  was  conducting  a 
school  ill  the  village  that  the  prominent  men  of  the  place  began  dis- 
cussing the  advisibility  of  establishing   an   academic   school  to  the  end 


VILLAGE  OF  PENN  VAN.  317 

that  the  \outh  of  tlie  locahty  mij^ht  be  given  the  advantages  of  thor- 
ough education  in  the  English  branches.  The  result  was  an  applica- 
tion to  the  State  legislature  of  1828,  followed  by  an  act  passed  by  that 
body  incorporating  the  Yates  County  Academy  and  Female  Seminary. 
The  first  board  of  trustees  designated  by  the  act,  were:  Cornelius 
Masten,  Samuel  S.  Ellsworth,  Thomas  J.  Nevins,  George  Sherman, 
Ebenezer  Brown,  Ira  Gould,  Henry  Bradley,  James  C.  Robinson,  Eben 
Smith,  Joseph  Ketchum,  Aaron  Reamer  and  Andrew  F.  Oliver.  These 
persons,  leading  and  influential  men  of  the  village  and  locality,  organ- 
ized and  established  the  school  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the 
act.  The  academy  building  was  opened  for  pupils  on  the  first  Monday 
of  January,  1829,  with  Gardiner  Kellogg,  a  graduate  of  Bowdoin.  as 
principal.  The  building  occupied  for  the  academy  was  the  old  Hol- 
comb  hotel  structure,  standing  then  where  Charles  C.  Sheppard  after- 
ward lived.  Attached  to  the  building  proper  was  a  boarding  house  for 
young  ladies,  with  accommodations  for  about  forty  persons.  Mrs.  Kel- 
logg, mother  of  the  principal,  had  charge  of  this  department  of  the  in- 
stitution. 

But  the  old  Yates  County  Academy  and  Female  Seminary  proved  to 
be  a  rather  short  lived  affair,  but  just  what  causes  led  to  its  decline  and 
final  downfall  is  now  difficult  of  determination.  Principal  Kellogg,  too, 
remained  its  master  but  a  year  or  two  when  he  and  his  good  mother 
took  their  departure,  he  being  succeeded  b\>  Seymour  Gookins  who 
presided  over  its  affairs  for  nearly  six  years.  During  the  principalship 
of  Mr.  Gookins  the  academy  reached  the  height  of  its  glory,  the  cata- 
logue for  1834  showing  the  attendance  of  202  male  and  139  female 
pupils.  James  Taylor,  Miles  Benham,  Charles  Hubbard  and  Samuel 
Wise  were  then  members  of  the  board  of  trustees,  while  David  Malin, 
Bachelor  of  Arts,  was  announced  as  senior  tutor  and  classical  teacher. 
Likewise,  Richard  Taylor  was  junior  tutor  and  mathematician  ;  Charles 
S.  Davis,  teacher  of  English  ;  Chloe  I'armele,  preceptress  ;  Mary  Niles, 
assistant  preceptress  ;  Clarissa  Hagaman,  teacher  of  music  ;  Sarah  Hill, 
primary  teacher.  In  1835  the  total  attendance  was  315,  of  which  185 
were  males  and  130  females.  This  year  the  primary  department  was 
■discontinued. 

After    Mr.  Gookins   left  William  H.  Schram  and  wife  conducted   the 


3i8  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY 

school  for  a  time,  but  were  in  turn  succeeded  by  W.  H.  Schenck  and 
wife.  Daniel  B.  Wakefield  next  followed  as  principal  for  a  short  period, 
but  was  superceded  by  Richard  Taylor  and  Joseph  Bloomingdale, 
under  whose  joint  efforts  an  attempt  was  made  to  re-establish  the  in- 
stitution on  a  paying  basis,  but  without  substantial  success;  the  Yates 
Academy,  so-called  for  brevity,  was  doomed  and  its  fall  was  inevitable. 
Its  whole  career  covered  a  period  of  about  eleven  years. 

From  about  the  year  1840  down  to  the  founding  of  the  present  Penn 
Yan  Academy,  the  village  was  without  an  institution  of  academic  char- 
acter other  than  could  be  discovered  in  the  select  schools  from  time  to 
time  started,  but  only  to  run  a  short  course  of  existence.  At  last,  dur 
ing  the  fifth  decade  of  the  present  century,  the  progressive  men  of  the 
village  and  immediate  locality  were  awakened  to  the  necessity  of  hav- 
ing a  high  school  for  the  better  and  more  advanced  education  of  the 
youth  of  the  village  ;  an  institution  that  should  furnish  knowledge  to 
its  pupils  beyond  the  limited  course  afibrded  by  tlie  common  village  and 
district  schools.  Therefore  recourse  was  again  had  to  the  State  legisla- 
ture, with  result  in  the  formation  of  the  Penn  Yan  Union  School  District, 
embracing  then,  as  it  does  now,  a  larger  area  than  is  contained  within 
the  village  limits  proper.  The  original  board  of  trustees  was  as  follows: 
Ebenezer  B.  Jones,  Charles  C.  Sheppard,  Benedict  W.  Franklin,  Levi 
O.  Dunning,  Darius  O.  Ogden,  George  Wagener,  Jeremiah  S.  Gillctt, 
Martin  Spencer,  Daniel  W.  Streeter.  The  organization  was  perfected 
April  30,  1857,  with  Ebenezer  B.  Jones  as  president. 

For  the  purpose  of  electing  a  school  building  the  trustees  purchased 
land  on  the  west  side  of  Main  street,  at  an  expense  of  about  $2,000. 
On  this  lot  contractor  Charles  V.  Bush,  following  the  plans  prepared 
for  and  adopted  by  the  board,  erected  the  academy  at  a  cost  of  $8,000. 
The  work  of  construction  was  completed  during  the  summer  of  1859, 
and  the  building  made  ready  for  occupancy  the  same  year. 

While  it  is  not  within  the  province  of  this  chapter  to  comment  upon 
the  character  or  value  of  any  of  the  village  institutions,  the  writer  never- 
theless feels  constrained  to  reproduce  for  the  reader's  benefit  the  words 
of  a  recent  contributor  to  the  pages  of  the  annual  school  catalogue  for 
the  years  1883-84,  as  follows  :  "  Founded  upon  a  system  of  permanence 
and  sure  support,  it  has  been  a  prosperous  school.      It  has  been  of   in- 


VILLAGE  OF  PENN   VAN.  319 

calculable  worth  to  the  village  and  the  sunoiuiding  country,  and  has 
given  opportunities  of  advanced  education  to  hundreds  of  pupils,  to 
whom  they  would  have  been  largely  inaccessible  if  this  school  had  not 
existed.  The  wisdom  of  its  projectors  has  been  abundantly  vindi- 
cated. The  primary  schools  were  declared  free  upon  the  organization 
of  the  district,  and  the  academy  was  made  a  free  school  to  all  the  res 
idents  of  the  district  in  1875. 

As  a  preceding  chapter  of  this  work  has  refened  at  length  to  the 
educational  institutions  not  only  of  the  county  at  large  but  as  well  those 
of  the  village  of  Penn  Yan,  it  is  not  deemed  prudent  in  this  connection 
to  enter  into  a  more  extended  narrative  of  the  local  schools,  nor  even 
to  furnish  a  succession  of  the  trustees  who  have  from  time  to  time  been 
chosen  to  office.  But  it  is  entirely  proper  at  this  point  that  there  should 
be  recorded  the  names  of  persons  who  have  been  called  to  the  position 
of  principle  of  the  academy,  and  as  well  the  persons  who  have  held  the 
honorable  offices  of  president  and  secretary  of  the  board  of  trustees. 

The  present  members  of  the  board  of  education  are  these  :  George 
R.  Cornwell,  Benjamin  L.  Hoyt,  John  S.  Sheppard,  John  T.  Andrews, 
2d,  George  R.  Youngs,  Perley  P.  Curtis,  Edson  Potter,  Silas  Kinne,  and 
Stephen  B.  Ayers.  Ofificers  of  the  board  :  George  R.  Cornwell,  pres 
ident ;  George  R.  Youngs,  secretarj' ;  Morris  F.  Sheppard,  treasurer; 
William  P.  Gaylord,  collector. 

Succession  of  Principals. — Rev  Otis  L.  Gibson,  1 859-1861  ;  Willard 
P.  Gibson.  A.M.,  1861-1863 ;  Winsor  Scofield,  A.M.,  1863-1866; 
Cicero  M.  Hutchins.  A.M.,  1866-1868;  Rufus  S.  Green,  A.B.,  1868- 
1869;  John  T.  Knox,  A  M  ,  1869-1870;  Samuel  D.  Barr.  A.M.,  1870- 
1872;  Burr  Lewis,  A.B.,  1872-1873;  Rudolphus  C.  Briggs,  A.B., 
1873-1875;  Francis  D.  Hodgson,  A.M.,  1875-1883;  Henry  White 
Callahan,  A.M.,  1883-1890;   F.  Theodore  Shultz,  A.M.,  1890 — . 

Presidents. — Ebenezer  B.  Jones,  1 859-1 861  ;  Charles  C.  Sheppard, 
i86i-:863.  1865-1873  ;  Benedict  W.  Franklin.  1863-1865;  Darius  A. 
Ogden,  1873-1876,  i88o-i8<S9;  Levi  O.  Dunning,  1876-1877  ;  Staf- 
ford C.  Cleveland,  1877-1880  ;  Benjamin  L.  Ilo)'t,  1889-1891  ;  George 
R.  Cornwell,  i8yi — . 

Secretaries. — Daniel  W.  Streeter,  1859-1860;  Jeremiah  S.  Gillett, 
1860-1863,  1865-1866;    Lyman  Munger,  1863-1865  ;  John  T.  Knox, 


320  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

1873-1874;  Benjamin  L.  Hoyt,  1874-1877;  George  R.  Youngs,  1877- 
1880;  Reuben  A.  Scofield,  1880-1882  ;  Fred  S.  Armstrong,  1882- 
1884;   George  R.  Youngs,  1884 — . 

.  Church  tfistory  of  Petm  Van. — The  first  religious  services  in  the 
county  of  Yates  were  those  conducted  by  the  society  of  Friends,  although 
the  claim  has  been  made  that  Catholic  missionaries  said  masses  in  the 
region  at  an  earlier  da\'.  The  Friends  came  in  numbers  in  1788,  and 
worshiped  in  their  own  peculiar  manner  during  that  same  year.  Four 
years  later  the  Methodist  circuit  riders  appeared  and  labored  in  the 
region,  and  planted  the  seed  of  their  afterward  prosperous  church  so- 
cieties. As  there  was  no  settlement  within  what  afterward  became  the 
village  of  Penn  Yan  earlier  than  1800,  it  is  not  expected  that  religious 
services  could  have  been  held  here  prior  to  that  time.  But  such  mea- 
ger records  as  do  now  exist,  most  of  them  being  founded  on  unreliable 
tradition,  and  still  less  trustworthy  memory  of  man,  leave  us  in  some 
doubt  as  to  whether  Methodist  or  Presbyterian  services  were  first  to  be 
conducted  within  the  afterward  named  village  of  Penn  Yan.  The  Gen- 
esee Conference  was  organized  in  18 10,  but  there  appears  to  have  been 
no  local  church  organization  prior  to  1826.  However,  common  con- 
sent has  generally  accorded  to  the  Presbyterian  society  the  honor  of 
having  been  tlie  first  to  plant  their  church  within  the  environment  of 
the  village. 

The  Presbyterian  Church  and  society  of  Penn  Yan  was  the  almost 
direct  outgrowth  and  branch  of  the  older  society  of  the  same  denomin 
ation  in  Benton.  As  early  as  the  year  1819,  in  the  month  of  June, 
Rev.  James  Hotchkins  preached  in  the  little  old  school- house  in  this 
village,  at  a  time  when  there  were  but  two  female  and  no  male  mem- 
bers of  the  church  within  its  limits;  and  these  persons  were  then  mem- 
bers of  the  Benton  society.  During  the  summer  of  1820,  at  the  invi- 
tation of  local  residents,  Rev.  Richard  Williams  came  here  to  reside, 
and  thereafter  preached  in  the  village  in  the  morning  and  at  the  Ben- 
ton church  in  the  afternoon.  In  1821  the  session  of  the  Benton  church 
held  a  meeting  in  Penn  Yan,  and  examined  Maria  Masten,  Sarah  Corn- 
well  and  John  Hatmaker,  who  were  afterward  received  into  the  church 
on  confession  of  faith.  These  were  the  first  [persons  to  be  received  into 
the  Penn  Yan  branch  of  the  church,  and  John  Hatmaker  was  chosen  its 
first  elder. 


VILLAGE  OF  PENN  VAN.  321 

Witli  the  constant  increase  of  village  population  other  persons  ex- 
pressed a  preference  for  the  Presbyterian  doctrine  and  form  of  worship, 
and  in  February,  1823,  Mr.  Hatmaker,  as  duly  authorized  delegate, 
presented  a  petition  to  the  Presbytery,  asking  for  the  organization  of  a 
separate  and  distinct  church.  On  this  petition  appeared  the  names  of 
tliirty-eight  members  of  the  Benton  church.  The  request  was  granted, 
and  the  society  was  organized  on  the  3d  Tuesday  in  Feburarj'  of  that 
year;  an  organization  that  was  made  fully  complete  on  the  2d  daj'  of 
September  following.  Dr.  John  Hatmaker  and  Silas  Lacy  were  chosen 
elders,  and  Henry  Knapp  and  Mr.  Lacy  were  elected  deacons.  For  a 
period  of  four  j-ears  from  the  first  preachings  by  Mr.  Williams  the  new 
society  had  no  church  home,  but  in  1824,  the  same  year  in  which  the 
Benton  society  erected  its  church,  the  local  edifice  was  erected.  It  was 
a  small,  unpretentious  building  of  frame  material,  but  sufficient  for  the 
purposes  of  the  society  at  that  time.  Its  location  was  on  the  east  side  of 
Main  street,  near  and  just  above  the  residence  of  T.  F.  Wheeler. 
From  the  time  of  the  organization  of  tlie  society  down  to  the  year  1841, 
the  Presbyterian  church  maintained  a  steady  and  healthful  growth,  both 
in  membership  and  influence,  but  in  the  year  last  mentioned  there 
occurred  a  serious  division  among  its  members,  growing  out  of  a  dis- 
cussion relative  to  church  action  and  doctrines,  and  increased  in  feeling 
by  the  divided  sentiment  over  the  question  of  slavery.  The  result  was 
the  withdrawal  of  a  majority  of  the  members  from  their  church  con- 
nection, in  which  action  they  were  counseled  and  followed  by  the  pas- 
tor, the  Rev.  Ovid  Miner.  The  dissenters  not  only  severed  their  rela- 
tions with  the  mother  society,  but  organized  for  themselves,  and  built 
a  church  edifice  at  the  corner  of  Main  and  Chapel  streets,  the  same 
building,  though  now  enlarged,  at  present  occupied  by  the  societ)'  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

In  this  connection  it  may  be  stated  that  the  new  society,  which  by 
the  way  styled  themselves  Congregationalists,  and  adopted  that  form  of 
church  government,  never  acquired  any  substantial  strength.  They 
built  the  edifice  now  owned  by  the  Methodist  society,  in  1841,  but  in 
years  afterward  themselves  became  involved  in  a  controversy,  with  re- 
sult in  the  dismemberment  of  their  organization.  A  portion  of  their 
membership  formed  a  new  society  styled   the  Wesleyan  church  ;   some 

41 


322  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

returned  to  the  mother  society  which  they  had  deserted,  while  still 
others  drifted  into  other  churches  or  remained  unallied  to  any  religious 
organization. 

Notwithstanding  the  serious  blow  against  the  welfare  of  the  church, 
caused  by  the  withdrawal  of  the  majority  of  its  members,  the  society  in 
about  four  months  secured  the  services  of  the  Rev.  James  Richards,  and 
agreed  to  pay  him  an  increased  salary.  Also  they  determined  upon  radi- 
cal changes  and  improvements  in  the  church  edifice,  which  were  accom- 
plished, but  at  the  expense  of  a  heavy  debt  whicl>  hung  over  the  society 
for  many  years.  But  with  the  lapse  of  time  and  the  return  of  many  of 
the  former  members  the  church  again  assumed  her  former  position 
among  the  influential  societies  of  the  village.  In  1864  the  building  was 
again  subjected  to  repairs  and  enlargement  to  meet  the  requirements  of 
the  society,  and  on  the  22d  of  October  of  that  year  the  church  was  re- 
dedicated.  However,  fifteen  years  more  of  increasing  strength  demon- 
strated that  the  old  church  home  was  no  longer  sufficient  for  the  society's 
uses,  and  the  building  of  an  entirely  new  and  more  spacious  and  elegant 
modern  house  of  worship  became  imperative.  The  site  chosen  was  at 
the  corner  of  Main  and  Clinton  streets,  upon  which  was  erected  by  far 
the  most  beautiful  edifice  in  the  county.  It  needs  no  other  description 
on  these  pages.  Conspicuously  carved  on  the  corner  stone  are  the  years 
"  1 824-1 879,"  denoting  the  time  of  erecting  the  first  and  the  latest 
churches  of  the  society. 

The  succession  of  pastors  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church  of  Penn 
Yan  has  been  as  follows:  Richard  Williams,  from  September,  1820,  to 
February  19,  1825;  Chauncey  Eddy,  1826  to  September  19,  1831  ; 
Samuel  A.  Allen,  October  8,  to  December  8,  183  i  ;  Stephen  Crosby, 
February,  1832,  to  August  i,  1836;  Ovid  Miner,  April  i,  1837,  to  Feb- 
ruary 17,  1841  ;  James  Richards,  June  8,  1841,  to  November  18,  1847; 
William  W.  Robinson,  from  early  in  1848  to  November  14,1850;  James 
Eells,  September  23,  185  i,  to  October  27,  1854;  W.  W.  Taylor,  Decem- 
ber, 1S54,  to  April  I,  i860;  L.  S.  Fine,  October  I,  i860,  to  June,  1862; 
Frederick  Starr,  March  i,  1864,  to  May,  1865;  David  Magie,  1865  to 
1872;  William  Lawrie,  1872  to  1873;  D.  Henry  Palmer,  1873  to  the 
present  time. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  church  in  Penn  Van  was  not  regularly  organ- 


VILLAGE  OF  PENN  VAN.  323 

ized  until  the  year  1826,  at  which  time  the  village  societj'  was  made  a 
distinct  appointment.  Although  there  ma\-  be  no  record  by  which  the 
question  can  be  acurately  determined,  yet  there  is  reason  to  believe  that 
Methodist  services  were  held  and  conducted  in  the  village  several  years 
earlier  than  the  organization.  As  a  matter  of  fact  Methodism  in  the 
county,  or  what  afterward  became  the  county,  dates  back  to  1792,  and  al- 
though there  could  not  have  been  services  in  the  village  until  after  the 
latter  was  founded,  there  is  good  reason  to  suppose  that  class  services 
at  least  were  held  here  soon  after  the  year  1805,  or  about  that  time. 

In  1826  Abram  Prosser,  the  first  known  class  leader,  caused  to  be 
erected  for  the  M.  E.  society  a  frame  church.  Its  site  was  on  Chapel 
street,  in  rear  of  the  present  edifice  of  the  society,  and  about  where  the 
horse  sheds  now  stand.  Becoming  too  small  for  the  requirements  of 
the  congregation,  the  old  building  was  vacated,  and  the  church  property 
of  the  Congregational  society,  located  at  the  corner  of  Main  and  Chapel 
streets,  was  acquired  by  purchase.  This  occurred  in  1857,  but  two  years 
later  it  was  found  necessary  to  enlarge  the  building.  Additional  altera- 
tions and  enlargements  were  again  made  in  1881.  The  old  first  church 
building  was  removed  from  its  original  site  to  a  lot  just  east  of  the  land- 
ing place  of  the  old  line  boats. 

Numerically,  financially,  and  in  influence  and  good  works,  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  society  is  strong.  In  1828  the  church  had  a  membership 
of  but  thirty  persons;  in  1891  the  number  is  found  to  be  four  hundred 
and  thirty.  As  a  regular  appointment  the  first  services  were  con- 
ducted by  John  B.  Alverson,  who  continued  in  charge  three  years,  the 
last  year  being  made  nominally  supernumerary,  so  as  not  to  conflict  with 
the  church  rule.  Commencing  with  Rev.  Alverson  the  succession  of 
pastors  of  the  church  has  been  as  follows: 

John  B.  Alverson,  1826-28;  Abner  Chase,  1829;  Manley  Tooker, 
1830;  Chester  V.  Adgate,  1831-32;  Wilbur  Hoag,  1833;  Robert 
Parker,  1834;  Thomas  J.  Champion,  1835;  Seth  Mattison,  1836; 
Thomas  J.  Champion,  1837;  Allen  Steele,  1838;  Freeborn  G.  Hibbard, 
1839;  William  P.  Davis,  1840;  F.  G.  Hibbard,  1841-42;  Clinton  W. 
Sears,  1843;  Isaiah  McMahon,  1844-45;  William  H.  Goodwin,  1S46- 
47;  Alpha  Wright,  1848-49;  Israel  H.  Kellogg,  1850-51;  Daniel 
Dana   Buck,    1852-53;   Thomas   Tousey,    1854-55;    Nathan    Fellows, 


324  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

1856-57;  John  C.  Nobles,  1858-59;  Sanford  VanBenschoten,  1860- 
61;  Charles  W.  Bennett,  1862-63;  D.  D.  Buck.  1864-65;  Thomas 
Tousey,  1866-68  ;  James  E.  Latimer,  1869;  William  R.  Benham,  1870 
-71;  M.  S.  Leet,  1872-73;  J.  P.  Farmer,  1874-75;  K.  P.  Jervis, 
1876-77;  A.  N,  Damon,  1878-80;  E.  M.  Mills,  1881-83;  J.  H. 
McCarty,  1884-86;  J.  V.  Benham,  1887-S9;  L.  F.  Congdon,  1890. 
Rev.  C.  N.  Adgate  died  during  his  pastorate  in  1832,  and  Rev.  Schuyler 
Seager  was  appointed  to  fill  out  the  term.  Rev.  J.  P.  Farmer  resigned 
in  1875,  and  the  term  of  appointment  was  filled  by  Rev.  F.  S.  Stein. 

Baptist  preaching  in  this  locality  was  conducted  by  Elder  Simon 
Sutherland  and  Rev.  Samuel  Carpenter  as  early  as  1811,  but  it  was  not 
until  the  year  1829  that  any  movement  was  made  in  the  direction  of 
establishing  a  Baptist  society  in  Penn  Yan.  In  the  year  last  named 
about  eighteen  or  twenty  former  members  of  the  old  Second  Milo 
church  severed  their  relations  with  the  mother  society  for  the  purpose  of 
founding  a  Baptist  church  in  the  village.  Among  the  persons  so  with- 
drawing from  the  old  society  are  remembered  these:  Stephen  and  Polly 
Raymond,  Gideon  Burtch,  Thomas,  Lydia  and  Mehitable  Benedict, 
Samuel  and  Isaac  Raymond,  William  and  Lucy  Freeman,  Pond  and 
Pamelia  Curtis,  Eunice  Randall,  Artemas  Enos,  Sister  Youmans,  Sally 
Nash,  Mary  Telford  and  Sister  Firman. 

The  early  meetings  of  the  new  society  were  held  in  residences  of 
members,  in  old  Masonic  hall,  schools,  the  court-house,  and  in  the 
printing  oflice  of  Brother  Bennett.  In  April,  1831,  a  meeting  was  held 
in  the  old  academy,  at  which  time  were  chosen  these  trustees:  Morris 
Earle,  Stephen  Raymond,  and  Abraham  H.  Bennett.  At  a  meeting 
held  F"ebruary  i  1,  1834,  it  was  resolved  to  build  a  brick  church  on  Main 
street,  to  be  in  size  forty  feet  front  and  sixty  feet  deep.  At  the  same 
time  the  society  chose  a  building  committee,  as  follows:  William  M. 
Oliver,  Morris  F.  Sheppard,  Elipha  Peckins,  Abraham  H.  Bennett,  Will- 
iam Babcock,  and  S  S.  Barker.  The  first  house  of  worship  occupied 
the  same  site  as  the  present  church  of  this  society.  It  was  a  plain  brick 
building  and  cost  $9,000.  It  was  occupied  by  the  society  until  1870, 
and  then  torn  down  to  make  room  for  the  elegant  edifice  to  be  erected 
the  next  year.  The  new  church  was  built  by  Moses  E.  Buck,  at  an  ex- 
pense of  $15,000,  besides  the  material  in  the  old  building.     The  entire 


VILLAGE  OF  PENN  VAN.  325 

new  building,  including  lot,  represented  a  total  of  $25,000.  The  trus- 
tees were  the  building  committee  of  the  new  edifice,  and  were  as  follows  : 
Andrew  F.  Chapman,  Martin  F.  Hicks,  Henry  A.  Douglass,  George 
W.  Shannon,  Ephraini  Sanford,  Jeremiah  Raymond,  Henry  Briggs, 
Watkins  Davis,  and  Gilbert  Sherer.  The  new  church  was  appropriately 
dedicated  Maj-  18,  1871,  the  sermon  of  the  occasion  being  delivered  by 
Rev.  T.  Edwin  Brown,  of  Rochester. 

The  following  named  persons  comprise  the  succession  of  pastors  of 
the  Baptist  church  and  society,  viz.:  Samuel  Carpenter,  David  Hulburt, 
John  D.  Hart,  Ira  Bennett,  Orel  Montague,  Samuel  Adsit,  Howell 
Smith,  Hiram  K.  Stimpson,  Charles  Morton,  Samuel  D.  Bainbridge, 
Charles  N.  Chandler,  Edwin  P.  Brigham,  N.  Judson  Clark,  G.  M.  Peters, 
T.  R.  Peters,  J.  P.  Farmer,  D.  Crosby,  D.  R.  Watson,  and  Edward  M. 
Saunier. 

St.  Mark's  Church  and  parish  became  a  separate  organization  by  ac- 
tion taken  by  the  proper  authorities  on  the  Sth  day  of  May,  1837, 
but  prior  to  that  time,  and  during  the  period  from  1826  to  1837,  Epis- 
copal services  were  undoubtedly  held  in  the  residence  of  Rev.  William 
Bostwick,  missionary  at  Hammondsport  and  Bath.  Upon  the  organi- 
zation of  the  local  parish  Henry  Rose  and  Abraham  Dox  were  chosen 
wardens,  and  John  X.  Rose,  Dr.  Henry  P.  Sartwell,  Seabury  Kissam, 
Francis  M.  Potter,  Erastus  Page,  Ebenezer  Lord,  B.  W.  Franklin,  and 
William  C.  Parsons  were  likewise  chosen  vestrymen.  In  1838,  the 
year  next  succeeding  that  in  which  the  parish  was  organized,  the  church 
edifice  was  erected  on  the  lot  where  now  stands  the  dwelling  of  William 
N.  Wise.  It  was  consecrated  on  the  8th  day  of  August.  Its  cost  was 
about  $7,000.  The  services  of  the  church  held  prior  to  the  erection  of 
the  edifice  were  conducted  regularly  in  the  old  Masonic  Hall  on  Court 
street. 

"The  church  in  Penn  Van,"  saj's  a  recently  written  historical  article, 
"  has  had  a  checkered  history.  Its  growth  has  not  been  proportionate 
to  that  of  churches  in  neighboring  villages.  This,  no  doubt,  was  due 
principally  to  the  frequent  clianges  and  long  vacancies  in  the  rectorship. 
During  the  Rebellion  the  bitter  partizan  spirit  which  influenced  all 
classes  was  permitted  to  invade  the  parish,  and  finally  culminated  in  the 
withdrawal,  about    1870,  of  a  large   number  of  its   members.      But  the 


326  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

organization  of  a  second  parish  was  not  effected  until  1871.  The  new 
parish  assumed  the  name  of  Grace  Cliurch.  Rev.  George  M.  Stanley 
was  called  to  be  its  rector,  but  resigned  after  a  brief  pastorate  of  about 
six  months.  The  Missionary  Board  of  the  parish  having  withheld  the 
necessary  aid,  services  were  soon  discontinued  and  the  work  of  erecting 
a  church  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Clinton  streets  was  abandoned." 

The  old  parish,  after  the  loss  of  so  many  of  its  members,  was  able  to 
maintain  but  a  feeble  existence.  Rev.  B.  F.  Taylor  officiated  for  a 
time  and  was  succeeded  by  Edmond  Burke  as  lay  reader,  and  after  his 
ordination  to  the  deaconate,  September  15,  1872,  was  placed  in  charge 
of  the  parish.  At  this  time  the  finances  of  the  chiirch  were  so  low 
that  the  rectory  and  a  part  of  the  church  lot  were  sold  for  debt.  After 
the  departure  of  Mr.  Burke  no  regular  services  were  held  until  1875, 
but  with  the  coming  of  Rev.  H.  L.  Dennis,  missionary,  both  branches  of 
the  church  attended  the  services.  Rev.  William  Catterson  became  res- 
ident clergyman  on  October  i,  1877,  and  in  Easter  week  of  1878  there 
occurred  a  practical  reorganization,  with  the  election  of  officers  to  the 
places  that  had  been  three  years  vacant.  Horatio  W.  Perkins  and  Au- 
gustus W.  Franklin  were  elected  wardens,  and  John  C.  Sheetz,  Henry 
Tuthill,  William  H.  Fox,  George  Y.  Eastman,  E.  B.  Sample,  Thomas 
Emory,  H.  Rose,  and  C.  J.  Page,  vestrymen. 

The  church  had  for  some  time  considered  the  question  of  erecting  a 
more  suitable  edifice,  but  the  condition  of  the  parish  did  not  appear  to 
justify  such  action.  But  after  some  hesitation  the  vestry  was  induced 
to  exchange  the  old  property  for  the  lot  at  the  corner  of  Main  and 
Clinton  streets  to  which  they  acquired  title,  and  on  which,  on  the  found- 
ation already  in  part  laid,  was  built  the  present  attractive  English 
gothic  structure.  Its  cost  entire  amounted  to  about  $9,000,  and  it  has 
a  seating  capacity  sufficient  for  250  persons.  The  names  of  the  follow- 
in"  rectors  appear  in  succession  on  the  church  register  :  Edmond  Em- 
burv,  B.  W.  Stone,  Henry  Stanley,  O.  F.  Starkey,  P.  F.  Stryker, 
Anthony  Schuyler,  George  N.  Cheney,  John  Long,  T.  F.  Wardwell, 
G.  W.  Mayer,  William  Catterson,  George  S.  Teller,  William  H.  Lord. 
The  latter,  Mr.  Lord,  became  rector  of  the  parish  in  1884  and  has  con- 
tinued in  that  capacity  to  the  present  time. 

St.  Mark's  parish  contains  about  eighty-five  families,  while  the  com- 


VILLAGE  OF  PENN   VAN.  327 

municants  number  about  120.  The  officers  are:  Horatio  W.  Perkins 
and  Augustus  W.  Franklin,  wardens;  John  C.  Sheetz,  George  Beebe, 
Edson  Potter,  Wade  Shannon,  Perie}'  P.  Curtis,  D.  H.  Stoll,  George 
C.  Snow,  and  Henry  Rose,  vestrymen. 

In  1849  there  were  resident  in  and  about  Penn  Yan  about  fifteen 
Catholic  families.  In  1891  the  parish  of  St.  Michael's  Church  numbers 
about  300  families.  In  the  year  first  mentioned  the  Right  Rev.  John 
Timon,  bishop  of  Buffalo,  authorized  Thomas  Hendricks  to  raise  by 
subscription  funds  sufficient  to  build  a  church,  which  was  done.  Abra- 
ham VVageiier  generously  donated  a  lot  on  Pine  street  for  the  erection 
of  the  edifice,  the  deed  therefor  being  excuted  to  the  bishop.  On  this 
lot  John  Southerland  built  the  church  at  a  cost  of  $2,200.  The  church 
was  dedicated  during  the  same  year  and  was  christened  St.  Michael's 
Church.  Afterward  and  during  the  pastorate  of  Father  Dean  the  par- 
sonage was  erected,  costing  $1,500;  and  still  later  F"ather  English  en- 
larged the  church  edifice,  frescoed  its  interior,  placed  new  seats  in  the 
auditorium,  painted  the  building,  and  otherwise  improved  the  property 
at  an  expense  of  $1,500.  He,  too,  paid  the  debt  against  the  church 
and  cemetery.  The  succession  of  priests  in  charge  of  St.  Michael's 
Church  and  parish  with  their  term  of  service  has  been  as  follows  : 
Michael  Gilbride,  about  three  years  ;  P.  Canny,  two  years;  Joseph  F. 
Dean,  two  years ;  Joseph  McKenna,  seven  years  ;  D.  English,  more 
than  six  years ;  Edward  McGown,  about  six  years ;  \\'.  A.  Gregg, 
until  January,  1877,  when  the  Rev.  Eugene  Pagani,  the  present  pastor, 
was  appointed  by  the  bishop  to  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  parish. 
Connected  with  St.  Michael's  parish  is  a  parochial  school,  an  account 
of  which  will    be   found  on  a  preceding  page. 

The  Fire  Department. — The  present  excellent  fire  department  of  the 
village  had  its  origin  in  the  little  embryo  organization  that  came  into 
spontaneous  existence  during  the  early  years  of  Penn  Yan  history. 
No  sooner  did  it  become  an  assured  fact  that  this  place  was  at  some 
time  to  become  a  village,  than  tlie  inhabitants  began  casting  about  for 
some  means  of  protection  against  fire.  'I  he  first  organization  of  any 
sort  was  tiie  famous  bucket  brigade,  not  a  mythical,  but  a  real,  live 
company,  whose  duty  it  was,  and  enjoined  upon  it  by  ordinance,  to  re- 
pair at  once  to  the  scene  of  conflagration,  armed  and  equipped  with  at 


328  HIS  TOR  Y  OF  YA  TES  CO  UN  T  Y. 

least  one  stout  leathern  bucket.  At  that  time  the  local  laws  also  pre- 
scribed tiiat  every  householder  should  keep  a  bucket  in  some  convenient 
place  within  his  domicile,  and  in  case  of  fire  whatever  male  person 
should  be  present  was  expected  to  take  his  place  in  the  line  and  "  hand 
the  bucket." 

With  the  rapid  growth  in  population  and  its  consequent  increase  in 
number  of  buildings,  it  soon  became  necessary  to  provide  other  and 
more  effectual  means  for  extinguishing  fires,  and  this  led  to  the  pur- 
chase of  the  old  famous  engine  called  the  "  Cataract;  "  but  the  bucket 
brigade  was  by  no  means  abandoned,  as  the  Cataract  had  but  little 
gre.iter  power  than  a  large  "squirt-gun."  However  it  was  the  imple- 
ment of  the  period  and  was  tlie  first  engine  appliance  of  the  village, 
and  as  such  was  in  use  for  about  a  score  or  more  of  years. 

In  the  fall  of  1835,  after  the  burning  of  the  old  court-house,  the  vil- 
lage authorities,  for  Penn  Yan  had  then  been  incorporated,  took  meas- 
ures looking  to  the  organization  of  a  fire  department.  A  meeting  was 
held  and  Thomas  H.  Locke  was  chosen  chief  engineer  of  such  a  depart- 
ment as  should  be  formed.  He  at  once  called  for  volunteers  for  a 
company  of  fire  fighters,  and  it  was  not  long  before  the  ranks  were  well 
filled.  About  this  time  the  trustees  authorized  the  chief  to  proceed  to 
Rochester  and  there  purchase  an  engine  suitable  for  the  requirements 
of  the  village.  The  old  brake  engine,  called  the  "  Neptune,"  was  the 
result  of  Mr.  Locke's  mission,  together  with  a  good  supply  of  leather 
hose.  The  Neptune  was  first  called  into  service  on  the  occasion  of  the 
buiningof  "  Brimstone  Row,"  so-called,  extending  from  Wheeler's  cor- 
ner north  to  Hamlin's  store.  Of  course  a  hose  company  was  formed 
to  operate  in  conjunction  with  the  engine. 

The  Cataract  was  kfept  in  a  small  shanty  on  Head  street,  and  the 
Neptune  became  the  possession  of  the  lower  end  of  the  street,  being 
kept  in  an  engine-house  which  stood  just  west  of  where  the  Shearman 
House  is  located.  Subsequently  another  brake  engine  somewhat  sim- 
ilar to  the  Neptune  was  purchased,  and  then  the  department  began  to 
assume  more  tangible  shape  and  form.  There  were  two  engine  com- 
panies, No.  I  and  No.  2,  and  their  co-operating  hose  companies.  These 
fire  department  equipments  supplied  the  village  for  many  years,  and 
until  the  purchase  of  the  steamer  in  1872. 


VILLAGE  OF  PENN  VAN.  329 

In  1864  a  charter  was  granted  the  viUage,  and  in  the  act  then  passed 
provision  was  made  for  a  regularly  organized  and  well  appointed  fire 
department  and  its  commanding  and  governing  officers.  V>y  the  act 
the  trustees  were  authorized  to  appoint  one  chief  engineer,  two  assistant 
engineers,  and  three  fire  wardens;  also  to  procure  fire  engines  and 
other  necessary  and  convenient  apparatus,  and  to  organize  fire  compa- 
nies and  provide  for  and  maintain  the  same.  Under  this  regime  the 
chief  and  his  assistants  were  chosen  by  the  village  trustees,  a  system 
that  was  continued  in  force  until  1873,  when  another  law  was  passed 
which  provided' that  the  engineers  and  secretary  of  the  fire  department 
should  be  elected  by  electors  of  the  village,  a  system  that  is  in  effect 
at  the  present  time. 

Keuka  Engine  Company  was  organized  in  October,  1S71,  with 
eighty-three  members.  This  body  then  petitioned  the  trustees  to  be 
allowed  to  organize  themselves  into  afire  company,  provided  they  were 
given  charge  of  engine  house  No.  2  and  engine  No.  i.  The  petition 
was  headed  by  Morris  F.  Sheppard  and  followed  b}'  eight)-two  other 
strong  men.  The  result  was  the  organization  of  the  now  celebrated 
"  Ellsworth  Hose  Company,"  so  named  in  honor  of  Gen.  S.  S.  Ells- 
worth, of  Penn  Yan.  Originally  this  was  an  engine  company,  but  par- 
took of  the  character  of  a  hose  company  in  1872  by  the  regular  detail 
of  a  number  of  its  members  to  act  as  hosemen. 

Ellsworth  Hose  Company  now  numbers  full  fortj-  men.  It  is  or  has 
been  provided  with  uniforms  for  both  active  duty  and  parade  occasions. 
The  officers  of  Ellsworth  Hose  are  as  follows:  President,  John  Under- 
wood; secretary,  John  Cramer;  treasurer,  George  Brooks;  fireman, 
Fred  Swarts ;  first  assistant,  A.  J.  Obertin  ;  second  assistant,  Ralph 
Brown.     The  company  meetings  are  held  twice  each  month. 

Hydrant  Hose  Company  had  its  organization  in  1866,  under  the  orig- 
inal name  of  Hydraulic  Hose  Company,  but  afterward  ciianged  to  its 
present  designation.  The  company  now  numbers  forty  members,  but 
its  duty  appears  somewhat  abridged  in  that  it  is  not  called  into  service 
except  in  case  of  fire  on  Main  street,  there  being  no  hydrants  on  any 
other  village  thoroughfare,  the  regular  liose  duty  being  performed  by 
Ellsworth  Hose  Company,  which  operates  with  the  steamer  throughout 
the  fire  district.     The  officers  of  Hydrant   Hose  are  as  follows:   Fore- 

42 


330  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

man,  Andrew  McKay;  first  assistant,  Peter  Curran  ;  second  assistant, 
Arthur  Jessup ;  secretary,  William  Holloway;  treasurer,  George  C. 
Snow. 

Hunter  Hook  and  Ladder  Company,  more  commonly  known  as  the 
"Truck"  Company,  was  organized  in  its  present  character  in  1880,  the 
same  year  in  which  the  truck  was  purchased.  Like  the  other  compa- 
nies the  truck  has  forty  members,  and  is  officered  as  follows:  President, 
Richard  WlUoughby;  secretary,  E.  A.  Chapman;  treasurer,  J.  O. 
Smith;  captain,  George  Wilkins ;  first  assistant,  ¥.  Crane;  second  as- 
sistant, P.  Carlej'.  This  company  was  named  in  honor  of  Charles  Hun- 
ter, of  Penn  Yan. 

The  present  Penn  Yaji  Fire  Department  comprises,  as  will  be  seen 
from  what  has  been  stated,  two  hose  companies,  one  hook  and  ladder 
company,  both  with  necessary  apparatus,  and  one  second-class  Silsby 
steam  engine,  the  latter  being  in  charge  of  an  engineer  and  fireman. 
The  department  officers  are  as  follows  :  Jay  T.  Parker,  chief  engineer  ; 
Andrew  C.  Harwick,  first  assistant;  P"rank  McAdams,  second  assistant; 
H.  E.  Bell,  secretary  and  treasurer. 

However  desirable  it  might  be  to  furnish  a  complete  succession  of 
chief  engineers  of  the  fire  department  since  Squire  Locke's  appointment, 
such  a  list  cannot  be  given  on  account  of  the  loss  of  records.  But  there 
can  be  recalled  the  names  of  many  persons  who  have  served  in  that 
capacity  during  the  last  twenty- five  or  thirty  years.  In  1863  Charles 
Elmendorf  was  chief,  and  was  succeeded  by  Abraham  Miller.  From 
that  until  the  present  time  there  have  served  as  chiefs,  among  others, 
these  persons:  David  G.  Gray,  Oliver  C.  Knapp  (1871),  R.  F.  Scofield, 
Charles  Bell,  Charles  Hunter,  W.  S.  Bruen,  Jay  T.  Parker. 

Banking  Houses  of  Penn  Yan. — There  was  no  banking  house  in  this 
village  prior  to  1831.  In  fact  there  was  but  little  need  of  such  an  in- 
stitution, for  currency  and  coin  were  scarce  commodities,  and  produce 
of  various  kind  was  a  recognized  medium  of  exchange  between  the 
debtor  and  creditor.  During  the  first  twenty-five  or  thirty  years  of  vil- 
lage history  there  were  but  few  business  houses  in  the  place,  while  the 
country,  roundabout  was  likewise  comparatively  undeveloped.  How- 
ever, the  village  had  its  usual  contingent  of  money  lenders  ;  men  of 
capital  who  conducted  a  quasi  banking  business  whenever  and  where- 
ever  occasion  presented. 


VILLAGE  OF  PENN  YAN.  331 

The  first  steps  taken  in  the  matter  of  organizhig  a  bank  under  au- 
thority of  the  law  occurred  during  the  year  1831,  when  on  the  2d  of 
April  the  Yates  County  Bank  was  chartered  and  incorporated.  Its 
original  capital  stock  was  $100,000,  which,  as  shown  by  the  books  of 
the  concern  upon  its  organization  in  September  following,  was  sub- 
scribed for  and  owned  by  these  persons:  William  M.  Oliver,  Andrew 
F.  Oliver,  Abraham  H.  Bennett,  George  Young,  Mordacai  Ogden, 
Alanson  Douglass,  Thomas  W.  Olcott,  Alexander  Marvin,  James  Har- 
ris, Samuel  Stevens,  Green  C.  Bronson,  Ira  G.  Smith,  Lot  Clark,  Eben 
Smith,  Elias  Patterson,  William  B.  Welles,  Henry  B.  Gibson,  Olivia 
Hochstrasser,  Grattan  H.Wheeler,  William  W.  McCay,  Hervey  Wheeler, 
Samuel  S.  Ellsworth,  Asa  Cole,  and  John  Spicer. 

The  old  Yates  County  Bank  appears  to  have  been  a  politico-financial 
institution,  as  it  procured  its  charter  through  the  influence,  and  was 
afterward  managed  and  conducted  in  the  interest  of  the  so-called  Hun- 
ker element  of  the  Democratic  party.  In  fact  so  radical  in  this  respect 
became  its  controlling  officers  as  to  work  disastrously  to  the  welfare  of 
the  institution  and  contributed  to  its  early  downfall.  It  was  organized 
under  the  then  existing  safety  fund  system,  but  was  managed  under  un- 
safe business  principles.  William  M.  Oliver  was  its  president  and  active 
financial  officer,  wliile  John  A.  Welles  acted  in  the  capacity  of  cashier. 
The  first  place  of  business  of  the  bank  was  in  Mr.  Oliver's  office  near  his 
residence,  but  was  afterward  removed  to  the  building  standing  where  is 
now  located  Lown  &  Co.'s  store.  Here  the  bank  ended  its  business 
career  by  a  disastrous  failure  in  1848,  by  which  failure  many  of  the  de- 
positors lost  to  the  extent  of  their  credit  accounts  for  a  considerable 
time.  Under  the  law  as  it  then  stood  the  directors  could  vote  to  pay, 
in  liquidation  of  their  debts,  whatever  per  cent,  they  saw  fit,  and  taking 
the  benefits  of  this  power  the  Yates  County  Bank  voted  to  pay  fifteen 
cents  on  the  dollar.  But  there  were  persons  who  understood  the  inside 
workings  of  the  bank  who  would  not  be  satisfied  with  this  meagre  pay- 
ment, and  b)'  speaking  out  at  the  proper  time  succeeded  in  realizing 
nearly  the  full  amount  of  their  claims.  However,  the  safety  fund  sys- 
tem, under  which  the  bank  was  chartered,  brought  to  the  other  creditors 
a  fair  proportion  of  their  deposits,  but  not  until  after  several  years  of 
an.xious  suspense. 


332  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

The  Farmers'  Bank  of  Penii  Yan  was  brought  into  existence  by  a 
charter  dated  August  20,  1839,  and  was  closed  on  account  of  unprofit- 
able business  in  1S43.  The  active  spirits  in  the  organization  of  this 
bank,  and  in  the  conduct  of  its  affairs,  were  Judge  Samuel  S.  Ellsworth, 
Ahah  Clark,  and  E.  H.  Huntington.  The  State  issued  currency  to 
the  concern,  taking  as  security  bonds,  mortgages,  and  other  collateral. 
The  place  of  business  was  in  the  store  now  occupied  by  F"rank  Ouack- 
enbush  as  a  drug  store,  and  the  old  deposit  vault  still  occupies  a  part  of 
the  ground  floor.  Originally  and  for  a  short  time  the  bank  did  business 
on  Main  street,  just  north  of  Jacob,  but  was  soon  afterward  moved  to 
the  store  above  mentioned.  The  Farmers'  Bank  was  commonly  known 
to  the  people  as  the  "  Red  Dog  Bank,"  and  so  called  from  the  fact  of 
its  bills  having  red  colored  backs.  The  house  eventually  failed,  upon 
which  the  State  sold  the  securities  and  used  the  avails  to  pay  depositors 
and  creditors.     The  capital  stock  of  the  Farmers'  Bank  was  $100,000. 

The  Banlc  of  Bainbridge  was  chartered  by  the  State  in  April,  1847, 
and  became  a  local  institution  two  years  later.  In  1849  Nathan  B.  Kid- 
der, formerly  of  Geneva,  caused  to  be  erected  the  bank  building  now 
occupied  by  the  First  National  Bank,  and  about  the  same  time  pur- 
chased the  Bainbridge  concern  and  moved  it  to  Penn  Yan.  He  was  its 
virtual  owner,  though  its  management  was  entrusted  to  Henry  B.  Ben- 
nett, afterward  assisted  by  James  Tims.  By  the  former  the  bank  was 
run  about  two  years  and  then  closed,  although  the  reports  state  that 
Mr.  Bennett  continued  to  redeem  its  currency  until  1863. 

At  that  time,  in  the  early  fifties,  Oliver  Stark  was  an  insurance  agent 
of  the  village,  a  man  of  prominence  and  some  means.  He  occupied  the 
bank  building  in  connection  with  his  former  busiiiess,  and  soon  after- 
ward determined  to  do  general  banking  in  connection  therewith.  For 
a  number  of  years  he  was  highly  successful,  but  eventually  he  became 
involved  by  embarking  in  too  extensive  enterprises,  and  final  disaster 
and  failure  was  the  natural  result.  Many  residents  of  the  locality  were 
heavy  losers  by  this  failure,  and  but  little  was  realized  on  settlement  of 
the  bank's  affairs.  The  name  under  which  the  proprietor  did  business 
was  "Oliver  Stark,  Banker."  Mr.  Stark  operated  as  a  banker  for  a 
period  of  about  fifteen  years. 

J.  T.  Raplee's  Bank  is  well  remembered  as  one  of  the  financial  insti- 


VILLAGE  OF  PENX   VAN.  333 

tutions  of  Penn  Yan  ;  and  remembered  by  some  persons  witli  feelings 
of  deep  sorrow  and  regret.  It  is  understood  that  Mr.  Raplee  com- 
menced business  soon  after  i860,  although  a  State  work  gives  the  time 
as  July  15,  1858.  He  occupied  the  old  Yates  Count}'  Bank  building, 
and  for  sometime  did  a  successful  business;  but,  unfortunately  for  him, 
Mr.  Raplee  was  a  rabid  Democrat,  and  so  thoroughly  impregnated  his 
business  with  his  political  sentiments  as  to  bring  himself  into  disfavor 
with  the  majority  of  the  people,  and  finally  worked  the  ruin  of  his 
bank. 

Following  the  downfall  of  the  Stark  and  Raplee  banks  there  appears 
to  have  been  no  banking  concern  in  the  village  for  some  time.  But 
merchants  and  dealers  of  the  locality  found  temporary  accommodation 
in  this  direction  through  the  malting  firm  of  George  R.  Youngs  &  Co., 
which  was  at  that  time  one  of  the  largest  and  safest  business  houses  in 
in  the  county. 

In  October,  1869,  Mason  L.  Baldwin,  of  Benton,  established  a  private 
banking  house  in  Penn  Yan,  and  under  the  name  of  "  M.  L.  Baldwin, 
Banker,"  continued  a  successful  business  until  1881.  In  the  year  last 
named,  and  the  month  of  May,  "  Baldwin's  Bank  of  Penn  Yan  "  was  in- 
corporated under  the  laws  of  the  State  of  New  York.  Its  capital  stock, 
all  paid  in,  was  $50,000.  Its  first  board  of  directors  comprised  W.  H. 
Fox,  John  T.  Andrews,  2d,  A,  W.  Franklin,  Silas  Kinne,  and  Mason  L. 
Baldwin.  The  president  chosen  on  the  organization  of  the  bank  was 
Mr.  Baldwin,  and  the  .cashiership  was  voted  to  Mr.  Kinne,  both  of 
whom  are  still  serving  in  their  respective  offices.  This  bank  has  been 
and  now  is  a  successful  institution,  having  an  accumulated  surplus  of 
more  than  $50,000 ;  a  sum  in  e.vcess  of  its  capital.  The  present 
directors  of  Baldwin's  Bank  are  as  follows  :  Oliver  G.  Shearman,  John  P. 
Plaisted,  VV.  H.  Fox,  Silas  Kinne,  and  Mason  L.  Baldwin.  Assistant 
cashier,  I'^red  S.  Plaisted. 

The  First  National  Bank  of  Penn  Yan  was  organized  by  the  purchase  of 
the  charter  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Watkins,  and  the  removal 
thereof  to  this  village,  in  pursuance  of  an  act  of  Congress  passed  in 
1873.  The  re-organized  bank  had  and  still  has  a  capital  stockof  $50, - 
000.  Its  first  board  of  directors  was  Ezekiel  Castner,  John  C.  Sheetz, 
James   Forbes,  William  S.  Briggs,  John  Southerland,  George  H.  Lap- 


334  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

ham,  and  Fred  S.  Armstrong.  At  the  opening  of  its  doors  for  busi- 
ness, April  I,  1873,  the  officers  in  charge  of  the  bank's  affairs  were 
John  C.  Sheetz,  president  ;  WiUiam  S.  Briggs,  vice-president ;  George 
H.  Lapham,  cashier.  Mr.  Sheetz  retired  from  the  presidency  in  1885, 
and  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  Lapham,  the  latter  being  now  the  chief  man- 
aging officer  of  the  bank.  H.  K.  Armstrong  became  cashier  on  Mr. 
Lapham's  advancement,  and  in  1S89  A.  W.  Kendall  was  appointed 
assistant  cashier.  Also  in  1889  Judge  Briggs  retired  from  the  vice- 
presidency  and  Theodore  F.  Wheeler  was  elected  to  the  vacancy.  In 
1890  Mr.  Armstrong  resigned  the  cashiership,  and  Mr.  Kendall  was 
elected  to  that  position.  Since  1889  there  has  been  no  change  in  the 
direction,  which  is  as  follows  :  John  C.  Sheetz,  John  Southerland,  Clar- 
ence W.  Perkins,  John  T.  Knox,  Theodore  F.  Wheeler,  George  H. 
Lapham,  and  James  H.  Gamb\'.  At  the  commencement  of  business  in 
1873  the  First  National  Bank  had  a  surplus  of  $7,000,  an  amount  that 
has  since  increased  to  more  than  $25,000.  The  reports  of  the  first  fif- 
teen years  of  the  bank's  business  show  net  profits  of  $103,731.56,  of 
which  $75,500  was  paid  in  dividends  to  stockholders;  $23,000  carried 
to  surplus;  and  $5,231.56  to  undivided  profit  account.  For  the  period 
named  the  bank  has  shown  a  net  profit  of  fourteen  per  cent,  per  an- 
num, with  bad  debts  and  losses  all  charged  off. 

The  Yates  County  National  Bank  was  incorporated  December  30, 
1878,  under  the  national  banking  laws,  with  a  capital  stock  of  $50,000. 
About  tlie  same  time  the  bank  opened  its  doors  for  business.  Its  first 
board  of  tiirectors  was  as  follows  :  Andrew  Oliver,  Charles  C.  Sheppard, 
Nelson  Thompson,  John  Lewis,  Morris  F.  Sheppard,  Theodore  Bogart, 
George  R.  Cornwell,  George  S.  Sheppard,  and  Ralph  T.  Wood.  The 
officers  were  Andrew  Oliver,  president ;  Morris  F.  Sheppard,  vice 
president;  Frank  R.  Durry,  cashier.  In  1881  Mr.  Oliver  retired  from 
the  presidency  and  was  succeeded  by  Morris  F.  Sheppard,  the  latter 
having  been  the  chief  managing  and  executive  office  from  that  until 
tiie  present  time.  The  vacancy  created  by  Mr.  Sheppard's  advance- 
ment was  filled  by  the  election  of  Theodore  Bogart.  The  latter  was 
afterward  superceded  by  John  L.  Dinturff,  and  he  still  later  by  the 
present  vice-president,  Daniel  Lanning.  The  Yates  County  Bank  is  and 
ever  since  its  incorporation  has  been  a  safe,  strong,  and  well  managed 


ARTOTVPE    PflOCESe. 


^M^f^vi^y^^^^^^^^' 


VILLAGE  OF  PEXN  VAN.  335 

financial  institution,  and  one,  too,  tliat  enjoys  a  full  share  of  the  public 
confidence  and  support.  During  its  thirteen  years  of  business  the  bank 
has  accumulated  a  surplus  of  more  than  $15,000.  Its  place  of  business 
is  at  No  34  Main  street.  The  officers  and  directors  of  the  bank  are  as 
follows:  Morris  F.  Sheppard,  president;  Daniel  Lanning,  vice-presi- 
dent; Oliver  H.  Stark,  cashier.  I3irectors,  Morris  F.  Sheppard,  Daniel 
Lanning,  S.  W.  Van  Deventer,  John  H.  Butler,  S.  H.  Sheppard,  Will- 
iam T.  Moriis,  Oliver  H.  Stark. 

Local  Iviproveme^it  Companies. — Of  this  class  of  institutions  the  vil- 
lage has  but  four,  which  will  be  treated  in  the  order  of  seniority. 

The  Penn  Yan  Gas  Light  Company  was  incorporated  May  12,  i860, 
with  a  capital  stock  of  $10,000.  The  corporators  were  Darius  O.  Og- 
den,  Levi  O.  Dunning,  George  McAllister,  S.  H.  Welles,  John  McDou- 
gall,  and  Charles  M.  Stark.  The  first  ofiicers  were  D.  A.  Ogden, 
president ;  S.  H.  Welles,  secretary  and  treasurer.  Since  the  organiza- 
tion the  capital  stock  of  the  company  has  bden  twice  increased;  first,  in 
August,  i860,  to  $12,000,  and  again  in  June,  1868,  to  $24,750.  The 
company  now  has  about  six  miles  of  main  pipe.  Its  principal  works 
are  on  Jackson  street.  The  present  board  of  directors  is  as  follows: 
William  T.  Morris,  Thomas  W.  Summers,  W.  H.  Fox,  Edson  Potter, 
and  Morgan  D.  Tracy.  Officers,  William  T.  Morris,  president  and 
treasurer  ;  Thomas  W.  Summers,  secretary  and  superintendent. 

The  Lake  Keuka  Ice  Company  (Limited),  was  incorporated  March 
30,  1888,  having  a  capital  stock  of  $3,500,  by  Daniel  Beach,  Oliver  G. 
Shearman,  Samuel  S.  Ellsworth,  Perley  P.  Curtis,  Thomas  G.  Ross, 
Morgan  D.  Tracy,  and  William  T.  Morris.  The  officers  were  O.  G. 
Shearman,  president;  S.  S.  Ellsworth,  vice  president;  P.  P.  Curtis, 
treasurer;  W.  T.  Morris,  secretary;-  Morgan  D.  Tracy,  general  mana- 
ger. From  the  time  of  organization  to  the  present  there  iias  been  no 
change  either  in  the  direction  or  officers  of  the  company. 

The  Penn  Yan  Opera  House  Company  (Limited)  was  incorporated 
in  1889,  having  a  capital  stock  of  $io,ooo  in  200  shares;  but  the  capi- 
tal stock  by  no  means  represents  the  total  value  of  the  company's  real 
and  personal  property.  As  its  name  implies,  the  purpose  for  which  the 
company  was  organized  was  the  buikiing  of  a  suitable  and  commodious 
opera  house  in  the  village  of  Penn  Yan  ;   and  that  the  designs  of  its  cor- 


336  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

porators  and  stockholders  were  carried  out  to  the  full  satisfaction  of 
every  patron  of  such  institutions,  is  amply  attested  on  each  occasion  of 
a  public  assemblage  beneath  its  roof.  In  fact,  it  is  a  common  remark, 
and  one  founded  in  absolute  truth,  that  no  similar  village  in  the  State 
of  New  York  has  a  superior,  more  elegant,  or  better  equipped  place  of 
amusement  or  entertainment  than  has  the  village  of  Penn  Yan  in  the 
Sheppard  Opera  House.  As  has  been  stated,  the  nominal  capital  stock  of 
the  company  is  $io,000,  but  the  property  with  its  franchises  represents 
an  investment  of  $23,000,  an  amount  that  was  mainly  contributed  by 
the  public-spirited  citizens  of  the  village.  The  plans  for  the  house  were 
prepared  by  Leon  H.  Lempert,  of  Rochester.  The  builders  were  H.  O. 
Dorman  &  Co.,  of  Corning.  The  opera  house  has  a  seating  capacity  of 
800.  The  work  of  construction  was  commenced  in  1889,  and  com- 
pleted in  1890.  It  was  then  christened  "Sheppard  Opera  House"  in 
honor  of  Morris  F.  Sheppard,  its  principal  founder,  and  one  of  the 
largest  stock  owners  of  the  company.  The  directors  of  the  company 
are  Morris  F.  Sheppard,  John  H.  Lown,  Hanford  Struble,  Samuel  S. 
Ellsworth,  James  MacKellar,  Charles  V.  Bush,  William  T.  Morris,  T.  S. 
Burns,  Edward  Kendall.  Officers,  Morris  F.  Sheppard,  president;  J.  H. 
Lown,  vice  president;  W.  T.  Morris,  secretary;  C.  V.  Bush,  treasurer ; 
C.  H.  Sisson,  manager. 

The  Penn  Yan  Electric  Light  and  Power  Company  was  incorporated 
in  August,  1891,  with  a  capital  stock  of  $100,000.  The  directors  are 
Henry  Russell,  Calvin  Russell,  H.  O.  Stimpson,  Calvin  Russell,  jr.,  C.  T. 
Birkett,  H.  L.  Woodruff,  and  W.  S.  Bruen.  Officers,  H.  O.  Stimpson, 
president;  Calvin  Russell,  vice-president  and  treasurer  ;  W.  S  Bruen, 
secretary.  The  electric  lighting  system  was  introduced  in  Penn  Yan  in 
1889,  and  the  present  company  is  the  outgrowth  of  the  firm  that  owned 
and  managed  the  original  plant. 

Societies  and  Orders — Keuka  Lodge  No.  149,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  was  orig- 
inally instituted  May,  2,  1845,  having  these  charter  members:  Andrew 
Oliver,  Peter  S.  Oliver,  John  Gregg,  George  R.  Youngs,  and  Samuel 
H.  Welles.  First  officers  :  Andrew  Oliver,  N.  G.  ;  George  R.  Youngs, 
V.  G.  ;  Peter  S.  Oliver,  secretary;  Samuel  H.  Welles,  treasurer;  John 
L.  Lewis,  jr.,  warden  ;   Charles  G.  Judd,  conductor. 

The  first  twelve  years  of  the  lodge's  history  were  exceedingly  pros- 


VILLAGE  OF  PENA'   VAN.  337 

perous,  but  for  the  next  score  or  so  of  years  the  society  appears  to  have 
suffered  from  inactivity  and  want  of  attention,  which  nearly  proved 
fatal  to  its  existence.  A  new  charter  was  granted  March  18,  1879,  and 
the  lodge  became  re-estabHshed  upon  a  permanent  basis.  The  char- 
terees  under  the  new  dispensation  were  George  D.  Stewart,  Charles  N. 
Burrill,  Joseph  T.  Slaughter,  James  B.  Norris,  Moses  W.  Eastman,  and 
George  Kinner.  The  officers  elected  at  that  time  were  George  D 
Stewart,  N.  G.  ;  Charles  N.  Burrill,  V.  G.  ;  Joseph  T.  Slaughter,  secre- 
tary ;   Moses  W.  Eastman,  treasurer. 

Succession  of  Past  Grands  (since  re-organization) :  E.  R.  Bordwell,  S. 
B.  Briggs,  G.  H.  Brown,  P.  W.  Danes,  VV.  B.  Davies,  C.  Elmendorf,  E. 
G.  Hopkins,  G.  F.  Hopkins,  C.  Hunter,  A.  Jessup,  George  B.  Kinner, 
G.  S.  Klingman,  J.  T.  Knox,  R.  B.  Lefferts,  F.  H.  Lynn,  J.  F. 
Morris,  J.  B.  Norris,  H.  VV.  Perkins,  R.  C.  Peters,  J.  F.  Randolph,  D.  C. 
Robinson,  R.  F.  Scofield,  G.  D.  Stewart,  N.  S.  Daiiey,  A.  C.  Harwick, 
W.  R.  McFarren,  George  VV.  Miller. 

Keuka  Lodge  has  a  present  membership  of  ninety  persons,  and  is 
officered  as  follows  :  John  T.  Knox,  district  deputy  and  grand  master; 
George  W.  Miller,  N.  G.  ;  Frank  M.  Royce,  V.  G. ;  Ralph  N.  Cole, 
secretary;  Arthur  Jessup,  permanent  secretary;  C.  Elmendorf,  treas- 
urer. 

Petitt  Yan  Encampment  of  Patriarchs,  No.  98,  \.  O.  O.  F. ,  was  or- 
ganized in  pursuance  of  charter  dated  April  6,  1882,  having  for  char- 
ter members  George  D.  Stewart,  John  L.  Lewis,  Joseph  T.  Slaughter, 
Levi  O.  Dunning,  Charles  N.  Burrill,  Charles  Lee.  James  B.  Norris, 
and  George  B.  Kinner.     The  first  principal  officers  were  these:   George 

B.  Stewart,  C.  P.  ;  Charles  Lee,  H.  P.  ;  Joseph  T.  Slaughter,  scribe  ; 
L.  O.  Dunning,  treasurer.  The  encampment  has  a  present  member- 
ship of  fifty,  and  is  officered  as  follows:  Benjamin  S.  Brigg.s,  C.  P.  ; 
John  J.  Hood,  H.  P.  ;   William  Sattler,  S.  W.  ;  William  Hollowajs  J.  VV.  ; 

C.  Elmendorf,  scribe;   George  W.  Miller,  treasurer. 

J.  B.  Sloan  Post  No.  93,  G.  A.  R.,  was  granted  a  charter  on  April  22, 
1869.  The  original  members  were  Martin  S.  Hicks,  Abb  VV.  Shear- 
man, Jere  S.  Weed,  George  Titus,  S.  Harvey  Ackley,  Hanford  Struble, 
Truman  N-  Burrill,  J.  Lorin  Robbins,  Cassius  N.  McFarren,  Josiah  C. 
Baker.     The  first  officers  were   Martin  S.  Hicks,  commander  ;    A.  W. 

43 


338  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

Shearman,  S.  V.  C.  ;  Jere  S.  Weed,  J.  V.  C.  ;  Charles  B.  Turner,  adju- 
tant;  S.  H.  Ackley.  O.M.;  T.  N.  Burrill,  O.  of  G.  ;  J.  L.  Robbins, 
O.  .of  D.  ;    Hanford  Struble,  chaplain. 

Altliough  Sloan  Post  began  its  existence  and  historj'  under  the  most 
favorable  auspices,  it  was  not  long  before  dissentions  found  their  way  into 
its  ranks  with  such  result  that  its  usefulness  was  virtually  distroyedand 
its  life  practically  at  an  end.  But  the  necessity  of  a  G.  A.  R.  organiza- 
tion was  so  strongly  manifested  on  several  occasions  that  a  number  of 
the  older  members  united  upon  its  re- establishment.  Upon  their  pe- 
tition the  charter  was  re- issued  on  the  17th  of  May,  1872.  Therefore 
it  may  be  said  that  the  old  society  has  never  lost  its  identity.  From  the 
time  of  reorganization  Sloan  Post  has  been  one  of  the  strongest  orders 
having  an  abiding  place  at  the  county  seat.  During  its  existence  the 
total  muster  roll  has  shown  215  members,  the  present  number  being 
100.  The  present  officers  are  these  :  Commander,  John  F.  Randolph  ; 
S.  V.  C,  Charles  H.  Dunning;  J.  V.  C,  Russell  H.  Carr ;  adjutant, 
Edward  Kendall  ;  surgeon,  David  Philbrooks  ;  chaplain,  O.  R.  Towner; 
Q.  M.,  Philo  H.  Conklin  ;  O.  of  D.,  D.  C.  Robinson  ;  O.  of  G.,  James 
Taylor;  Q.  M.S.,  G.  B.  Barden  ;  Sergent  Major,  John  H.  Veeder; 
delegate,  Charles  Kelley.  Past  commanders,  Martin  S.  Hicks,  1869-71 ; 
C.  N.  McFarren,  1872-73  ;  Jerry  S.  Reed,  1874-75  I  Morris  F.  Shep- 
pard,  1876;  D.  C.  Robinson,  1877  ;  H.  M.  Mingay,  1878,  1884;  John 
F.  Randolph,  1879-80,  1891  ;  James  M.  Smith,  1881  ;  Hanford  Stru- 
ble, 1882-83;  Richard  H.  Andrews,  1885;  Perry  W.  Danes,  1886-88; 
George  W.  Hobart,  1889-90. 

Minneseta  Lodge  No.  234,  K.  of  P.,  was  chartered  July  28,  1886,  with 
original  members  as  follows  :  D.  D.  Turner,  William  M.  Johnson,  S.  B. 
Abies,  John  T.  Andrews,  2d,  Edward  Kendall,  George  R.  Cornwell, 
Theodore  G.  Ross,  James  A.  Thayer,  William  C.  Allen,  Charles  C. 
Hayes,  Bert  Stiles,  A.  H.  Veasey,  Frank  R.  Knapp,  A.  C.  Clube,  Toby 
Bush,  H.  A.  Struble.  The  Pythian  Knights  are  ranked  among  the 
stronger  and  more  influential  orders  of  the  village,  the  present  members 
numbering  ninety,  and  of  whom  nearly  all  are  in  good  standing  in  the 
society.  The  lodge  rooms,  too,  are  the  best  in  the  locality.  The  pres- 
ent officers  of  the  lodge  are  as  follows :  F.  N.  Swarts,  P.  C.  ;  H.  A. 
Struble,  C.  C.  ;    H.  C.  Sherman,  V.  C.  ;   Stephen  Bailey,  P. ;  J.  A.  Ams- 


VILLAGE  OF  PENM  -YAN.  339 

bury,  K.  of  R.  S.;   Charles  Bell,   M.  F.;   J.  J.    Mclnerney,   M.  E.;   John 
Ackley,  M.  A.;   Charles  Jobbitt,  1.  G.;   William  O.Brien,  O.  G. 

Harwick  Lodge  No.  152,  A.  O.  U.  W.,  was  instituted  May  3,  1878, 
with  charter  members  as  follows :  William  W^  Eastman,  Arthur  S. 
Bush,  Charles  Bell,  George  F.  Morgan,  David  B.  Gray,  Horace  C.  Guth- 
rie, Delos  A.  Bellis,  M.  E.  Botsford,  C.  Irving  Paige,  Charles  H.  Sisson, 
Charles  F.  Morgan,  E.  H.  Hopkins,  C.  Elmendorf,  Francis  E.  Murphy, 
Fred  N.  Miller,  and  William  A.  Henderson.  First  officers  :  P.  M.  W., 
Andrew  C.  Harwick;  M.  W.,  H.  C.  Guthrie;  foremam,  D.  G.  Gray; 
overseer,  C.  W.  Morgan;  recorder,  Charles  Eimendorf;  financier,  E.  H. 
Hopkins;  recorder,  C.  H.  Sisson ;  G.,  M.  E.  Botsford;  I.  W.,  C.  I. 
Paige;   O.  W.,  Charles  Bell. 

Harwick  Lodge  has  a  present  membership  of  forty-four  persons.  Its 
present  officers  are  as  follows:  P.  M.  W.,  William  HoUoway ;  M.  W., 
Gilbert  A.  Brown;  foreman,  George  B.  Dunning;  overseer,  Taylor  Dunn; 
recorder,  John  T.  Gaige ;  financier,  A.  C.  Harwick ;  recorder,  H.  C. 
Guthrie;   G.,  C.  Elmendorf;   I.  G.,  E.  B.  Sample;   O.  G.,  Allen  Meade. 

Keuka  Council  No.  179,  R.  T.  of  T.,  was  chartered  February  2,  1889. 
Its  charter  members  were  F.  S.  Sampson,  Ella  F.  Sampson,  Eda  L. 
Comings,  George  A.  Comings,  S.  N.  Thayer,  Minerva  Thayer,  Amelia 
A.  Carroll,  W^illiam  F.  Whaitcs,  I.  J.  Wilmartli,  A.  G.  Tompkins,  Cor- 
nelia S.  Tompkins,  A.  J.  Preston,  William  H.  Moore,  C.  E.  Brockway, 
Lewis  Radder,  Cora  Radder,  A.  M.  Todd,  p-jrst  officers,  A.  G.  Tomp- 
kins, S.  C;  A.  M.  Todd,  V.  C;  C.  E.  Brockway,  chaplain;  Ella  F. 
Sampson,  recording  secretary;  A.J.  Preston,  financial  secretary;  George 
A.  Comings,  treasurer ;  Lewis  Radder,  iierald  ;  Cora  Radder,  deputy 
herald ;  S.  N.  Thayer,  guard  ;  William  F.  Whaites,  sentinel ;  F.  S. 
Sampson,  medical  examiner. 

Metawissa  Tribe  No.  124, 1.  O.  of  R.  M.,  was  organized  in  pursuance 
of  a  charter  granted  the  23d  Sun  of  the  Hunting  Moon.  The  charter 
members  were  Frank  M.  Fletcher,  George  S.  Klingman,  Fred  S.  Sayer, 
John  Hood,  George  Brown,  W.  T.  Murphy,  Homer  Pelton,  J.  M.  Smith, 
Isaac  Sands,  Eugene  Harrington,  John  Bail,  James  Ball,  Dayton  Coons, 
Charles  Welles,  Charles  Southerland,  David  D.  Taylor,  Wilson  Taylor, 
Edward  Dunning. 

Masonic. — Having  an  abiding  place  in  the  village  of  Penn  Van  are 


340  HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUNTY. 

four  Masonic  organizations  named  and  known  respectively  as  Milo 
Lodge  No.  io8,  Penn  Yan  Chapter  No.  lOO,  Ontario  Council  No.  23, 
and  Jerusalem  Commandery  No.  17.  Under  all  ordinary  circumstances 
each  of  these  societies  should  receive  in  this  place  the  same  mention 
that  is  made  of  other  societies,  but  inasmuch  as  Freemasonry  in  Yates 
County  is  made  the  subject  of  special  chapter  in  the  present  volume,  the 
necessity  of  extended  mention  here  is  avoided.  To  all,  therefore,  who 
are  interested  in  the  order,  the  request  is  hereby  made  that  thej-  refer 
to  a  preceding  chapter  of  general  history. 

Manufactm-ing  Industries  of  Penn  Yan. — That  branch  of  commercial 
industr)'  commonly  called  manufacturing  has  never  succeeded  in  gain- 
ing a  substantial  and  permanent  foothold  in  this  village.  This  may  in 
a  measure  be  accounted  for  in  the  fact  that  the  locality  unfortunately 
possesses 'but  a  single  stream  capable  of  furnishing  natural  power  to  any 
considerable  extent;  but  the  stream  which  furnishes  power — the  outlet 
of  Keuka  Lake — however  limited  its  capacity,  is  nevertheless  taxed  to 
its  utmost  degree,  and  but  little  of  its  water  passes  to  Seneca  Lake  with- 
out having  been  utilized  by  at  least  half  a  dozen  large  factories  How- 
ever, the  majority  of  these  manufactories  are  outside  the  corporate  limits 
of  the  village,  and  are  insthtutions  of  the  town  of  Milo  rather  than  of 
Penn  Yan. 

The  principal  manufacturing  establishment  of  the  village  is  the  indus- 
try owned  and  operated  by  the  present  firm  of  Russell  &  Birkett,  and 
known  as  the  Penn  Yan  mills.  These  mills  comprise  two  large  frame 
buildings,  each  having  extensions  or  additions  of  less  size.  One  is 
known  as  a  roller  flour-mill,  and  the  other  as  a  feed  and  grist-mill. 
They  stand  on  almost  historic  ground,  for  here  David  Wagener  first 
diverted  the  waters  of  the  outlet  in  pioneer  times,  and  while  at  work 
building  the  dam  across  the  stream  Mr.  Wagener  contracted  a  cold  that 
ultimately  resulted  in  his  death  The  work  was  afterward  taken  up  and 
completed  by  Abrdiam  Wagener,  who  also  built  the  pioneer  mills  on 
the  privilege 

The  old  property  was  owned  by  Mr.  Wagener  for  some  years,  and 
then  passed  by  sale  to  Aaron  Remer,  John  Sloan,  Abner  Woodworth, 
and  John  J.  Rosenbury,  the  purchase  price  being  about  $25,000.  Next 
Ezekiel  Casner'  became  proprietor  of  the  mill   on  the  north  side  of  the 

1 1''or  an  extended  biographical  sketch  of  Mr.  Casner  see  page  519. 


^^^v  m 


'UJ'?^t€^ 


VILLAGE  OF  PENN   VAN.  341 

stream.  He  came  to  the  village  in  1824,  and  was  employed  by  Abra- 
ham Wagener,  who  was  his  uncle.  John  Scheetz'  afterward  came  to 
Penn  Yan  and  became  partner  with  Mr.  Casner,  and- the  firm  of  Casner 
&  Scheetz,  proprietors  of  the  old  "  brown  mill,"  was  of  many  years 
standing,  and  of  excellent  reputation  in  the  county.  The  death  of  Mr. 
Casner,  in  1882,  ended  the  partnership,  after  which  the  propert)'  to- 
gether with  the  mill  south  of  the  outlet  was  sold  to  the  "  syndicate," 
comprising  John  T.  Andrews  2d,  Calvin  Russell,  W.  H.  Fox,  Oliver  G. 
Shearman,  Seneca  L.  Pratt,  and  P.  P.  Curtis,  which  company  made  great 
improvements  in  the  property  and  buildings  in  1883.  But  the  syndicate 
company  became  involved  in  some  misunderstanding,  with  result  in  an 
action  in  partition  and  the  final  sale  of  the  plant  to  John  T.  Andrews  2d. 
The  latter  with  Mr.  Russell  as  partner  operated  both  mills  for  some 
time,  when  Mr.  Russell  became  its  owner,  afterward  associating  with 
himself  in  the  business  his  son-in-law,  Clarence  T.  Birkett,  under  the 
name  of  Russell  &  Birkett. 

The  old  "  white  mill,"  built  by  Abraham  Wagener,  was  sold  by  him 
to  Jeremiah  Gillett.  and  from  the  latter  descended  to  his  sons,  Jeremiah 
S.  and  Richard  Gillett.  This  property  has  since  undergone  more 
changes  in  proprietorship  than  did  its  companion  property  on  the  op- 
posite side  of  the  stream.  Among  the  persons  interested  in  its  opera- 
tion can  be  recalled  the  names  of  Edward  Gillett,  James  Longwell,  Oli- 
ver F.  Reed,  James  Forbes,  and  William  W.  Armfield,  each  of  whom 
were  after  the  Gillett  Brothers,  and  before  its  sale  to  the  syndicate, 
which  last  company  rebuilt  the  entire  structure  and  replaced  the  white 
mill  with  the  present  large  roller-mill.  Since  1883  the  histor\'  of  the 
latter  has  been  identical  with  the  grist  and  feed- mill. 

St.  John's  Mill,  so-called,  stands  about  half  a  mile  down  the  outlet, 
on  a  site  originally  occupied  by  a  saw- mill,  but  afterwards  put  to  divers 
uses  by  many  proprietors  in  succession.  Joseph  St.  John  became  in- 
terested in  the  property  about  1857,  when  he  and  A.  W.  Franklin  built 
a  grist-mill,  which  was  destroyed  by  fire.  Before  that  time,  however, 
Mr.  St.  John  operated  it  as  a  saw-mill.  The  present  grist-mill  replaced 
the  former  building  of  the  same  character,  and  has  since  been  operated 
as  above  named. 

Above  the  St.  John  Mill  stands  an  old  unoccupied   factory,  en  a  site 

'  For  an  extended  biogrrapbical  sketch  of  Mr.  Schuetz  see  page  4^5. 


342  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY 

where  the  waters  of  the  outlet  were  diverted  for  manufacturing  purposes 
nearly  if  not  quite  three-quarters  of  a  century  ago.  The  more  recent 
use  of  the  privilege,  has  been  in  operating  a  planing- mill,  sash  and  door 
factory,  known  as  the  Armstrong  mill. 

Near  the  property  last  described,  and  a  few  rods  further  up  the 
stream  is  another  factory  now  in  disuse.  Here  formerly  stood  a  plaster- 
mill,  much  in  use  during  the  canal  days,  but  afterward  turned  into  a 
basket  factory.      Its  last  occupant  was  A.  W.  Franklin. 

The  present  Penn  Yan  planing-mill,  and  in  fact  the  only  completely 
equipped  industry  of  its  kind  in  the  village,  is  that  operated  under  the 
name  of  M.  B.  Miller  &  Co.,  limited.  The  plant  on  Lake  street  was 
first  established  by  John  S.  Sheppard  in  1870,  and  by  him  operated  in 
connection  with  his  extensive  lumber  business.  The  building,  which 
was  of  frame  construction,  was  burned  in  1884,  and  replaced  by  a  more 
substantial  brick  structure  during  the  same  year.  In  1876  the  plant 
was  leased  by  Mr.  Sheppard  to  Miller  &  HoUoway,  but  after  the  fire  the 
property  and  leasehold  came  back  to  the  owner  of  the  fee.  Since  that 
time  Mr.  Miller  has  acted  in  the  capacty  of  manager  under  the  firm 
style  first  above  mentioned. 

Potter,  Kinne  &  Kendall  is  the  firm  name  of  one  of  the  largest  lum- 
ber dealers  of  the  village  or  county.  Their  principal  offices  and  yards 
are  on  Benham  street,  with  a  second  point  on  the  Northern  Central 
Railroad.  In  connection  with  their  lumber  business  the  firm  also  has  a 
planing  and  matching-mill.  The  present  firm  is  the  successor  to  the  old 
partnership  of  R.  B.  Lefferts  and  Edson  Potter. 

The  Commercial  Iron  Works  Company  was  organized  in  1872,  with 
a  capital  stock  of  $1  5,000.  J.  H.  Benton  was  its  president ;  John  Whit- 
taker,  secretary  and  treasurer  ;  and  John  Lynn,  superintendent.  In 
1876  the  principal  machine  shop  was  erected,  it  being  in  size  35  x  84 
feet.  The  foundry  adjoining  is  40  x  40  feet  in  diminsions.  The  pres- 
ent officers  are  the  practical  owners  and  managers  of  the  company's 
works.  John  Whittaker  is  the  president ;  John  Lynn,  secretary  and 
treasurer  ;  and  Fred  H.  Lynn,  general  foreman.  The  company  employs 
ten  men.     The  shops  are  on  the  south  side  of  Lake  street,  in  rear. 

Prior  to  1872  Timothy  Brigden  was  the  owner  of  a  carriage  and 
wagon   factory  which  stood  on  Jacob  street.      In   the  year  named   the 


VILLAGE  OF  PENN  VAN.  343 

property  was  burned,  after  vvliich  the  firm  of  Beebe,  Whitfield  &  Co. 
became  owners  of  the  land,  upon  which  were  erected  the  present  ex- 
tensive buiUlinejs  which  comprise  the  factory  plant  of  George  Beebe. 
Their  manufactures  were  the  same  as  previously  produced  by  Mr.  Brig- 
den.  Messrs.  Beebe  &  Whitfield  were  partners  for  about  eleven  years, 
Mr.  Beebe  then  becoming  sole  proprietor.  He  is  a  general  manufac- 
turer of  carriages,  but  his  specialty  is  the  "  Dandy  Speeding  Cart,"  a 
vehicle  of  improved  pattern  and  quality,  and  one  that  is  received  with 
great  favor  by  tlie  driving  fraternity. 

The  carriage  works  of  Whitfield  &  McCormick  are  located  on  Jacob 
street  near  Main.  The  partnership  comprises  William  H.  Whitfield 
and  Michael  McCormick,  each  of  whom  is  a  practical  man  in  his  line 
of  trade.  The  firm  was  established  in  May,  1888.  Its  general  business 
is  the  manufacture  of  fine  carriages,  carts,  cutters,  etc.,  together  with 
general  repair  work.  Mr.  Whitfield  has  charge  of  the  office  and  busi- 
ness management,  while  Mr.  McCormick  is  the  practical  man  in  the 
manufacturing  department. 

The  Parks  Manufacturing  Company  is  the  almost  direct  outgrowth  of 
a  still  older  business  industry  carried  on  by  James  Cooley  in  the  line  of 
wagon  making.  Mr.  Parks  succeeded  Mr.  Cooley  in  1853,  and  two 
years  later  took  Deacon  J.  D.  Applegate  as  partner.  In  1857  Mr.  Ap- 
plegate  retired,  and  Sherer  and  Caton  succeeded,  the  firm  becoming 
Parks,  Sherer  &  Co.  The  new  partners  soon  retired,  and  Mr.  Parks 
continued  until  1876,  and  then  sold  out  to  Birdsall  &  Co.,  who  changed 
the  plant  to  a  threshing  machine  factory.  After  this  sale  Mr.  Parks 
built  a  shop  in  rear  of  Cornwell's  Opera  House  and  carried  on  the  car- 
riage business  until  1885,  when  he  re  occupied  the  old  stand  on  Head 
street.  The  firm  now  was  Parks  &  Allington,  out  two  months  after  C.  V. 
Bush  was  made  a  partner,  continuing  only  thirty  days.  Then  the  Parks 
Manufacturing  Company  was  formed,  comprising  Marvin  Parks  and 
C.  W.  Morgan. 

The  firm  of  O.  G.  Shearman  &  Co.,  malsters,  was  organized  in  1882 
as  successors  in  part  to  the  firm  of  Shearman  &  Lewis,  grain  dealers. 
The  latter  partnership  was  formed  as  earl)'  as  May  i,  i860,  since  which 
time  it  has  continued  to  carry  on  business.  The  firm  of  O.  G.  Shear- 
man &  Co.  comprised  Oliver  G.  Shearman,  John  Lewis,  E.  C.  Dwelle, 


344  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

and  George  R.  Youngs.  Under  this  ownership  the  "Yates  County  Malt 
House"  was  built  in  1882.  As  its  name  indicates,  the  purpose  of  this 
erection  was  the  manufacture  of  barley  into  malt.  The  building  has  a 
capacity  of  75,000  bushels.  In  1888  Mr.  Youngs  withdrew  from  the 
firm,  whereupon  the  name  and  style  was  changed  to  Shearman,  Lewis 
&  Dwelle,  as  at  present  known. 

The  old  malt  house  standing  on  the  street  leading  from  the  Knapp 
House  to  the  locks  was  built  in  1856,  by  George  R.  Youngs,  Daniel 
Foster,  Daniel  VV.  Streeter,  and  Jared  C.  Munson,  under  the  firm  name 
of  D.  W.  Streeter  &  Co.  Mr.  Munson  soon  dropped  out  of  the  con- 
cern, and  the  name  was  then  changed  to  George  R.  Youngs  &  Co.  Mr. 
Streeter  subsequently  failed,  and  under  the  style  of  Youngs  &  Foster 
the  business  of  malting  was  continued  until  about  1866  or  1867,  when 
Captain  Henry  Tuthill  and  "  Doc."  Tuthill,  became  its  proprietors  by 
purchase.  Later  the  firm  became  H.  Tuthill  &  Son,  and  so  continued 
until  the  failure  of  the  concern  in  1890 

Robert  C.  Hewson's  feed  mill  on  Sucker  Brook  was  established  in 
1890.  The  extensive  evaporating  plant  owned  and  operated  by  the 
same  proprietor  was  started  about  1880. 

The  large  grape  basket  factory  owned  by  S.  L.  Pratt  was  built  dur- 
ing the  spring  of  1891.  It  stood  at  the  foot  of  Monell  street,  and  was 
eighty  two  by  thirty- five  feet  and  three  stories  high.  This  was  the 
best  equipped  mill  of  its  kind  in  the  county,  but  it  was  destroyed  by 
an  unfortunate  fire  during  the  latter  part  of  August,  1891. 

The  carriage  and  cart  works  of  T.  S.  Watrous  were  put  in  opera- 
tion on  Stark  avenue  in  February,  1890.  They  furnish  employment  to 
five  men. 

The  Struble  Kidney  and  Liver  Cure  Company  was  incorporated  in 
1890,  having  a  capital  stock  of  $50,000.  The  object  of  the  company 
was  and  is  to  furnish  to  suffering  humanity  a  prompt  and  sure  cure  for 
diseases  of  the  kidneys  and  liver.  The  medicine  prepared  is  the  same 
as  used  for  fifteen  years  by  Dr.  H.  A.  Struble  in  his  professional  work. 
The  incorporators  of  the  company  were  Hanford  Struble,  H.  N.  Hunt- 
ington, James  Spicer,  Henry  Sherman,  Fred  U.  Swarts,  M.  B.  Shaw, 
and  H.  A.  Struble.  The  ofiicers  are,  Fred  U.  Swarts,  president ;  M.  B. 
Shaw,  vice-president ;  H.  C.  Sherman,  secretary  ;  H.  N.  Huntington, 
treasurer ;  and  H.  A.  Struble,  general  manager. 


VILLAGE  OF  PENN  VAN.  345 

The  Hammondsport  Vintage  Compaii)?  was  established  in  Penn  Yan 
in  1886,  by  Charles  Hunter,  Frank  Hallet  and  Charles  M  Rarrick.  In 
1887  Mr.  Rarrick  became  sole  proprietor  and  has  so  continued  to  the 
present  time.  Originally  the  place  of  business  of  the  firm  and  com- 
pany was  in  the  so-called  concrete  building  on  Canal  street,  but  with 
the  building  of  the  Cold  Storage  block  the  factory  and  plant  were 
transferred  to  that  place.  The  products  of  the  company  are  sweet  and 
dry  wines  and  brandies  ;  also  they  are  dealers  in  champaigns.  The 
cellar  has  a  capacity  of  30,000  gallons  of  wine. 

Bergman's  Cider- Mill  and  Distillery  was  built  by  Barney  Borgman 
in  1869.  The  manufactures  of  this  mill  are  cider  and  champaign.  Ca- 
pacity, 20,000  gallons. 

The  Penn  Yan  Hub  and  Spoke  Works  were  established  in  the  fall  of 
1888,  by  E.  A.  Price  &  Co.,  for  the  manufacture  of  hubs  and  spokes  of 
all  kinds,  and  incidental  to  the  leading  product,  as  a  custom  saw- mill. 
Sixteen  men  are  employed  in  and  about  the  shops  on   Head  street. 

Hotels. — A  preceding  portion  of  the  present  chapter  has  referred  at 
some  length  to  the  hotel  interests  and  proprietors  of  the  past  in  the 
village  of  Penn  Yan  ;  wherefore  it  becomes  the  province  of  this  divis- 
ion of  the  subject  to  refer  only  to  such  public  houses  as  are  in  existence 
at  the  present  time,  and  that  in  the  most  brief  manner. 

The  hotels  of  Penn  Yan  are  numerous,  almost  "  too  numerous  to 
mention."  This  happens  to  be  a  locality  in  which  the  most  liberal  con- 
struction is  placed  upon  the  meaning  of  the  existing  laws,  rendering  it 
quite  difficult  to  define  just  what  does  or  does  not  constitute  a  hotel, 
tavern  or  inn.  The  object  in  establishing  so  many  hotels  in  the  village 
is  plain  and  perfectly  well  understood,  and  is  a  subject  that  needs  no 
comment  in  this  place.  Many  of  them  will  receive  no  mention  in  this 
work. 

The  Benham  House  is  the  largest  and  most  convenient  of  the  hotels 
of  the  village.  It  was  built  soon  after  the  burning  of  the  old  Amer- 
ican, and  has  been  one  of  the  leading  public  houses  of  Penn  Yan  from 
that  time  until  the  present.  It  was  named  for  its  proprietor,  and  still 
holds  the  original  appellation,  notwithstanding  the  changes  of  proprie- 
torship. 

The  Shearman   House,  on    Elm  street,  was  so  named  by  its  proprie- 
44 


346  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

tor,  Charles  Shearman.  The  house  was  estabUshed  many  years  ago 
by  "  Am  "  Tiiell,  a  local  celebrity,  but  succeeding  proprietors  have 
made  frequent  additions  to  the  building.  The  present  owner  and  pro- 
prietor, Fred  U.  Swarts,  purchased  the  property  in  1888,  becoming  its 
landlord  January  1st  of  that  year. 

The  Knapp  House  was  formerly  and  originally  called  the  Mansion 
House.  It  was  built  for  a  dwelling  in  1S16,  by  Abraham  Wagener, 
but  after  he  moved  to  Bluff  Point  the  house  was  remodeled  and  made 
into  a  hotel.  It  became  the  Knapp  House  through  the  ownership  of 
Oliver  C.  Knapp,  who  not  onlj'  materially  enlarged  the  building,  but 
veneered  it  with  brick.  Since  the  death  of  Mr.  Knapp  the  property 
has  been  managed  as  an  estate. 

The  Central  House,  on  Jacob  street,  was  established  bj'  Charles 
Kelly  soon  after  he  returned  from  the  army.  He  bought  the  property 
in  i860.  The  old  building  was  burned  in  1872,  after  which  the  pres- 
ent substantial  brick  hotel  building  was  erected.  The  Central  House 
has  a  capacity  for  accommodating  forty  guests. 

The  other  hotels  of  the  village,  which  are  public  houses  for  the  re- 
ception and  accommodation  of  travelers,  are  the  Ha)es  House,  located 
near  the  Northern  Central  depot,  the  Suburban  Hotel  on  Head  street, 
in  the  extreme  north  part  of  the  village,  and  the  Hyland  House,  in 
Maiden  Lane. 

Mercantile  Business  Interests. — In  the  village  of  Penn  Yan  the  mer- 
cantile interests  in  every  branch  of  trade  are  well  represented,  and  while 
it  is  quite  natural  that  every  representative  should  believe  his  particular 
line  to  be  overdone  in  the  matter  of  competition,  still  to  the  unpreju- 
diced and  candid  observer  this  does  not  appear  to  be  the  case.  The 
mercantile  business  of  Penn  Yan  is  principally  transacted  on  the  thor- 
oughfares Main,  Elm  and  Jacob  streets,  with  other  stores  scattered 
throughout  the  place.  It  is  neither  the  purpose  nor  the  intention  of 
this  division  of  the  present  chapter  to  advertise  in  any  manner  the 
business  of  Penn  Yan  merchants,  but  if  any  tradesman  can  derive  any 
benefit  or  advantage  from  the  mention  of  his  name  or  business  in  this 
connection  he  is  certainly  welcome  to  the  good  that  may  come  out  of  it. 

The  book  and  stationery  trade  is  fairly  well  represented.  The  most 
extensive   dealer  in    this  line  is  George    R.  Cornwell,  at  No.  39   Main 


VILLAGE  OF  PE^N   VAN.  347 

Street.  Mr.  Cornwell  embarked  in  this  business  in  October,  1858,  as 
successor  to  E.  Denton.  He  purcliased  the  building  soon  afterward, 
and  about  1875  fitted  up  and  equipped  the  Cornwell  Opera  House, 
occupying  therefor  the  rooms  over  his  and  the  adjoining  store.  Mr. 
Cornwell  is  also  an  extrensive  dealer  in  sewing  niaciiines  and  musical 
instruments.  The  other  booksellers  and  stationers  of  the  village  are 
H.  C.  Guthrie,  H.  Sherwood  and  Mrs.  A.  V.  Mastin. 

The  leading  grocers  of  tiie  village  are  F.  W.  Steelman,  Lucius  P. 
Wagener,  Charles  Hunter,  McMath  &  Morgan,  MacKay  &  Co.,  Nor- 
man Lockwood,  Johnson  &  Hazen,  B.  F".  Fenner,  John  Brown,  T.  S. 
Burns,  C.  W.  Coffin,  Eaton  Brothers,  McCarty  Bros.,  and  M.  VV.  Phalen. 

The  general  dry  goods  trade  is  represented  by  lour  large  and  sub- 
stantial houses.  The  oldest  of  these  is  the  present  firm  of  T.  O.  Ham- 
lin &  Co.,  at  No.  44  Main  street.  This  business  house  was  first  estab- 
lished in  Penn  Yan  by  Myron  Hamlin,  a  former  merchant  of  Dundee, 
then  known  as  Harpending's  Corners.  Mr.  Hamlin  established  himself 
where  Stewart  &  Burnham's  shoe  store  now  is,  but  soon  afterward 
moved  the  stock  to  the  opposite  side  of  Main  street,  about  where  D.  A. 
Ogden's  hardware  store  is  located.  In  1842  Abraham  F.  Hazen,  who 
was  a  former  clerk  in  the  store,  became  Mr.  Hamlin's  partner,  having 
charge  of  a  brancii  store  at  Rushville  for  a  single  year,  and  afterward 
locating  at  tlie  county  seat  in  connection  with  the  principal  business. 
After  five  years  of  pleasant  and  profitable  partnership  Mr.  Hazen  re- 
tired from  the  firm  of  Hamlin  &  Hazen  and  established  himself  in  trade. 
In  1858  Mr.  Hamlin  occupied  the  store  now  owned  by  his  son,  and  as 
his  sons  arrived  at  full  age  they  were  associated  with  him  in  the  busi- 
ness. The  firm  name  thus  became  M.  Hamlin  &  Sons,  and  so  contin- 
ued, until  two  had  retired  and  Theodore  O.  Hamlin  only  remained,  when 
the  style  of  M.  Hamlin  &  Son  was  adopted.  This  continued  until  the 
death  of  the  senior  member  in  1886.  Theodore  conducted  the  business 
thereafter  until  February,  1890,  when  H.  C.  Underwood  became  his 
partner,  under  the  present  firm  name.  George  E.  Hamlin,  one  of  the 
sons,  left  the  firm  in  1865  and  went  into  the  carpet  business  in  New 
York.  Another  son,  Charles  Hamlin,  engaged  in  business  in  Syracuse, 
leaving  the  firm  in  1877.  Abraham  F.  Hazen,  above  mentioned,  went 
to  Dundee  a  poor  boy,  in  1833,   walking  a  part   of  the   distance   from 


348  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

Chemung  County  to  that  place.  He  was  taken  by  Mr.  Hamlin  as  clerk 
at  $5  per  month,  increased  to  $7  the  second  year.  He  was  Mr.  Ham- 
lin's clerk  also  in  Penn  Yan  from  1837  to  1842,  when  he  was  taken  in 
as  partner.  After  conducting  the  Rushville  branch  store  one  j'ear  he 
came  back  to  the  county  seat  and  continued  in  the  main  house  until 
about  1848,  when  he  bought  the  dry  goods  stock  of  Daniel  S.  Marsh, 
which  business  he  managed  successfully  about  five  or  six  years,  then 
selling  out  and  going  to  New  York.  In  the  latter  city  he  advanced 
through  the  grades  of  clerkship  and  managing  clerk  to  finally  becom- 
ing the  leading  and  senior  member  of  the  large  house  of  Hazen,  Todd 
&  Co.,  jobbers  of  dry  goods.  About  four  years  ago  Mr.  Hazen  retired 
from  active  business.  (Here  is  another  apt  illustration  of  the  possibil- 
ities open  to  every  earnest,  industrious  young  man  ) 

The  present  firm  of  Lown  &  Co.  is  composed  of  J.  H.  Lown  and 
H.J.  McAdams.  Their  business  is  the  indirect  outgrowth  of  that  estab- 
lished in  1871  b)'  Jones  &  Lown,  then  being  located  where  is  now  T.  F. 
Wheeler's  drug  store.  In  1877  ^^^^  fitni  name  changed  to  J.  H.  Lown 
&  Co.,  and  still  later  to  the  present  name.  The  Lown  block  was  built 
in  1889-90,  and  occupied  by  the  firm.  Their  stock  includes  dry  goods, 
carpets,  millinery,  crockery  and  glassware. 

The  dry  goods  house  and  firm  of  Roenke  &  Rogers  was  established 
in  April,  1881,  by  Julius  R.  Roenke  and  Jerome  D.  Rogers.  Their 
place  of  business  is^at  the  corner  of  Main  street  and  Maiden  Lane. 

Cassius  N.  McFarren  became  a  dry  goods  merchant  of  Penn  Yan  in 
September,  1891,  by  the  purchase  of  the  stock  and  former  business  of 
George  Cramer. 

Dealers  in  Drugs  and  Medicines. — The  village  has  four  substantial 
representatives  of  this  branch  of  trade,  viz.:  Theodore  F.  Wheeler,  es- 
tablished in  1864,  as  successor  to  Lyman  Munger;  W.  W.  Quacken- 
bush,  established  1867,  as  successor  to  Lapham  &  Bullock;  E.  Fenton, 
April,  1877,  successor  to  Miles  Lewis;  Frank  Ouackenbush,  established 
April  28,  1879. 

Hardware  Dealers. —  Hollowell  &  Wise,  J.  C.  Shannon  &  Son,  Wix- 
son  &  Woodruff,  D.  O.  Ogden. 

Clothiers,  Furnishers,  and  Merchant  Tailors. — McAdams  Brothers, 
McMahon  Bros.,  Seligman  &  McNiff,  Marks  Bros.,  the  Globe  Clothing 


VILLAGE  OF  PENN  VAN.  349 

store,  E.  Donaluie,  M.  C.  Stark,  John  Walters,  Charles  Bandel,  Jacob 
Davis. 

Boot  and  Shoe  Dealers. — J,  Henry  Smith,  Wagener  Bros,  Stewart  & 
Burnliam,  A.  Deckerman, 

Fair  Stores. — A.  J.  Obertin,  Hood  &  Co.,  Singer  &  Strong. 

Agricultural  Implements. — J.  C.  Shannon  &  Son,  C.  C.  Hicks,  James 
M.  Smitli,  D.  O.  Ogden,  Hollowell  &  Wise,  Wixson  &  Woodruff,  A.  F. 
Stark. 

Cigar  Manufacturers. — James  Meade,  John  Birmingham,  Joseph  F. 
Markey,  C.  A.  Mansen,  Peter  Curran. 

Furniture  Dealers. — Clarence  H.  Knapp,  A.  C.  Klube. 

Undertakers. — Clarence  H.  Knapp,  Hopkins  Brothers. 

Elevators. — Freeman  &  Barber,  George  Bruen. 

Coal  Dealers. — S.  S.  Ellsworth,  Freeman  &  Barber,  Sheppard-Com- 
ings  Co.,  Potter,  Kinne  &  Kendall. 

Har7iessmakcrs  and  Dealers. — .A^rthur  Jessup,  A.  V.  Masten,  J.  F. 
Bridgman,  William  Hollowell,  L.  P.  Wickham,  William   Corcoran. 

Insurance  Agents.  —  Norris  S.  Dailey,  A.  C.  Harwick,  H.  M.  T. 
Ayers,  Bush  &  Co.,  Silas  Kinne,  M.  F.  Hobart,  W.  P.  Gaylord. 

Jewelers. — E.  H.  Hopkins,  S.  B.  Dunton. 

Livery  and  Boarding  Stables. — W.  T.  Beaumont,  Emmet  Hazard, 
Patrick  Burns,  C.  H.  Southerland. 

Lumber  Dealers — Potter,  Kinne  &  Kendall,  Eugene  Lewis,  Charles 
D.  Welles. 

Meat  Markets. — Charles  S.  Hell,  William  McEvoy,  Hyland  &  Cav- 
iston,  James  Dolan,  L.  A.  Sprague,  W.  H.  Stark,  Gilbert  Carroll,  A.  & 

D.  O.  Carroll. 

Nurseryman. — Justus  O.  Rupert. 

Painters  and  Glaziers. — D.  Clinton   Robinson,    George  W.   Kritzer, 

E.  Thomas,  I.  M.  Ballard. 

Dentists.— W.  R.  Phillips  &  Wrean,  Charles  Elmendorf,  K.  W.  Rey- 
nolds, W.  W.  Smith,  O.  S.  Voak. 

Photographers. — Frank  Carey,  Fred  F.  Crum. 
Bakers. — C.  R.  Robinson,  George  Zeluff. 


350  HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUNTY. 


CHAPTER   XXI. 

HISTORY    OK    THE    TOWN    OF    BENTON. 

IT  requires  no  stretch  of  conscience,  no  exaggeration  of  fact,  to  say- 
concerning  the  town  of  Benton,  that  among  the  towns  of  Yates 
County,  or  even  among  the  towns  of  Western  New  York,  it  ranks  witli 
the  foremost  in  point  of  thrift,  wealth,  enterprise,  productiveness,  and 
generous  hospitality  on  the  part  of  the  present  generation  of  inhabitants 
therein.  And  what  is  true  regarding  them  is  also  .said  to  have  been 
characteristic  of  their  ancestors.  The  early  history  of  settlement,  de- 
velopment, and  improvement  in  this  town  was  not  dissimilar  to  that  of 
other  towns  in  the  same  region,  the  localities  bordering  on  Seneca  Lake. 
The  lands  here  were  a  part  of  the  Phelps  and  Gorham  purchase,  and 
being  surveyed,  the  greater  portion  of  the  town,  as  at  present  constitu- 
ted, comprised  township  No.  8,  of  the  first  range.  This  implies  that  it.s 
eastern  boundary  abutted  the  old  pre-emption  line,  which  was  the  fact; 
but  in  making  disposition  of  the  lands  east  of  the  line  and  west  of  the 
lake,  the  district  of  territory  between  these  boundaries  was  included 
within  Benton. 

Originally,  before  Benton  as  a  town  was  set  off,  township  No.  8,  first 
range,  together  with  the  land  east  of  it,  and  Milo  as  well,  were  all  a 
part  of  the  district  of  Jerusalem,  a  provisional  township  of  old  Ontario 
County,  organized  as  such  for  jurisdictional  purposes  upon  and  soon 
after  the  erection  of  the  mother  county.  The  district  of  Jerusalem  was 
organized  in  1789,  but  the  town  itself,  within  substantially  its  present 
limits,  was  not  organized  until  1803. 

The  district  of  Jerusalem  was  settled  mainly  by  the  followers  of  the 
Universal  Friend,  whose  principal  habitations  were  on  the  shores  of 
Seneca  Lake  and  the  vicinity  of  the  mouth  of  the  outlet,  and  in  the  town 
of  Jerusalem,  as  now  designated,  while  scattering  settlements  of  this 
peculiar  people  extended  northward  into  the  town  of  Benton  proper,  or, 
more  strictly  speaking,  into  township  No.  8  of  the  first  range.  This 
settlement  by  the  Friends  commenced  about  1788,  and  continued  until 


TOIVN  OF  BE.yrON.  351 

the  closing  years  of  that  century.  In  the  meantime  settlement  was  being 
rapidi}'  made  by  other  pioneers  than  the  Friends,  and  who  had  nothing 
in  common  with  them  either  in  religious  belief  or  sympathy  with  the 
F"ricnd's  teachings.  In  fact  they  were  believers  in  the  Christian  religion 
as  taught  b)'  established  denominational  churches,  and  the  peculiar  man- 
ner and  method  of  worship  indulged  in  by  tlie  Friends  found  no  favor 
in  their  eyes.  Tiierefore  they  sought  to  be  set  off  into  a  separate  town- 
ship, using  as  a  means  of  accomplishing  that  end  a  petition  to  the 
Court  of  Sessions  about  to  be  held  at  Canandaigua;  which  petition  was 
as  follows  : 

■'  The  petition  o£  luaiiy  of  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem  humbly  siieweth  :  That  whereas, 
many  of  the  reputable  inhabitants  of  No.  8,  in  the  first  range  in  this  town  do  wish  to  be 
incorporated  into  a  town  by  themselves;  and  to  prevent  disputes  and  preserve  friend- 
-siiip  among  us,  we  pray  this  Honorable  Court  to  set  of}'  .said  No.  8  into  a  town  by  the 
name  of  Wilton,  with  all  the  libert}'  and  privileges  which  other  towns  in  the  State  of 
New  York  have  and  enjoy.  And  your  petitioners  in  duty  bound  will  ever  pray.  Feb- 
ruary 1,  1799.  (Signed),  Griffin  B.  Hazard,  Enoch  Shearman,  Benjamin  Durham,  Silas 
Hunt,  James  Parker,  John  I'lympton,  Benjamin  Brigg.«,  William  Ardery  James  Sco- 
field,  George^  Wheeler,  Nathanjffljeeler,  Elisha  Woloott,  Elisha  Woodworth,  Ezra  Rice, 
Samuel  Buell,  jr.,  Eliphalet  Hall,  Joel  P.  Sawyer,  Daniel  StuSI,  Daniel  Brown,  Perley 
Dean,  Francis  Dains,  Jesse  Dains,  Joshua  Andi'ews,  Levi  Benton,  Enos  Fuller,  Silas  H. 
Mapes,  Smith  Mapes,  Dyer  Woodworth,  Otis  Barden,  Jeremiah  Jillette,  John  Knapp, 
James  Springsted.  William  Gilbert,  William  Hilton,  jr.,  William  Hilton,  David  Riggs,- 
Elisha  Brown,  Ichabod  Buell,  Samuel  Buell,  George  Bennett,  Gyrus  Buell,  David  Riggs, 
Philip  Riggs,  George  Wheeler,  jr.,  M.  Lavrrence,  Thomas  Lee.  jr.,  James  McCust, 
Thomas  Hathaway,  Daniel  S.  Judd,  Daniel  Lanelere,  Dennis  Shaw,  James  Allen,  Thomas 
Clark,  James  Beaumont,  John  Neil,  James  Bi-own,  Ellis  Pearce,  Henry  Mapes,  Simeon 
Lee,  William  Cunningham,  John  Meeckelnane,  John  Bruce,  Hozekiah  Townsend,  Mat- 
thew Cole,  Reuben  Riggs,  Ezra  Cole." 

Referring  to  the  names  included  in  the  foregoing  list  the  reader  will 
observe  many  who  were  among  the  pioneers  of  Benton,  as  now  consti- 
tuted, while  not  a  few  were  dwellers  in  the  district  of  Jerusalem  outside 
the  town  proper,  but  who,  for  some  cause,  probably  as  heretofore  stated, 
were  desirous  of  having  the  separation  made  as  the  petition  aslced.  But, 
notwithstanding  the  evident  strength  of  the  petition,  its  prayer  was  not 
granted  by  tlie  court.  However,  four  years  later,  in  1803,  Jerusalem 
was  made  a  separate  town,  and  on  the  12th  of  February,  of  the  same 
year,  under  the  name  of  Vernon,  another  township  was  created,  includ- 
ing all  that  is  now    Benton,  I\Iilo,  and   Torre\'.      The  name   \'cinon  was 


352  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

continued  until  1808,  when  an  act  of  the  legislature  changed  the  name 
to  Snell,  there  having  been  erected  previous  to  1803  a  town  in  Oneida 
County  also  named  Vernon.  For  some  reason  the  people  of  the  town 
of  Snell  became  dissatisfied  with  the  name,  and  had  recourse  to  the 
legislature  with  result  in  another  change,  tliis  time  to  Benton  ;  and  so 
named  in  honor  of  Levi  Benton,  the  first  settler  within  the  limits  of  the 
town  as  it  now  stands. 

The  first  reduction  in  the  extent  of  territory  of  Benton  was  made  in 
18 1 8,  when  Milo  was  erected,  and  took  from  the  mother  township  No. 
7  of  range  first  and  all  the  land  east  thereof  and  west  of  Seneca  Lake. 
The  second  and  last  curtailment  of  Benton's  territory  was  made  in  1 851, 
by  the  erection  of  Torrey,  for  which  both  this  town  and  Milo  sur- 
rendered their  lands,  and  the  most  desirable  agricultural  sections  of 
them. 

Township  No.  8  of  the  first  range,  which  includes  the  greater  part  of 
what  is  now  Benton,  is  bounded  north  b}-  Ontario  County  ;  west  by 
Potter,  No.  8,  second  range;  south  by  Milo,  No.  7,  range  one,  and  a 
part  set  off  to  Jerusalem  ;  and  east  originally  by  the  old  pre-emption 
line.  The  land  east  of  the  line  was  included  in  Jerusalem  first,  and 
afterward  followed  the  various  town  organizations  that  eventually  be- 
came Benton.  To  correct  an  erroneous  impression  that  exists  in  some 
minds,  it  may  here  be  stated  that  the  main  road  leading  from  the  resi- 
dence of  Hon.  Guy  Shaw  north  to  Bellona  is  nowhere  between  those 
points  touched  by  the  old  or  the  new  pre  emption  line.  The  old  line 
lies  east  of  this  road,  and,  as  near  as  can  be  determined  from  maps  in 
existence,  passes  along  the  short  stretch  of  north  and  south  road  lying 
west  of  the  residence  of  James  McMaster.  The  new  pre-emption  line 
runs  into  the  lake  just  north  of  Dresden,  in  Torrey. 

The  subject  of  this  chapter  is  the  town  of  Benton  as  at  present  con- 
stituted. Among  the  sub-divisions  that  form  Yates  County,  Benton 
occupies  a  position  of  prominence,  for,  in  point  of  agricultural  pro- 
ductiveness it  ranks  first  and  foremost.  This  enviable  condition  is  of 
course  largely  due  to  the  exceedingly  rich  quality  of  soil  that  extends 
over  nearly  its  entire  surface.  Topographically  the  lands  of  the  town 
maybe  classed  as  level  generally,  with  a  gradually  rolling  surface  afford- 
ing an  excellent  natural  drainage  system.     The  lands  of  the  town  are 


TOWN  OF  BENTON. 


353 


considerably  higher  than  in  the  vicinity  Peiin  Yan,  and  travel  between 
the  county  seat  and  Benton  Center  is  necessarily  up  a  long  hill.  Rellona, 
on  Cashong  Creek,  is  in  one  of  the  most  depressed  localities  of  the  town, 
but  not  so  low,  perhaps,  as  in  the  vicinity  of  Flat  street.  ]?ut  nowhere 
in  the  entire  township  do  there  exist  hills  or  vales  of  such  height  or 
depth  as  to  embarrass  or  prevent  cultivation  in  any  form  or  character. 

If  any  of  the  towns  of  the  county  can  lay  claim  to  possessing  Indian 
history  in  connection  with  its  early  history,  in  that  respect  Benton's 
claim  is  of  first  importance.  In  the  extreme  northeast  corner  of  the 
town,  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  William  W.  Coe,  tiie  Senecas  had 
built  up  a  little,  village  which  had  been  commonly  called  "Cashong," 
but  which  General  Sullivan,  in  his  official  re[)ort  of  his  famous  expedi 
tion  in  September,  1779,  designated  as  "  Gotheseunguean."  Fowler,  in 
his  diary  of  early  history,  calls  the  name  "  Kashanquash."  However, 
convenience  and  euphony  have  changed  the  name  to  Cashong,  by  which 
the  stream  in  the  locality  is  still  designated.  Here  was  a  little  village 
of  a  few  cabins,  but  in  the  vicinity  the  Indians  had  growing  crops  and 
bearing  orchards.  At  a  later  date  than  1779  two  traders,  Dominick 
De  Bartzch  and  Pierre  Pondre,  maintained  a  post  for  traffic  with  the 
natives.  They,  too,  claimed  the  lands  in  the  vicinity.  But  in  this  nar 
rative  these  persons  will  not  be  considered  or  treated  as  having  been 
the  pioneer  settlers  of  the  town.  In  the  "  draught  "  of  town  lots  in 
Benton,  De  Bartzch  fell  owner  to  No.  22. 

Pioneer  Faviilies  of  Benton. — A  history  of  Yates  County  published 
nearly  a  score  of  years  ago  devoted  to  Benton  more  than  200  of  its  pages, 
the  greater  part  of  which  had  particular  reference  to  the  old  families  of 
the  town.  In  view  of  this  fact,  and  in  deference  to  a  general  re- 
quest made  upon  the  publishers  of  the  present  volume  by  a  large  and 
influential  majority  of  men  of  the  county,  many  of  them  descendants  of 
pioneers,  the  local  chapters  of  this  work  will  contain  less  of  biographical 
and  geneological  record  than  did  its  predecessor  work.  But  at  the  same 
time  an  effort  will  be  made  to  mention  briefly  as  many  of  the  pioneer 
families  as  can  be  recalled.  It  is  not  that  the  pioneers  of  Benton  are 
not  worthy  of  extended  mention,  but  the  fact  that  they  have  been  so 
fully  written  in  the  history  referred  to  would  seem  to  preclude  the  ne- 
cessity of  again  treating  at  length   concerning  them,  and  would  appear 

45 


3S4  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

to  make  this  volunin  but  a  repetition  of  the  former,  and  therefore  lose 
much  of  its  value  and  importance. 

Common  consent  accords  to  Levi  Benton  the  honor  of  having  been  the 
pioneer  of  Benton.  In  his  honor  the  town  received  its  permanent  name. 
He  was  the  cousin  of  Caleb  Benton,  who  was  one  of  the  New  York  Gen- 
esee Land  Company,  the  latter  being  the  chief  disturbing  factor  that 
had  much  to  do  with  retarding  the  settlement  and  development  of 
the  Genesee  Country,  on  account  of  the  nefarious  scheme  of  leasing  all 
the  Iroquois  lands  against  the  express  will  of  the  State  of  New  York. 
Levi  Benton,  with  his  family,  came  and  made  a  settlement  on  lot  thirty- 
seven,  during  the  year  1789.  Mr.  Benton  was  prominently  connected 
with  nearly  every  leading  enterprise  in  the  town;  was  frequently  a  pub- 
lic ofTicer  and  one  in  whom  the  people  had  every  confidence.  His  wife, 
whom  he  married  in  Canaan,  Conn.,  was  Molly  or  Mary  Woodworth, 
and  by  whom  he  had  nine  children:  Polly,  Olive,  Levi,  Luther,  Calvin, 
Joseph,  Nanc)-,  Hannah,  and  Ruby.  In  1816  Levi  Benton  and  his 
wife  moved  from  the  town  and  took  up  ther  final  abode  in  Indiana, 
where  both  died  at  an  advanced  age.  The  name  Benton  has  no  repre- 
sentatives in  the  town  at  the  present  time. 

Major  Benjamin  Barton  was  the  pioneer  in  the  northeastern  section 
of  the  town.  He  bought  the  700  acre  tract  of  Dominick  DeBartzch 
and  made  his  settlement  there,  on  Cashong  Creek,  soon  after  Levi  Ben- 
ton's coming,  probably  during  the  same  year.  He  was  a  surveyor,  and 
had  much  to  do  with  laying  out  early  roads  and  running  lot  lines.  He 
built,  about  1796  or  '97,  a  large  frame  house  at  Cashong,  with  the  evi- 
dent intention  of  maintaining  it  as  a  hotel,  for  it  had  that  important  ad- 
junct of  all  taverns  of  the  period — a  spacious  dancing  hall.  Also  Major 
Barton  was  a  public  man,  filling  the  office  of  sheriff  of  Ontario  County 
from  1S02  to  1806.      In  1809  Major  Barton  moved  from  the  town. 

John  Dye  succeeded  Major  Barton  in  the  ownership  of  the  Cashong 
farm,  so-called,  and  is  said  to  have  built  a  grist-mill  on  the  creek  as 
early  as  1805.  The  saw-mill  near  the  same  site  is  believed  to  have 
been  built  by  Thomas  Gray,  also  a  pioneer.  Mr.  Dye  died  in  1820, 
and  was  succeeded  by  Andrew  Brum,  who  won  fame,  if  not  fortune, 
in  having  exhibited  the  first  elephant  in  the  region. 

The  most  numerous,  and  perhaps  the  most  prominent  family  now  in 


%^Qyr-^ 


TOWN  OF  BENTON.  355 

the  locality  of  Casliong,  are  the  descendants  of  Jephtlia  Earl,  senior 
Mr.  Earl,  in  1 821,  became  owner  of  the  mill  property  at  Bellona,  placing 
it  in  charge  of  his  son  Jesse.  It  afterward  became  the  property  of  an- 
other son,  Jephtha  Earl,  jr.  The  latter,  born  in  1806,  still  lives  in  the 
town,  in  an  elegant  house  near  Earl's  Landing  on  Seneca  Lake.  He 
moved  here  from  Bellona  in  1830.  Of  the  Earl  family,  only  Jesse, 
Jephtha,  jr.,  and  Arthur,  sons  of  Jephtha,  senior,  became  residents  in 
Benton.  In  1829  Jephtha  married  Eliza  Hutchinson,  who  bore  him 
seven  children.  Arthur  Earl  was  born  in  18 10;  married  Sybil  Conklin 
and  had  nine  children. 

Otis  Barden  was  at  the  head  of  one  of  the  most  respected  pi.oneer 
families  of  Benton.  He  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts  and  descended 
from  revolutionary  stock.  He  made  his  "  pitch  "  of  land,  as  all  New 
Englanders  say,  on  lot  fifty,  while  his  brother  Thomas  located  in  the 
township  north  of  Benton  This  was  in  1789.  Otis  married  Elizabeth 
Parker,  the  daughter  of  James  Parker  of  the  F"riend's  settlement.  Their 
children  were  Betsey,  Sally,  Charlotte,  who  married  Aaron  Dexter ; 
Susan,  who  married  George  Carpenter;  Otis,  who  married  Cata  Butler; 
James  P.,  who  married  Charlotte  Gage  ;  Henry,  a  prominent  physician 
who  married  Caroline  Purdy  ;  Ira  R.,  who  married  Susan  Hanley  ; 
Williajn  M.,  who  married  Olive  Hanley  ;  Eleanor  C  ,  who  became  the 
wife  of  Daniel  Ryai,  and  Lois  E.,  who  married  Henry  H.  Gage. 

Thomas  Barden,  brother  of  Otis,  married  Olive,  daughter  of  Caleb 
Benton,  and  had  eight  children  :  Thomas,  Ezekiel  C,  Levi,  Otis  B., 
Olive,  Isaac,  Richard,  and  Polly  or  Mary. 

Thomas  Barden,  father  of  Otis  and  Thomas  above  mentioned,  with 
his  wife  and  five  of  their  children^Sylvanus,  Mill)',  Eunice,  Lois,  and 
George — moved  to  Benton  in  1799.  George  Barden,  the  last  named 
of  these  children,  married  Dolly  Witter  and  raised  thirteen  children. 
viz. :  Dolly,  Hannah,  George  R.,  Elizabeth,  Sylvanus,  James,  Levi, 
Philo,  Lucy  A.,  Minerva,  Mary  J.,  Martin  W.,  Tilson  C. 

In  1792  Ezra  Cole  and  his  family,  formerly  of  Litchfield,  Conn.,  but 
directly  from  Unadilla,  N.  Y.,  came  to  Benton  and  settled  on  lot  113, 
where  the  hamlet  Benton  Center  now  in  part  stands.  Ezra  Cole  built 
a  log  house  first,  but  afterward,  in  1804,  a  large  frame  building  which 
he  opened  as  a  tavern.      Here  he  lived  until  his  death,  in  1821.     The 


356  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

children  of  Ezra  Cole  were  Matthew,  Delilah,  Lois,  Nathan  P.,  Daniel 
A.,  Asa,  Smith  M.,  Sabra,  and  Ezra. 

Asa  Cole  and  Smith  M.  Cole,  sons  of  Ezra,  afterward  became  resi- 
dents of  the  little  village  of  Penn  Yan,  and  each  followed  his  fathers'  ex- 
ample in  that  he  became  tavern  keeper.  Their  location  was  at  the  cor- 
ner of  Main  and  Head  streets,  as  now  known.  Both  were  active  men 
in  the  affairs  of  the  village  and  town,  but  Smith  M.  afterward  moved  to 
Flat  street  in  Benton,  and  maintained  a  tavern  stand  where  Charles  B. 
Shaw  now  lives.  Asa  married,  first,  Sally  Sprague,  by  whom  he  had 
two  children  ;  and  second,  Lydia  Francis,  by  whom  he  had  one  child, 
Frank  R.  Cole,  whose  pleasant  residence  and  large  farm  are  located  just 
north  of  the  village  limits.  Of  Asa  Cole  it  maj'  be  said  that  he  ser\-ed 
during  the  war  of  i8i2  as  lieutenant  in  Captain  Bogart's  Geneva  com- 
p.iny.  During  his  after  life  he  was  ever  known  to  friends  and  neigh- 
bors as  Major  Cole. 

Samuel  Buel  was  the  head  of  one  of  the  pioneer  families  of  Benton, 
and  one  of  the  contingent  of  former  residents  of  Unadillathat  came  and 
settled  near  the  Center  in  1792.  Samuel  Buel  was  a  native  of  Connec- 
ticut. He  was  a  soldier  during  tlie  last  French  and  Indian  war,  and 
held  a  captain's  commission  during  the  Revolution,  and  served  at  Fort 
Edward  in  tliis  State.  At  this  place  Cyrus  Buel,  son  of  Samuel,  was 
captured  by  the  British  and  held  three  years  in  captivity,  in  Canada. 
Being  released  he  returned  to  his  family.  Samuel  Buel  married,  first, 
Sarah  Holmes,  who  bore  him  six  children  :  Sarah,  Samuel,  Cyrus, 
Paulina,  Betsey,  and  Ichabod.  His  second  wife  was  Susan  Morse,  by 
whom  he  had  eight  children  :  Henry,  Catharine,  Anna,  Hannah,  P^sther, 
Artemas,  Mary,  and  Matilda.     Samuel  Buel,  the  pioneer,  died  in  1809. 

Eliphalet  Hull  was  another  pioneer  of  1792  in  Benton,  and  likewise 
one  of  the  Unadilla  colony  that  during  that  year  settled  near  Benton 
Center.  I\Ir.  Hull  is  remembered  as  having  been  prominently  con- 
nected with  early  events ;  was  the  first  school  teacher  in  the  town  ;  the 
first  Methodist  class-leader  in  the  region,  and  a  teacher  in  singing  of  re- 
markable ability.  His  wife  was  Huldah  Fatchen,  by  whom  he  had 
eight  children  :  Salmon,  Hannah,  Daniel,  Sarah,  Martha,  Anna,  Elipha- 
let, and  Seth.  Seth  Hull,  brother  of  P^liphalet,  came  to  Benton  in  1800. 
The  surname  Hull,  descendants  of  these  families,  is  not  now  known  in 
the  town. 


TOWN  OF  BENTON.  357 

George  Wheeler  was  a  settler  in  Benton  in  1791.  He  was  an  exten- 
sive land  owner,  and  as  such  possessed  all  now  of  Penn  Yan  village 
lying  north  of  the  outlet  and  west  of  Benham  street  with  its  continua- 
tion, Sheppard  street.  The  wife  of  George  Wheeler  was  Catherine 
Lyon,  by  whom  he  had  eight  children  :  Ephriani  and  Samuel,  both  of 
whom  died  in  childhood,  and  were  buried  where  the  cemetery  now  is, 
east  of  the  Center;  Eleanor,  George,  jr.,  Nathan,  Susan,  Margaret,  and 
Zachariah.  George  Wheeler,  the  pioneer,  died  in  1824,  and  his  wife  in 
1827. 

Philip  Riggs,  widower,  with  a  family  of  children  settled  near  the 
center,  on  lot  116,  in  1795.  The  children  were  David,  Benjamin, 
Reuben,  John,  Mary,  Hannah,  Anna,  Betsey,  and  Susan.  It  is  under- 
stood that  the  surname  Riggs  has  no  representative  in  Benton  at  this 
time. 

In  the  south  part  of  Benton,  and  in  the  extreme  northern  part  of  the 
present  village  of  Penn  Yan,  Robert  Chissom  was  the  pioneer  settler.  The 
lands  on  which  he  located  were  a  part  of  the  purchase  of  George  Wheeler, 
whose  daughter  Mr.  Chissom  had  married.  His  log  house  stood  about 
where  is  now  the  Ayers  residence,  and  was  opened  by  him  as  a  hotel. 
Mr.  Chissom  died  in  1806.  His  children  were  Catharine,  Peter, 
Ephraim,  Hannah,  and  George. 

Moses  Chissom,  brother  of  Robert,  located  in  Benton  in  1794.  He 
married  Mary,  daughter  of  Philemon  Baldwin,  by  whom  he  had  eleven 
children. 

Philemon  Baldwin  was  one  of  the  odd  yet  valuable  characters  of  the 
town  during  the  days  of  its  infancy.  His  occupation  was  that  of  a  far- 
mer and  miller.  It  is  said  that  Philemon  Baldwin  suggested  the  name 
by  which  the  county  seat  should  be  called  and  known — Pang  Yang, — 
changed  by  common  consent  to  Penn  Yan.  Mr.  Baldwin's  immediate 
descendants  were  Asa,  I'hilemon  H.,  Amos,  Caleb,  Rune,  George,  Mary^ 
Sally  Ann,  Elizabeth,  and  Esther. 

Elisha  Wood  worth  became  a  settler  in  Benton  in  1798,  on  lot  41,  the 
premises  now  in  part  owned  by  John  Merrifield.  In  Mr.  Woodworth's 
family  were  these  children  :  Erastus  B.,  Elisha,  Polly,  Sally,  Abner, 
Amy,  Ariel,  Anna  and  Amelia.  Polly  Woodworth  married  Dr.  Calvin 
Fargo,  an  early  physician  of  Benton,  to  whom   there  were  born   these 


358  HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUNTY. 

children:  Hiram  S.,  Russell  R.,  Julia,  Elizabeth,  Abigail  R.,  John  C, 
and  Elisha  W.  Abigail  Reed  Fargo,  one  of  these  children,  married  Will- 
iam Hoyt  Gage,  son  of  Reuben  Gage. 

Moses  Gage,  his  wife  Sarah,  and  his  children,  Mariam,  Buckbee, 
Reuben,  Aaron  and  Isaac  D.,  came  from  Dutchess  County  and  settled 
in  this  town  in  the  year  i8oi.  Here  Moses  died  in  i8i2,  and  his  wife 
in  1813.  William  Hoyt  Gage,  now  residing  on  Flat  street,  is  the  son 
of  Reuben  Gage  by  his  marriage  with  Azuba  Hoyt.  The  other  chil- 
dren of  that  union  were  Jesse,  Horace,  Martha,  Aaron,  and  Reuben  P. 
William  H.was  tlie  youngest  child  but  one.  The  surname  Gage,  repre- 
sentatives and  descendants  of  pioneer  Moses  Gage,  are  numerous  in  Ben- 
ton at  this  time,  and  are  among  the  most  enterprising  and  public  spirited 
residents  thereof. 

In  1792  Samuel  Jayne  came  to  the  Genesee  Country,  and  in  1797  be 
came  the  owner  of  a  farm  on  lot  8,  where  his  son  Samuel   now  resides, 
1891.      His  wife  was  Eleanor  VanZile,  by  whom  he  had  three  children. 
Samuel,  Henry  and  William. 

John  Coleman  was  born  August  30,  1770.  His  wife,  Christiana 
Rhine,  whom  he  married  May  24,  1795,  was  born  August  18,  1771.  In 
1798  John  Coleman  bought  fifty  acres  of  land  at  Bellona,  and  brought 
his  family  to  the  place  the  next  year.  The  wife  and  children  journeyed 
down  Seneca  Lake  on  a  raft,  landing  at  Earls,  while  the  husband  came 
overland  with  his  cattle  and  other  stock.  The  children  of  John  and 
Christiana  Coleman  were  John,  born  March  4,  1796;  Margaret,  born 
Mav  24,  1797,  married  William  Taylor  and  died  in  Benton  ;  Henry  R. , 
born  October  15,  1800,  died  May  3,  1880;  Elizabeth,  born  November 
4,  1803,  married  William  Bamborough  ;  Daniel,  born  May  27,  1806, 
killed  by  accident  while  on  wedding  tour;  Sally,  born  October  14,  1808  ; 
Charles,  born  April  30,  181 1,  and  lived  and  died  in  Benton,  December 
23,  1883.  Charles  Coleman,  the  youngest  son  of  John,  married  Mary 
Ann  Seely.  Their  children  were  George  C,  who  died  from  wounds  re- 
ceived in  the  army;  Charles  Edward,  now  in  Nebraska;  and  William 
Henry,  who  owns  and  occupies  the  old  home  farm  of  his  father,  about 
a  mile  west  from  Bellona.  Charles  Coleman  was  six  times  elected  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  in  Benton. 

Truman  Spencer  was  the  third   pioneer  settler  in  Benton.      He  came 


TOWN  OF  BENTON.  359 

during  the  year  1788,  and  made  a  purchase  from  Levi  Benton  of  land 
on  lot  8,  in  the  locality  afterward  known  as  Spencer's  Corners.  In 
1789  James  Pattison  and  his  wife,  and  their  daughter  Lois  (Pattison) 
Spencer,  wife  of  our  pioneer,  came  to  the  location  and  occupied  the 
cabin  which  Truman  Spencer  had  previously  built.  James  Pattison 
died  in  1792  and  his  wife  in  1821.  David  Spencer  was  the  first  child 
born  to  Truman  and  Lois  Spencer,  and  his  birth,  September  8,  1 790, 
was  the  first  event  of  the  kind  in  the  town.  The  other  children  born 
to  them  were  Nancy,  David  P.,  Laura,  Olive  and  James.  Bj'  reason  of 
his  services  in  the  militia  organizations,  Mr.  Spencer  became  known  as 
captain.  As  the  civil  list  will  show,  Capt.  Spencer  was  one  of  the 
presidential  electors  in  1832.  His  wife  died  in  1830,  after  which  he 
married  Martha,  widow  of  George  Wheeler.  Truman  Spencer  died  in 
April,  1840.  From  this  old  pioneer  has  descended  a  good  number  of 
active,  energetic  citizens  of  Yates  County. 

Captain  Lawrence  Townsend,  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution,  made  a  pur- 
chase of  land  in  Benton  in  1790,  and  moved  to  the  locality  during  the 
winter  following.  His  place,  which  was  a  tavern,  and  he  its  landlord, 
was  on  the  continuation  of  Head  street  east  of  and  not  far  from  the  resi- 
dence of  Thomas  Gristock.  The  children  of  Lawrence  Townsend  were 
John,  Anna,  Henry,  Phebe,  Jarius  and  Abraham. 

Aaron  Remer  was  the  son  of  John  Remer,  a  pioneer  of  what  is  now 
Torrey,  having  settled  there  in  1800.  Aaron  was  born  in  New  Jersey, 
and  on  coming  to  Torrey  located  at  or  near  Lawrence's  Mills  on  the 
outlet,  in  which  he  became  interested.  Leaving  there  he  settled  where 
Thomas  Gristock  now  lives.  His  wife,  to  whom  he  was  married  in  1804, 
was  Phebe  Townsend.  He  died  in  1 841,  and  his  wife  died  in  1867. 
Their  children  were  Lawrence  T.,  Ann,  Phebe,  Mary,  Jane,  William  T., 
and  Sarali.  Aaron  Remer  was  known  as  captain,  from  the  fact  that  he 
organized  a  cavalry  company  in  Benton  during  the  war  of  i8l2-'i5. 
The  company  was  in  active  service  for  about  three  months.  Captain 
Remer  was  in  all  respects  the  representative  and  worthy  citizen.  He  was 
one  of  the  members  of  Assembly  from  Ontario  at  the  time  of  the  erection 
of  Yates  County,  and  was  an  active  agent  in  bringing  about  its  separation 
from  the  mother  county.  He  was  the  first  men.ber  of  Assembly  fiom 
Yates,  in  1823.      In  1831  and    1832  he  again   represented  this  county. 


36o  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUA'TV. 

Stephen  Whitaker  was  the  first  settler  in  the  locaHty  of  lot  No. 
20  in  Torrey,  he  having  come  to  the  town  in  1799,  and  there  he  resided 
until  his  death  in  1827.  He  came  to  the  Genesee  Country  from  New  Jer- 
sey. Stephen  Whitaker  was  a  man  highly  respected  in  Benton  ;  he  was 
one  of  the  founders,  and  the  chief  one,  too,  of  the  first  Presbyterian  church 
and  society  in  the  town,  and  was  one  of  its  most  devoted,  conscientious 
and  worthy  members.  In  town  affairs  he  was  frequently  called  upon  to 
fill  offices  of  trust.  Mr.  Whitaker  was  married  four  times  ;  first  in  1772^ 
to  Susannah  White,  by  whom  he  had  one  child;  second,  in  1779,  to 
Ruth  Conklin,  who  bore  him  eight  children  ;  third,  to  Mary  Cross,  in 
1793  ;  and  fourth  to  Agnes,  the  widow  of  Daniel  Potter.  The  children 
of  Stephen  Whitaker  by  his  second  marriage  were  Jonathan,  Mary,  De- 
borah, Stephen,  Ruth,  Isaac,  Phebe,  and  Ann.  Jonathan,  eldest  child 
of  Stephen,  was  born  in  1780  ;  married  in  1806,  Mary  Bailey.  Their 
children  were  Squier  B.,  Stephen  M.,  Alexander  F.,  William  H.,  Eph- 
raim  M.,  Ruth  Ann,  Marietta,  and  George  W.  Squier  B.  Whitaker  was 
thrice  married  ;  first  to  Mercy  Amsbury,  second  to  Lydia  C.  Amsbury, 
and  third  to  Mary  L.  Olmsted.  James  S.  Whitaker,  of  Penn  Yan,  is  the 
son  of  Squier  B.  Whitaker  by  his  marriage  with  Lydia  C.  Amsbury. 
William  Harlow  Whitaker  was  born  August  16,  1813,  and  died  July 
29,  1881  ;  married  Ann  Eliza  McDowell,  November  30,  1837.  Their 
children  were  William  H.,  Jonathan,  Augustus,  Marietta,  Frank, 
Aurelia,  Kate  L.  and  Charles  F. 

Enos  Tubbs,  an  old  revolutionary  soldier,  settled  on  lot  31  in  1788 
or  1789.  He  was  twice  married,  having  no  children  by  his  first  wife, 
and  eight  by  his  second. 

The  name  Havens  stands  for  pioneership  in  Benton,  the  representa- 
tives coming  to  the  town  in  18 10  and  the  years  following.  The  family 
is  numerous  in  the  town  to-day. 

Benjamin  Dean  came  to  the  county  in  1798,  locating  first  near 
Seneca  Lake,  but  in  1804  settling  in  Benton,  on  lot  74.  He  had  several 
sons  who  preceded  him  to  this  region. 

Perley  Dean  was  a  pioneer  on  what  became  known  as  Flat  street,  on 
lot  39.      He  came  here  in  1793. 

Elisha,  Daniel  and  Martin  Brown,  natives  of  Connecticut,  but  directly 
from  Vermont,  located  on  lot  31  during  the  year  1793.  Later  on  lot 
78,  just  west  of  Benton  Center. 


TOWN  OF  BENTON.  361 

David  and  Experience  (Pierce)  Peckins  were  natives  of  Massachusetts 
and  came  to  Jerusalem  in  1810.  Tlieir  children  were  Hannah,  Elipha, 
David,  Lydia,  James,  Alexander,  Sabra,  Elisha,  Martha,  George,  and 
Samuel.  Elisha  Peckins  remained  in  this  county  and  lived  for  many  years 
in  Benton.  His  wife  was  Martha  Raymond,  by  whom  he  had  four 
children  :  Myron,  Arabella,  Charles  R.,  and  Jane.  Myron  Peckins 
married  Sarah  J.  Taylor,  daughter  of  Alva  Taylor  of  Benton,  and  now 
resides  in  Penn  Yan.  Charljs  R.  Peckins  married  Eleanor  Briggs, 
daughter  of  Seth  B.  Briggs,  an  old  and  respected  resident  of  Benton. 
Further  mention  of  Myron  and  Charles  Peckins  will  be  found  elsewhere 
in  this  volume. 

One  of  the  most  prominent  families  in  the  southwest  part  of  Benton 
was  that  of  which  James  Taylor  was  the  highly  respected  head.  Their 
settlement  was  made  in  1821,  on  lot  i  12.  They  were  not  pioneers,  but 
were  a  family  worthy  of  at  least  passing  mention  in  this  chapter.  On 
the  same  lot  Briggs  Belknap  settled  in  18 19.  In  the  same  general  local- 
ity, on  lot  87,  Noah  Davis  settled  in  181 3,  and  his  brother,  Thomas 
Davis,  in  18 14.     They  were  pioneers  in  that  locality. 

James  Smith  and  family,  from  Orange  County,  settled  south  of  Ren- 
ton  Center  in  1812.  Their  children  were  Job,  Julia  Ann,  Mary,  Sophia 
H.,  Emily  T.,  and  Susan  T.  Sophia  H.  Smith  became  the  wife  of  Eli 
Sheldon. 

The  Guthrie  family,  many  representatives  of  which  still  reside  in  the 
county,  settled  in  Benton  in  1819. 

The  Crozier  family,  of  which  Adam  Crozier  was  the  head,  settled  in 
the  town  in  1 82  I. 

But  the  families  whose  names  and  lives  have  been  recorded  on  the 
preceding  pages  did  not  constitute  the  entire  contingent  of  persons  en- 
titled to  mention  in  connection  with  the  early  history  of  Benten.  The 
families  named  were  perhaps  the  leading  ones,  possible  the  most  prolific, 
and  more  closely  identified  with  the  history  of  the  town,  past  and  pres- 
ent, than  were  others  of  whom  briefer  mention  was  made.  In  a  town 
like  Benton,  where  settlement  commenced  in  1788  and  concluded  only 
when  all  its  lands  were  taken  up  and  improved,  it  is  difficult  to  deter- 
mine just  where  pioneership  actually  ceases.  But  that  the  record  may 
be  made  as  complete  and  reliable  as  possible,  it   is  proposed  to  devote 

46 


^ 
\ 


1 


362  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

some  further  space  to  a  mention  of  the  names  of  some  others  of  early 
settlers  in  the  town,  but  of  whom  there  cannot  be  made  any  extended 
record. 

The  Angus  family,  of  whom  Walter  Angus  was  the  pioneer  head, 
settled  in  the  town  in  1800.  A  large  number  of  his  descendants  are 
still  residents  in  Benton,  living  mainly  on  the  shores  of  Seneca  Lake. 

In  the  north  part  of  the  town  there  were  resident  prior  to  1804, 
either  as  individuals  or  heads  of  families,  Joseph  Corey,  Joseph  Ritchie, 
Dyer,  Rilish  and  Artemas  Woodworth,  L)-man  and  Enos  Tubbs,  Tim- 
othy Goff,  Elisha  Smith,  Elihu  White,  Silas  H.  Mapes,  James  Spring- 
sted,  Jesse  Lamoreaux,  Abram  Florence,  Stephen  Wilcox,  Joseph  • 
Smith,  Richard  Wood,  Isaac  Horton,  James  Davison,  and  others,  per- 
haps, whose  names  at  this  time  cannot  be  recalled. 

Dr.  John  L.  Cleveland,  a  former  resident  of  the  count}',  and  a  medical 
practitioner  of  some  importance,  became  a  citizen  of  Benton,  living  at 
the  Center  in  1818. 

Russell  Youngs  and  his  wife,  Anna  (Buell)  Youngs,  settled  in  Benton 
in  1 80 1.  Their  children  were  Alma,  Polly,  Maria,  Milan,  Oliver  and 
Fanny.  The  youngest  child,  Fanny,  became  the  wife  of  Samuel  H. 
Chapman.  He  is  remembered  as  having  been  a  school-teacher  of  long 
experience,  and  court  crier  for  more  than  thirty  years.  In  politics  Mr. 
Chapman  was  a  Whig,  then  a  Republican,  but  during  his  later  life  he 
was  interested  in  the  cause  of  prohibition.  The  children  of  Samuel  H. 
and  Fanny  Chapman  were  Charles  E.,  who  died  in  hospital  during  the 
war;  Mary  Jane,  now  at  home  ;  Henry  O.,  who  died  in  1849;  Alson, 
who  died  in  1889;  Russel,  who  is  a  prominent  wagon-maker  at  the  Cen- 
ter; Eugene,  who  lives  in  Torrey,  and  Fred,  who  manages  the  home 
farm.      Samuel  H.  Chapman  died  April  16,  1885. 

William  Hilton  settled  on  lot  56  in  1794.  His  wife,  Ruth,  died  in 
1826,  and  he  in  1828;  Robert  Patterson  settled  on  lot  43  in  1798  or 
1799  ;  the  Weed  family,  who  are  still  numerous  in  the  county,  settled 
on  Flat  street  in  1808;  Ephraim  Kidder  located  in  the  town  in  1800; 
the  wife  of  John  McMaster,  the  progenitor  of  a  large  famil}',  many  of 
whose  descendants  still  live  in  the  town,  located  in  Benton  in  18 10;  tlie 
McFarrens  came  to  tlie  county  in  1806;  Jared  Patchen  settled  on  lot 
70  in  1807  ;   John  Powell,  a  former  blacksmith  in  Penn  Yan,  made  his 


TOWN  OF  BENTON.  363 

settlement  in  1816;  the  Lamport  family  came  to  Benton  in  1812;  Abel 
Peek's  family  settled  in  1813;  the  Randall  family  came  in  1812;  the 
Ketchum  family  were  early  settlers  in  Flat  street ;  the  children  of  Ebe- 
nezer  Boyd,  Robert,  Lewis,  and  Phebe,  settled  in  Benton  in  1814;  Ja- 
cob Winants  was  a  settler  in  Benton  in  1800,  and  left  a  large  family, 
five  of  them  being  residents  of  the  town  at  an  early  day. 

The  western  part  of  Benton  was  originally  heavily  timbered,  and  was 
known  as  the  West  Woods.  In  this  locality  settlement  did  not  com- 
mence as  early  as  in  the  eastern  sections,  and  it  was  not  until  18 1 6  or 
thereabouts  that  improvements  were  made  here.  Among  the  more 
prominent  of  the  first  families  in  this  region  of  the  town  were  the  Rec- 
tors, Cranks,  Wheelers,  Simmonses,  Fingers,  Hooses,  Carrolls,  Moons, 
Millers,  and  others,  perhaps,  whose  names  are  lost  by  time. 

Many  of  the  families  whose  names  have  been  mentioned  on  preced- 
ing pages  have  descendants  still  numbered  among  the  families  of  the 
town  to-day,  while  there  were  others,  pioneers  perhaps,  who  lived  here 
for  a  time  and  then  moved  to  some  other  locality.  Looking  over  the 
lists  of  residents  of  Benton  at  the  present  time  the  fact  will  appear  t!iat 
many  families  who  were  not  pioneers  have  substantial  descendants  now 
in  the  town,  and  they,  too,  among  the  most  thrifty  and  forehanded  of 
its  people.  Elsewhere  in  this  work  will  be  found  some  brief  mention 
of  persons  and  families  who  have  been  identified  with  the  development 
and  prosperity  of  Benton  during  the  last  fifty  and  less  of  years. 

It  has  been  the  custom  of  all  past  historical  writers  to  furnish  at  least 
a  partial  list  of  town  officers  in  connection  with  town  chapters;  and  it 
appears  to  be  conceded  generally  that  the  office  of  supervisor  is  as  rep- 
resentative a  position  as  can  be  selected  from  among  township  officers 
of  which  to  furnish  a  succession.  Benton  was  brought  into  existence 
in  1803,  but  the  records  of  the  town  during  the  first  seven  )'ears  of  its 
history,  whether  under  the  names  of  Vernon,  Snell,  or  Benton,  do  not 
appear  to  be  in  existence.  From  all  that  can  be  learned  Samuel  Law- 
rence was  supervisor  during  1808  and  1809,  and  was  succeeded  by 
Elijah  Spencer  in  18 10.  Of  course  the  reader  will  understand  that 
names  of  persons  may  be  found  in  the  following  succession  of  supervis 
ors  of  Benton  who  were  residents  of  township  7,  or  Milo;  but  none  such 
will  appear  after  1818.  The  same  may  also  be  said  of  Torrey,  which  was 
not  made  a  separate  town  until  185  1. 


364  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

Supervisors  of  Benton. — Samuel  Lawrence,  1808-09;  Elijah  Spencer, 
1810-14,  1817-19;  Joshua  Lee,  1815-16;  Meridith  MaUory,  1820; 
AbnerWoodworth,  1820-21,  1831-32;  Jonathan  Whitaker,  1823,  1825, 
1829;  John  L.  Cleveland,  1824;  Elijah  Spencer,  1826-28;  Aaron  Re- 
mer,  1830;  Anthony  Gage,  1833;  Samuel  G.Gage,  1834-35,  1838-42; 
Heman  Chapman,  1836-37;  Abner  Woodvvorth,  1843;  Aaron  Ed- 
monds, 1844;  Hatley  N.  Dox,  1845-47;  James  Simmons,  1848;  Alfred 
Baldwin,  1849;  William  S.  Hudson,  1850;  Edward  R.  Briggs,  1851; 
Henry  Hicks,  1852;  William  Taylor,  1853;  Isaac  N.  Gage,  1854; 
George  W.  Spencer,  1855;  William  T.  Remer,  1856;  George  A.  Shep- 
pard,  1857;  John  Merrificld,  1858-59,  1865-67;  Samuel  Allen,  i860; 
Homer  Mariner,  1861-62;  Caleb  Hazen,  1863-64;  Samuel  Jayne, 
1868;  Henry  C.  Collin,  1869-70;  Wemple  H.  Crane,  1871  ;  Samuel  B. 
Gage,  1872-73;  Mason  L.  Baldwin,  1874-75;  George  W.  Taylor,  1876- 
"]■]■,  Myron  Peckins,  1878-79;  Ebenezer  Scofield,  1880-81  ;  Bradley  T. 
MaUory,  1882-83;  Horace  Underwood,  1884-85;  James  M.  Lown, 
1886-87;   Frank  Coe,  1888-89;  James  B.  l\fcAlpine,  1890-91. 

Justices  of  the  Peace. — Under  an  amendment  to  the  constitution  of 
1 82 1,  passed  in  1826,  justices  became  elective  and  not  appointive  offi- 
ces ;  but  in  Benton  there  appears  no  record  showing  the  election  of  any 
justice  prior  to  1830.  From  that  time  the  justices,  with  date  of  election 
of  each,  has  been  as  follows:  AbnerWoodworth,  1830-34;  Samuel  C. 
Lyon,  183  I,  1835  ;  John  A.  McLean,  1832,  1836,  1847  ;  Jesse  T.  Gage, 
1833,  1837,  1841,  1853;  Edward  Young,  1838;  Samuel  G.  Gage,  1839, 
1847,  1851  ;  Robert  P.  Buell,  1842,  1846,  1850;  Levi  Patchen,  1843; 
James  Young,  1843;  Alpheus  Veasie,  1844;  Josiah  S.  Carr,  1848; 
Charles  Coleman,  1849,  i857.  1861,  1865,  1869,  1873;  George  B.  Stan- 
ton, 1852;  William  Comstock,  1854,  1858,  1862;  William  S.  Hudson, 
1855;  James  Durham,  1856,  i860;  Martin  Brown,  jr.,  1^59,  1863;  Ed- 
win Lamport,  1862,  1864;  Thomas  H.  Locke,  1866,  1870,  1874,  1878; 
Henry  R.  Taylor,  1867,  1S71  ;  Daniel  Millspaugh,  1872,  1876;  Myron 
Peckins,  1876;  William  Best,  1879;  Walter  W.  Becker,  1880,  1884; 
Rowland  S.  Manley,  1881  ;  Charles  R.  Peckins,  1882,  1886,  1890; 
George  B.  Barden,  1883,  1887;  William  H.  Coleman,  1885;  Emmet  C. 
Payne,  1888;   Ashley  W.  Barden,  1889. 

Villages  and  Hamlets. — That  part  of  the  incorporated  village  of  Penn 


TO  IVA  OF  BENTON.  •  365 

\''an  which  Hes  north  of  Head  street  forms  a  part  of  the  town  of  Benton ; 
and  tlie  electors  therein  have  a  voice  and  ballot  in  the  election  of  town 
officers  of  Benton,  and  village  officers  of  I'enn  Yan.  But  the  voters  of 
Benton  outside  the  village  have  no  voice  in  the  election  of  municipal 
officers  ;  therefore  any  extended  reference  to  the  village  as  a  part  of  the 
township  is  not  appropriate  to  this  chapter. 

Outside  of  Penn  Yan  tlie  principal  central  point  for  trade  and  busi- 
ness in  Benton  is  the  little  hamlet  called  Bellona,  situate  on  Cashong 
Creek,  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  town.  From  the  time  of  the  found- 
ing of  the  village  about  1810,  until  the  present  time,  the  population  has 
at  no  time  exceeded  300  souls  ;  but,  in  a  way,  Bellona  has  been  and  is 
an  important  point.  Its  business  interests  have  been  comprised  in  the 
saw  and  grist-mills,  the  indispensible  tavern,  and  two  or  three  stores. 
Bellona  was  made  a  mail  station  in  1813,  with  Martin  Gage  as  post- 
master. He  held  office  until  1839,  and  was  then  succeeded  by  Dr. 
Anthony  Gage.  The  stone  mill  at  Bellona  was  built  about  or  soon 
after  1835. 

Benton  Center  is  the  name  of  a  little  village  having  no  corporate  or- 
ganization, situate  very  near  the  middle  of  township  No.  8  as  originally 
laid  out  and  surveyed.  It  is  distant  from  the  county  seat  about  three 
and  one-half  miles,  on  the  main  thoroughfare  of  travel  north  from  Penn 
Yan,  and  at  the  intersection  of  the  road  just  mentioned  with  the  only 
east  and  west  road  that  leads  directly  and  entirely  across  the  town. 
The  proximity  of  the  Center  to  Penn  Yan  precludes  the  possibility  of 
its  ever  becoming  a  trading  point  of  importance.  Having  no  natural 
water  power,  it  is  not  of  value  as  a  manufacturing  locality.  The  first 
settlement  in  Benton  was  made  east  of  and  near  the  Center  b)'  Levi 
Benton,  while  the  lots  Nos.  113,  114,  115,  and  116,  that  contribute 
lands  to  the  hamlet  proper,  were  themselves  occupied  at  an  early  day. 
Still  the  village  had  no  postoffice  until  1825,  when  Joel  Ross  was  ap- 
pointed postmaster.  David  Buell  succeeded  him,  since  whose  time 
John  A.  Haight,  Isaac  N.  Gage,  Asahel  Savage,  Myron  Cole,  Edwin 
Lamport,  and  Oliver  C.  Guthrie  have  held  the  same  office.  Benton 
Center  has  two  churches  and  church  societies,  each  of  which  is  nun- 
tioned  on  succeeding  pages  of  this  chapter. 

Ferguson's  Corners  is  the  lesser  in  importance  of  the  three  hamlet? 


366  ■  HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUNTY. 

of  the  town.      Its   situation  is  in  the  extreme  northwestern  section  of 
Benton,  and    its  size  is  scarcely  greater   than  the  average  of  corners  or 
cross  roads.      A    postoffice  was  established   here  in  1842,  but  discon- 
.  tinued  in  1865. 

Ckurck  History  of  Benton  — It  has  been  said,  and  with  much  show  of 
truth,  that  Benton  is  the  mother  of  churches  in  Yates  County.  The  only 
locaHty  that  had  a  church  prior  to  Benton  was  that  occupied  by  the 
Friends,  and  theirs  was  but  a  primitive  log  building.  Moreover,  the 
Friends  were  a  sect  that  colonized  in  the  region,  worshiping  in  peculiar 
form  and  manner,  not  recognized  by  the  established  churches  or  relig- 
ious denominations  then  extant,  and  one  that  proved  not  to  be  founded 
upon  substantial  basis  and  without  perpetuity. 

The  Methodist  Church  in  Benton  had  its  inception  in  the  missionary 
preachings  held  as  early  as  the  year  1792  in  Levi  Benton's  barn,  at 
which  time  and  period  Ezra  Cole  was  a  local  preacher  and  organizer. 
In  1793  he  organized  a  Methodist  class,  among  the  members  of  which 
were  himself  and  his  wife,  Matthew  Cole,  Lois  Cole,  Delila  Cole,  Elipha- 
let  Hull  and  wife,  George  Wheeler,  jr.,  and  wife,  and  Mrs.  Sarah  Buell. 
Eliphalet  Hull  was  the  first  class  leader;  George  Wheeler  the  second. 
At  that  time  Benton  was  in  the  Seneca  Lake  circuit,  and  so  remained 
until  1806.  A  Genesee  conference  was  formed  in  1809,  and  a  Crooked 
Lake  circuit  in  18 14.  The  first  meeting-house  of  the  society  was 
erected  in  1807,  on  the  farm  now  of  M.  L.  Baldwin,  about  a  mile  south 
of  Benton  Center.  Except  that  of  the  Friends,  this  was  the  first  meet- 
ing-house erected  in  what  is  Yates  County.  George  Wheeler,  jr.,  fur- 
nished  the  land  for  the  building.  ■ 

The  first  twenty  years  witnessed  increasing  strength  in  the  class  and 
society,  but  misfortunes  and  some  secessions  worked  injuriously  until 
about  1826,  when  a  revival  re-established  its  strength.  In  1828  the 
Benton  circuit  was  formed,  including  the  several  classes  in  the  town, 
with  result  in  the  erection  of  a  house  of  worship  west  of  the  Center  at 
Havens  Corners.  Five  years  later  a  parsonage  was  built  near  the 
church.  The  Center  did  not  become  a  station  until  1 841,  and  for  all  prior 
time  such  services  as  were  held  were  conducted  either  by  local  preach- 
ers or  circuit  riders.  The  church  at  the  Center  was  built  in  1855,  and 
substantially  remodeled  and   repaired  in  1859. 


4 

TOWN  OF  BENTON.  367 

The  Methodist  Church  at  Bellona  is  but  a  branch  or  offshoot  from  the 
mother  society  of  the  town.  The  first  services  were  held  in  1805  in  the 
log  school  house,  and  in  1809  such  interest  had  come  to  be  shown  that 
a  regular  place  for  preaching  was  established.  The  class  at  Bellona 
was  formed  the  same  year,  among  its  members  being  Benjamin  Bid- 
lack,  Henry  Oxtoby  and  wife,  Jacob  Wood  and  wife,  and  John  Davis 
and  wife.  In  18 10  a  meeting-house  was  commenced  and  enclosed 
during  the  first  year,  but  it  was  not  until  1820  that  it  was  fully  com- 
pleted.     It  stood  on  the  hill  just  north  of  the  village. 

In  1 84 1,  under  the  direction  of  H.  R.  Coleman,  Summers  Banks, 
J.  W.  Wood,  Georc/e  Waite,  and  Charles  Coleman,  as  building  com- 
mittee, the  new  centrally  located  church  edifice,  36x56  feet  in  size, 
with  steeple  and  bell  was  erected.  Two  j-ears  later,  in  1843,  Bellona 
was  made  a  separate  charge,  and  Seth  Mattison  was  its  first  preacher. 
In  1866  extensive  repairs  were  made  to  the  church  edifice,  making  it 
when  completed  an  attractive  and  commodious  house  of  worship.  The 
committee  in  charge  of  the  work  were  Charles  Coleman,  Summers 
Banks,  George  H.  Banks,  J.  H.  Huie,  C.  Lazenby  and  George  Brooks. 

The  Baptist  Church  and  society  of  Benton  Center,  and  in  fact  of  the 
town,  had  their  origin  in  the  meetings  and  services  that  are  said  to  have 
begun  as  early  as  1797,  although  there  exists  no  tangible  proof  to  show 
that  any  organization  took  place  prior  to  1800,  when  Elder  John  Goft 
was  appointed  and  ordained  to  the  charge  of  the  society.  David  South- 
erland  and  Moses  Finch  were  elected  deacons.  At  that  time  it  was 
known  as  the  Vernon  Church.  Elder  Goff  was  pastor  of  the  church  for 
thirty- six  years,  and  is  remembered  particularly  on  account  of  the  great 
length  of  his  discourses  at  regular  church  meetings,  funerals  and  wed- 
ding celebrations.      In  1836  he  emigrated  to  Michigan. 

The  first  church  edifice  of  this  society  was  erected  in  1 8 1 8,  and  stood, 
not  at  the  Center,  but  on  the  road  next  east  and  leading'to  the  north. 
At  that  time  there  were  a  number  of  Universalists  in  the  town,  and  they 
contributed  toward  the  fund  with  which  the  church  was  built.  Occa  - 
sionally  Universalist  services  were  held  in  the  church.  In  1848  the 
commodious  church  edifice  at  the  Center  was  erected.  The  trustees, 
Samuel  G.  Gage,  George  R.  Barden,  James  Southerland,  Jolin  Church, 
and  Charles  Gilbert  acted  as  building  committee.  Tlie  parsonage  prop- 
erty was  purchased  in  1856,  costing  $1,200. 


368  HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUNTY. 

Elder  Goff  began  his  pastorate  in  1800  and  served  thirty- six  years. 
Next,  after  a  vacancy  of  two  years,  Elias  Buck  was  called,  remaining 
two  years.  William  H.  Delano  came  in  1840  and  served  four  years. 
John  W.  Wiggins  was  called  in  1845,  ^'^^  Daniel  Litchfield  in  1847,  the 
latter  serving  four  years.  Elder  Almon  C.  Mallory  was  ordained  in 
185  I,  and  continued  in  charge  of  the  church  twenty-four  years.  Sub- 
sequent to  the  pastorate  of  Mr.  Mallory  the  elders  in  charge  have 
been  T.  S.  Hill,  Albert  Martin,  V.  P.  Mather  and  S.  D.  Works. 

Among  the  earlier  members  of  the  Baptist  Church  at  Benton  Center 
can  be  recalled  the  names  of  Samuel  Buell,  Moses  Finch,  David  South- 
erland,  David  Riggs,  William  Gilbert,  Benjamin  Fowle,  Francis  Dean, 
Simon  Southerland,  Smith  Mapes,  Isaac  Lain,  Elisha  Benedict,  Eph- 
raim  Kidder,  Isaac  Whitney.VBuckbee  Gage,  Benjamin  Dean,  Samuel 
Raymond,  Robert  Watson,  Jonathan  and  Jesse  Brown,  Stephen  Wil- 
kins,  David  Kidder,  David  Holmes,  David  Trimmer,  John  L.  Swart- 
hout,  Stephen  Coe,  Charles  and  Joel  Gillette,  James  Southerland, 
Heman  Chapman,  Jacob  Watson,  Henry  Nutt. 

The  Presbyterian  Church  of  Benton,  the  mother  of  several  other  so- 
cieties of  that  denomination  in  the  county,  was  organized  through  the 
efforts  and  influence  of  pioneer  Stephen  Whitaker.  He  was  a  Presby- 
terian and  laid  the  foundation  of  the  society  in  the  prayer  and  conver- 
sation meetings  held  at  his  own  house  as  early  as  the  year  1802.  On 
the  /th  of  November,  1809,  Rev.  John  Lindsley  organized  a  society  at 
a  meeting  held  at  Mr.  Whitaker's  house.  The  original  members  were 
Stephen  and  Mary  Whitaker,  John  and  Susannah  Armstrong,  John  and 
Sarah  Hall,  George  and  Elizabeth  Armstong,  John  and  Sarah  McLean, 
Solomon  Couch,  William  Read,  Rebecca  Boyd,  Terry  Owen  and  wife, 
and  William  Roy.  The  first  ordained  elders  were  Stephen  Whitaker, 
John  Hall  and  Solomon  Couch.  The  society  had  no  regular  pastor 
until  1820,  when  on  September  13th  Rev.  Richard  Williams  was  in- 
stalled. 

In  1816  the  full  brganization  of  this  church  was  effected,  and  the 
name  "The  First  Presbyterian  Congregation  of  the  Town  of  Benton," 
was  adopted.  The  first  church  edifice  of  the  society  was  erected  in 
1 82 1  on  the  southwest  corner  of  lot  No.  12.  Here  services  were  held 
until  January,  1839,  and   then  transferred  to  the  church  then   recently 


TOWN  OF  STARk'EV.  369 

acquired  at  Belloiia.  Here  they  have  since  been  continued,  but  a  good 
proportion  of  the  old  membership  and  their  descendants  became  united 
with  the  churcli  at  Penn  Yan.  In  fact  it  was  considered  that  there  was 
a  virtual  removal  of  the  old  church  to  the  county  seat. 

The  church  building  occupied  by  the  Benton  Presbyterian  Society 
on  its  removal  or  transfer  to  Bellona  village  was  the  same  formerly  oc- 
cupied by  the  society  of  the  Dutch  Reformed  Church.  The  latter  had 
its  organization  in  1833,  and  tiie  church  edifice  was  built  the  same  year 
at  the  individual  expense  of  John  Pembrook  and  Jacob  Meserole  ;  but 
the  sale  of  pews  nearly  made  good  the  amount  expended  by  them.  The 
society  continued  only  about  six  years,  and  the  building  was  sold  in 
1839  to  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  society.  The  latter  absorbed  the 
former  concrregation. 


CHAPTER  XXn. 
HISTORY    OF   THE   TOWN   OF   STARKEY.l 

THE  town  of  Starkey  is  situated  in  the  southeast  corner  of  Yates 
County,  and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  the  town  of  Milo,  east 
by  Seneca  Lake,  south  by  the  town  of  Reading,  Schuyler  County,  and 
west  by  the  towns  of  Barrington  and  Reading.  Yates  County  was  or- 
ganized in  the  year  1823.  The  town  of  Starkey  was  not  included  in 
the  organization  until  the  next  year,  1824. 

Starkey  was  originally  a  part  of  the  old  town  of  Frederickstown,  af- 
terward Reading.  The  name  of  Frederickstown  was  changed  to  Wayne, 
in  honor  of  General  Anthony  Wayne,  April  6,  1 808.  Reading  was 
founded  in  1808  and  included  the  town  of  Starkey,  which  was  organ- 
ized in  1824  by  act  of  legislature. 

The  early  history  of  the  town  of  Starkey  is  rather  obscure.  The  pi- 
oneers have  passed  away,  and  their  descendants  have  scattered  so  that 
but  few  if  any  remain.      So   far   as  can    be  ascertained,  the  earliest  at- 

1  By  Charles  H.  Martin. 

47 


370  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

tempt  at  settlement  was  made  by  Elnathan,  jr.,  and  Benj.  liotsford, 
and  a  brother-in-law,  Achilles  Comstock.  They  bought  400  acres  of 
Charles  Williamson,  not  surveyed,  built  a  log  house  and  made  a  large 
clearing  in  1798.  Their  property  was  destroyed  by  a  forest  fiie,  and  a 
surve)'  deprived  them  of  half  of  their  land.  They  became  discouraged 
and  abandoned  their  claim  and  returned  to  the  Friends'  settlement  in 
Jerusalem,  whence  they  came.  There  is  a  tradition  that  the  first 
permanent  inhabitant  was  William  Eddy.  The  east  side  of  Seneca 
Lake  was  the  route  of  General  Sullivan  in  his  expedition  against  the 
Indians,  and  was  the  first  to  be  settled  by  the  whites.  The  dv\ellers  on 
the  east  side  had  noticed  for  some  ^tinie  a  column  of  smoke  ascending 
from  a  particular  place  on  the  west  side.  Their  curiosity  was  excited, 
and  a  party  was  formed  to  investigate.  On  a  bright  Sunday  morning 
the  expedition  paddled  their  canoes  across  to  the  Seneca  landing,  north 
of  what  is  now  Glenora.  After  landing  the  familiar  sound  of  a  bell  was 
heard.  Following  the  sound  it  led  them  to  a  cow  ;  and  following  the 
cow  she  led  them  to  the  cabin  of  William  Edd}-,  the  first  settler  of 
Eddytown,  and  as  believed,  the  first  of  Starke)'. 

William  Eddy  settled  on  the  farm  south  of  Eddytown  now  owned 
b\'  Dennis  W.  Disbrow,  where  he  remained  several  years.  Later  in 
life  he  became  possessed  with  the  delusion  that  he  had  a  fortune  waiting 
for  him  in  his  native  country.  He  sold  his  property  and  returned  to 
Ireland  to  find,  like  many  other  fortune  hunters,  that  his  fortune  was 
but  a  myth.  He  failed  to  find  a  person  that  had  ever  known  or  heard 
of  him.      He  ended  his  life  in  an  alms  house  and  died  a  pauper. 

Assuming  William  Eddy  to  have  been  the  first  permanent  white  settler,- 
we  find  the  next  in  order  was  a  colony  from  Sandgate,  Vermont,  who  lo- 
cated in  and  around  Eddytown,  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  town  of  Starkey. 
Among  the  number  were  the  three  brothers,  Mathew  Royce,  Simeon 
Royce,  Reuben  Royce,  Abner  Hurd  and  his  three  sons,  Timothy 
Hurd,  Aaron  Hurd,  and  Ransom  Hurd,  all  in  1802.  Andrew  Booth 
came  later,  181 1,  and  was  from  the  same  locality  as  was  Moses  Hurd, 
who  came  in  about  the  same  time  of  the  first  colony  and  settled  near 
Rock  stream,  and  gave  the  early  name  of  Hurd's  Corners  to  that 
place.  New  Jersey  furnished  a  large  quota.  Among  the  number  was 
David  Hay,  1S04;  Andrew  Raplee,  1806;  Teval  Swarts,  1807;  Joseph  C. 


TOWN  OF  STARKEY.  371 

Lewis,  David  Shannon,  Stephen  Reeder,  Joshua  Tuthill,  James  Sprouls, 
and  Hiram  Titsworth,  who  located  in  different  parts  of  the  town,  mostly 
north  of  Dundee. 

Richard  Lanning  and  his  three  sons  came  from  Wilksbarre  in  1802. 
George  Plummer  came  from  the  same  place  in  1807,  and  located  on  the 
hill  between  Dundee  and  Eddytown.  John  Starkey  and  David  Semans 
were  originally  from  Maryland,  but  later  from  Seneca  County.  Peter 
Wallace,  John  O.  Cook,  Reuben  Thomas,  Gideon  Thomas,  Thomas 
Rozell,  and   Col.  Elisha  Ward  settled    the   southwest  part  of  the  town. 

The  mention  of  Col.  Elisha  Ward's  name  recalls  the  memory  of  a 
horrible  tragedy  with  which  the  family  was  sadly  connected.  Colonel 
Ward  lived  m  the  extreme  south  part  of  the  town  on  the  county  line. 
He  was  a  well-to-do  farmer  and  lived  in  better  style  than  his  neigh- 
bors. The  family  consisted  of  the  parents  and  an  infant  child.  There 
was  boarding  with  them  a  man  named  Baldwin,  affected  slightly  with 
insanity,  but  never  known  to  be  violent  or  dangerous.  He  became  ap- 
parently very  fond  of  the  child,  and  the  baby  became  equally  fond  of 
him.  Baldwin  would  quiet  the  child  when  the  mother  failed.  On  a 
certain  day  the  child  was  unusually  fretful.  The  mother  gave  the  child 
to  Baldwin  who  said  he  could  "still  "  it.  He  took  it  out  of  doors,  laid  it 
on  the  stump  of  a  tree,  and  siezing  an  axe,  severed  its  head  from  the 
body.  Turning  to  the  mother  he  said,  "  the  child  is  stilled."  The 
mother  was  frantic.  She  caught  the  headless  body  of  her  child  and  for 
a  long  time  refused  to  relinquish  it.  Baldwin  was  afterward  cured  of 
his  malady  and  became  an  able  lawyer. 

The  early  settlement  of  the  town  appears  to  have  been  rapid.  The 
fertility  of  the  soil,  the  beauty  of  the  scenery,  the  low  price  of  the  land, 
the  easy  terms  of  payment,  the  kindness  and  lenity  of  the  land  of- 
fice agents  in  extending  the  time  of  payment  in  case  of  sickness  or  fail- 
ure of  crops,  were  inducements  that  favored  the  rapid  development  of 
the  county  and  attracted  a  very  desirable  class  of  settlers. 

The  land  was  originally  covered  with  dense  forests.  That  of  the 
eastern  portion,  sloping  towards  the  Seneca  Lake,  was  timbered 
in  part  with  fine  specimens  of  oak,  maple,  black  walnut,  hickory,  red 
cedar,  and  other  varieties,  and  in  the  western  portion  (the  valley  of  Big 
Stream)    pines   of    magnificent   growth    were   interspersed    with    other 


372  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

kinds,  all  of  which  would  have  been  of  great  value  if  retained  until  a 
later  period,  but  was  then  an  incumbrance  to  be  removed  in  the  easiest 
manner.  The  manner  then  employed  was  to  chop  the  trees  in  lengths 
of  fourteen  to  sixteen  feet,  "log"  them  into  heaps  and  burn  tliem. 
What  would  have  been  worth  millions  of  dollars  if  kept  until  later  have 
been   thus  destro\'ed. 

It  is  doubtful  whether  the  town  of  Starkey,  after  nearly  one  hundred 
years  of  careful  cultivation  and  improvement,  is  of  any  more  value  than 
it  would  be  could  it  be  restored  to  the  condition  it  was  when  abandoned 
by  the  Indians. 

The  principal  water  course  of  the  town  is  Big  Stream.  This  stream 
enters  the  town  on  its  western  boundary,  and  flowing  in  a  southeasterly 
direction  through  the  entire  breadth  of  the  town,  finally  discharges  its 
waters  over  a  ]3recipice  of  more  than  loo  feet  into  Seneca  Lake,  forming 
a  beautiful  waterfall.  Big  Stream,  in  those  early  days  of  which  we  write, 
and  later,  was  a  splendid  water-power,  and  furnished  power  for  fifteen 
saw- mills,  four  fulling-mills,  (i.  e  ,  mills  where  wool  was  carded  and  cloth 
was  dressed,)  two  woolen  factories,  and  five  grist  or  flouring- mills.  The 
mill  privilege  in  West  Dundee  alone  furnished  power  for  three  saw- 
mills, one  grist-mill,  a  fulling-mill  and  tannery.  Now  in. a  drouth  there 
is  hardly  water  enough  to  run  a  steam  engine.  The  shrinkage  of  water 
in  the  streams  is  without  doubt  due  to  the  destruction  of  the  forests. 
There  are  now  but  two  saw-mills  and  two  grist  or  flouring-mills  on  the 
stream.  The  only  grist  and  flouring- mill  in  the  town  in  running  order 
is  the  Pecha  mill  at  Glenora.  The  mill  was  built  by  James  Barkly  of 
Geneva,  N.  Y.,  in  the  year  1837.  Larmon  G.  Townsend  soon  after  its 
completion  became  partner  and  afterward  owner.  The  original  cost  of 
the  mill  was  $16,000,  It  was  sold  at  auction  in  the  year  1864,  and  bid 
off  by  H.  G.  Stafford  for  $1,030.  Mr.  Staftbrd  sold  it  for  $5,000,  after 
putting  on  repairs  costing  $1,500.  The  present  owners  have  added 
many  new  improvements.  The  Pechas,  father  and  son,  are  English, 
and  are  practical  millers,  and  thoroughly  understand  their  business. 
The  mill  has  always  been  in  good  repute  and  is  a  great  convenience  to 
the  surrounding  countrj'.  The  old  Martin  stone  mill,  still  remaining, 
has  been  abandoned,  and  of  the  remaining  four  mentioned  three  were 
destroyed  by  fire  and  the  fourth  was  removed.     Just   across  the  town 


TOWN  OF  STARKEY.  373 

line  in  Harrington  the  late  Clinton  Raplee  built  a  grist  and  saw- mill, 
and  his  sons  have  added  a  large  basket  factory. 

Rock  Stream,  much  smaller  than  the  above,  crosses  the  entire  breadth 
of  the  town  from  west  to  east  and  empties  into  Seneca  Lake  at  Rock 
Stream  Point. 

The  town  of  Starkey  has  an  excellent  soil  well  adapted  to  the  culti- 
vation of  all  kinds  of  grain,  vegetables  and  fruit.  The  soil  is  various, 
including  sand,  clay  and  loam.  The  cultivation  of  fruit  has  become  one 
of  the  leading  (if  not  the  leading)  industries  of  the  town.  Large  vine- 
yards have  been  established  along  the  shores  of  the  Seneca  Lake,  and 
inland  for  four  or  five  miles.  The  acres  devoted  to  grapes  and  other 
fruits  can  be  estimated  by  thousands.  Other  fruits  have  not  been  neg- 
lected. Apples,  pears,  plums  and  peaches  are  raised  in  abundance, 
and  the  raising  and  evaporating  of  raspberries  has  assumed  large  pro- 
portions. Strawberries,  black- berries,  raspberries,  as  well  as  the  other 
fruits  mentioned  above,  are  shipped  in  large  quantities  in  their  season. 
The  fruit  crop  is  the  main  reliance  of  many  families  for  support,  and 
the  freighting  is  a  goodly  source  of  profit  to  the  railroads. 

At  the  first  town  meeting  the  contest  centered  on  the  office  of  super- 
visor. The  nominees  were  John  Starkey  and  Isaac  Lanning.  The 
election  was  hotly  contested.  Mr.  Starkey  was  the  successful  candi- 
date. The  next  year  the  same  candidates  were  nominated  and  Mr. 
Lanning  was  elected  and  held  the  office  for  several  terms.  The  Lan- 
nings  were  a  conspicuous  family  in  the  early  history  of  the  town.  The 
father,  Richard  Lanning,  was  the  first  justice  of  the  peace  appointed  by 
the  governor,  and  was  the  first  elected  by  the  people.  Isaac  was  one 
of  the  leading  politicians  of  the  town.  In  later  years  he  was  postmaster 
for  several  terms.  Early  in  the  anti- slavery  agitation  he  became  a  rigid 
abolitionist.  His  house  was  one  of  the  stations  of  the  "Underground 
Railroad,"  and  many  a  poor  slave  was  helped  b\'  him  on  his  way  to 
freedom. 

Richard  Lanning,  James  Watson  and  John  Starkev'  were  justices  of 
the  peace  by  appointment  of  the  governor  when  the  town  was  erected. 
Richard  Lanning  held  the  office  for  several  terms.  Isaac  Lanning  car- 
ried on  a  large  business  in   blacksmithing  for  many  years  in  Eddytown. 

Starkey  has   five   postoffices,   Dundee,   Starkey,    Eddytovvn,  Glciiora 


374  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

and  Rock  Stream.  Caleb  Fulkerson  and  Andrew  Harrison  kept  inns  in 
1808,  the  first  in  the  town.  John  Sears  built  the  first  grist-mill.  It  was 
located  east  of  Eddytownon  landsformerly  owned  by  General  Hurd,  now 
by  Mrs,  Youngs.  Mr.  Sears  found  the  stones  used  in  the  mill  in  a 
ravine  on  the  same  premises,  and  picked  and  fashioned  them  into  form 
himself  So  far  as  known  John  Starkey  built  the  second  grist-mill  in 
what  is  now  Dundee. 

The  early  merchants  of  Eddytown  were  Henry  Smith,  James  Hunt- 
ington, Benjamin  Cheever,  John  Bogart,  Isaac  P.  Seymour,  King  & 
Noyes,  Harvey  G.  Stafford,  and  George  W.  Summers. 

Col.  Stafford  was  for  many  years  the  leading  merchant  of  the  town. 
He  came  to  Eddytown  in  1822  and  engaged  with  Benjamin  Cheever 
as  clerk,  and  in  1827  became  partner,  and  subsequently  purchased 
the  business.  He  removed  to  Dundee  in  1846,  and  was  partner  in  the 
firm  of  Stafford,  Martin  &  Co.  After  that  partnership  was  dissolved 
he  engaged  in  banking  and  other  business.  He  was  postmaster  under 
Fillmore's  administration.  He  lived  to  the  great  age  of  eighty-eight, 
and  died  November  10,  1891. 

The  village  of  Dundee  accupies  the  space  of  three-fourth  of  a  mile 
north  and  south,  and  one  and  one-half  miles  east  and  west.  It  has  the 
old  and  new  pre-emption  lines  for  its  eastern  and  western  boundaries. 
The  village  is  located  in  one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  the  many  beautiful 
valleys  of  the  State.  It  occupies  a  central  position  in  the  town  of 
Starkey,  and  is  the  largest  village  in  the  township,  and  the  second 
in  the  population  in  the  county.  The  population  according  to  the  last 
census  was  a  trifle  over  1,200.  Dundee  was  incorporated  in  1848. 
Of  the  250  voters  within  the  village  limits  when  it  was  incorporated  only 
four  are  residents  now,  and  most  of  the  others  have  passed  into  another 
state  of  existence.  The  four  remaining  are  Hon.  J.  T.  Andrews,  V. 
Oldfield,  C.  H.  Martin,  and  Andrew  Harpending,  all  well  advanced  in 
years. 

The  first  settlers  where  Dundee  now  stands  were  Isaac  Stark,  Anson 
Stark,  William  Durland,  Hendrick  Houghtaling,  Elias  Fitzwater,  Jon- 
athan Botsford,  John  Walton,  Benjamin  Potter,  Isaac  Houghtaling, 
Lazarus  Reed,  Joseph  Green,  residing  chiefly  on  or  near  Big  Streams. 
Whether  Isaac  Stark  was  the  first  to  settle  on  what   is  now  the  site  of 


TO  WN  OF  ST  A  RKE  V.  375 

Dundee,  or  whetlier  the  Hoiightaling  families  were  here  before  him,  is  a 
mooted  question  that  I  have  not  been  able  to  decide  and  on  which  the 
older  iniiabitants  disagree.  It  is  probable  that  both  families  came  in  the 
same  year.  In  1807  Isaac  Stark  built  a  double  log  house  on  the  site 
now  occupied  by  James  Bigelow's  residence,  corner  of  Main  street  and 
West  avenue.  (Mr.  Stark  was  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Ernest  Daily.)  He 
owned  all  the  land  from  the  corner  of  Main  street  east  to  the  village 
limit  and  south  to  Big  Stream.  Mr.  Stark  offered  the  whole  tract  for  a 
pair  of  gray  horses.  The  owner  of  the  horses  declined  to  accept  tlie 
offer.  The  land  was  originallj'  so  densely  covered  with  pitch  pine  trees 
that  the  older  inhabitants  used  to  say  a  "single  ray  of  sunlight 
could  not  penetrate  them,  and  it  was  dusk  at  noon  "  The  Houghtal- 
ings  owned  200  acres  on  the  north  side  of  Seneca  street.  The  land  was 
called  "  pine  barrens,"  and  was  considered  of  little  value. 

Harpending's  Corners  was  the  name  by  which  Dundee  was  known  at 
that  time,  and  the  word  "  corners  "  fully  describes  the  place.  There 
were  then  onl}-  tiie  four  principal  streets,  viz.  :  Main,  Seneca,  Water  and 
Union,  if  we  except  Millard  street,  which  was  only  a  country  road,  and 
Spring  street,  then  socalled  Potash  lane,  a  private  alley  leading  to  an 
ashery  located  at  its  western  terminus.  To  say  Harpending's  Corners 
was  not  an  inviting  or  pleasant  place  to  look  upon  would  be  to  state 
the  question  in  a  very  mild  form.  The  appearance  of  the  village  was 
dreary  and  desolate.  The  streets  were  rough  and  uneven,  filled  with 
piles  of  lumber,  shingles  and  staves,  and  were  profusely  decorated  with 
stumps.  Cows,  pigs,  and  geese  ran  at  large,  and  pig-troughs  were  in 
front  of  some  of  the  dwellings.  There  were  no  side-walks,  no  shade 
trees,  no  churches,  no  lawyers,  no  justices  or  other  town  officers,  no 
stages,  livery  or  other  public  conveyances,  and  what  will  indicate  the 
very  low  grade  of  civilization,  there  was  not  a  billiard  or  gambling  room 
in  the  village.  Not  to  say  that  there  was  not  any  of  the  last  named 
business.  There  was  a  large  amount  in  a  small  way,  which  was  usually 
transacted  in  the  hay- mows  of  barns  and  horse  sheds.  "Old  Sledge"  was 
the  game,  and  the  stakes  were  "  a  shilling  a  corner,"  whatever  that  might 
imply.  Long  rows  of  unsightly  rail  fences  were  on  all  the  streets. 
There  were  about  thirty  buildings,  large  ami  small  (mostl\'  small), 
and  illy  kept,  scattered  along  the  four  principal  streets  singl)-  and  in 
small  luiddles. 


376  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

There  were  no  agents  or  drummers  in  those  early  times.  The  "  com- 
mercial traveler  "  was  not  known.  The  system  of  selling  goods  by 
sample  was  not  inaugurated  until  many  years  later.  It  has  come  to 
stay  and  gives  employment  to  an  army  of  very  competent  men,  and  is 
a  matter  of  great  convenience  to  merchants,  many  of  whom  never  visit 
the  cities  to  make  their  purchases.  The  merchants  "went  below  "  twice 
each  year,  spring  and  fall,  and  their  goods  were  transported  by  canal. 
"  Going  below  "  implied  a  trip  to  Troy,  Albany,  and  sometimes  to  New 
York.  After  receiving  their  goods  their  shelves  would  be  reasonably 
full.  Then  there  would  be  a  rush  of  customers  for  new  goods,  and  as 
the  shelves  became  empty  the  goods  would  be  condensed  on  the  lower 
shelves  and  a  strip  of  wall  paper  would  be  stretched  over  the  empty 
shelves.  In  two  months  after  the  goods  were  received  the  assortment 
would  be  broken,  and  in  a  month  a  great  many  articles  could  not  be 
obtained.  Often  there  would  not  be  a  pound  of  sugar  in  the  town,  and 
a  scarcity  of  many  other  articles.  Money  was  scarce  and  a  great  por- 
tion of  the  business  was  in  barter.  "  Store  pay  "  was  almost  considered 
"  legal  tender."  All  kinds  of  grain  and  other  produce  were  among  the 
exchanges.  Ashes  was  a  very  important  factor,  there  being  two  ash- 
eries  where  potash  was  manufactured.  Lumber  and  staves  were  taken 
at  low  figures — five  dollars  per  thousand  bought  very  good  lumber. 
Shingles  were  bought  in  very  large  quantities.  It  was  not  an  unusual 
sight  to  see  large  numbers  of  horse  and  o.x-teams  loaded  with  shingles 
on  the  streets,  and  if  there  was  a  woman  on  the  load,  as  was  often  the 
case,  it  was  considered  mortgaged. 

There  was  one  hotel,  owned  and  kept  by  Samuel  Harpending,  grand- 
father of  the  present  proprietor.  Harpending  House  has  been  owned  by 
some  member  of  the  Harpending  family  for  more  than  seventy  years, 
and  has  always  been  deservedly  popular  and  noted  for  its  good  cheer. 
The  original  proprietor,  "  Uncle  Sam,"  as  he  was  familiarly  called,  was 
a  character  in  his  way.  Large  and  burly  of  figure,  the  ideal  of  a  coun- 
try landlord,  clear  headed  and  shrewd  in  business  affairs,  kind  and  gen- 
erous of  heart  withal,  though  tempestuous  of  temper.  When  once 
aroused  it  was  no  gentle  shower  that  distilled,  but  a  thunder  storm,  a 
hurricane,  a  tornado.  His  vocabulary  of  abusive  language  was  won- 
derful, and  woe  to  the  unlucky    wight  who  chanced  to  fall   under  his 


I 

TO  WN  OF  S  TARKE  Y.  377 

displeasure.  He  made  things  lively  while  the  storm  raged,  but  it  would 
subside  as  quickly  as  it  had  been  raised,  and  he  would  be  just  as  ready 
in  half  an  hour  to  do  his  victim  a  favor  as  he  was  to  pour  on  him  his 
wrath.  The  old  man  had  always  a  retinue  of  dead  heads  about  him, 
and  I  believe  that  custom  has  been  continued  by  his  successors.  No 
one  was  refused  food  and  shelter  at  the  Harpeiidtng  House  for  want  of 
money.  He  gave  liberally  to  the  churches — to  tlie  first  three  built, 
each  a  building  lot  and  a  subscription  equal  to  that  of  any  of  the  mem- 
bers. 

In  those  days  Harpending's  Corners  was  a  dependent  of  Eddytown, 
taking  the  crusts  aud  crumbs  thrown  to  it,  and  eating  its  humble  pie 
with  thankfulness.  Eddytown  was  the  favored  village,  with  its  five 
stores,  church,  two  hotels,  lawyers,  doctors,  and  a  variety  of  mechanics. 
It  had  a  daily  miil  and  a  daily  line  of  four- horse  stage  coaches.  It 
was  favorably  located  on  the  direct  stage  road  between  Geneva  and 
Elmira  (then  Newtown),  and  was  then  the  principal  village  on  the  route, 
a  place  of  more  business  importance  than  Watkins  (under  whatever  alias 
that  village  was  then  known).  Real  estate  in  Eddytown  commanded 
nearly  double  the  price  that  the  same  kind  of  property  could  sell  for  in 
this  place.  The  policy  of  Eddytown  toward  Harpending's  Corners  was 
one  of  repression,  and  she  used  her  power  and  opportunit}-  for  that 
purpose.  It  had  already  begun  to  look  u[3on  the  upstart  as  a  possible 
business  rival.  Eddytown  controlled  the  politics  of  the  town  and  dis- 
posed of  the  political  favors,  which  explains  why  then  tiiere  were  no 
town  officers  located  in  this  place.  Eddytown  had  a  monopoly  of 
shows,  general  trainings,  Fourth  of  July  celebrations,  etc.  Town  meet- 
ings were  always  held  there,  and  when  elections  were  held  on  tliree  suc- 
cessive days  at  three  ditierent  places.  Harpending's  Corners,  although 
the  most  centrally  located,  was  always  !eft  out  in  the  cold.  In  order  to 
prevent  the  elections  from  being  held  at  the  "  Corners  "  they  were  often 
held  in  remote  corners  of  the  town.  I  recollect  that  in  the  election  of  1832 
(General  Jackson's  last  run  for  the  Presidency),  that  election  was  held  the 
first  day  at  Torrence's  Tavern,  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Daniel  Sproul, 
the  second  day  at  Rock  Stream,  and  the  third  at  Eddytown.  This  was 
the  usual  custom,  but  it  was  the  last  time  that  it  occured.  In  the  spring 
of  1 83 1  Samuel  Kress,  a  very  competent  man,  ran  for  the  office  of  jus- 
48 


% 

378  HIS  TORY  OF  YA  TES  CO  UN  T  Y. 

tice  of  the  peace  and  was  defeated,  not  from  any  personal  objection  to 
the  candidate,  but  merely  on  a  local  issue.  There  was  no  pretence  that 
Mr.  Kress  was  not  qualified  for  the  office,  and  he  belonged  to  the  party 
in  the  majority.  The  political  magnates  willed  that  there  should  be  no 
justice  located  (at  Harpending's  Corners,  and  it  was  some  years  be- 
fore one  was  allowed,  and  then  only  that  Eddytown  should  furnish 
the  material.  They  sent  James  L.  Seeley,  who  was  duly  elected.  They 
might  have  done  a  \\-orse  turn.  Mr.  Seeley  was  honest  and  thoroughly 
competent  and  acceptable,  and  became  one  of  the  leading  citizens. 
This  was  doing  justice  by  installments.  Following  the  election  of  Mr. 
Seeley  a  full  quota  of  officers  was  allowed,  although  not  from  choice. 
Harpending's  Corners  had  tired  of  acting  as  tail  to  the  Eddytown  kite, 
and  demanded  and  received  as  her  right  what  had  before  been  granted 
as  a  favor. 

In  the  spring  and  summer  of  1831  there  was  a  small  boom  in  build- 
ing. Samuel  Huson  built  a  store  and  dwelling  on  the  corner  of  Water 
and  Union  streets.  John  Sweeney,  Dr.  Benjamin  Nichols,  B.  B.  Beek- 
man,  Thomas  Swarthout  and  E.  J.  Smith,  each  built  dwellings  on  Main 
street,  west  side.  The  Harpending  House  was  enlarged  and  the  Bap- 
tists erected  the  first  house  of  worship  in  the  village.  From  this  time 
the  future  of  the  village  was  assured,  and  Eddytown  as  a  business  place 
was  doomed,  its  prestege  was  gone.  Little  by  little  its  trade  left  and 
was  absorbed  by  its  young  rival.  One  by  one  its  stores  disappeared  ; 
some  closed  out,  some  removed,  and  others  went  out  legitimately 
(failed),  until  in  time  there  was  none  left. 

Starkey  Corners  was  a  place  of  considerable  business  importance.  It 
had  a  church,  Methodist  Episcopal,  one  store,  two  hotels,  and  a  good 
suppl)-  of  mechanics.  The  store  and  one  of  the  hotels  have  gone;  the 
other  hotel  is  the  Reeder  homestead.  A  few  dwellings  occupied  by  the 
owners  is  all  that  remains  of  the  hamlet  which  in  early  times  had  quite 
as  much  business  as  Harpending's  Corners. 

In  the  summer  of  1834  the  changing  of  the  name  of  the  village  was 
agitated.  There  had  been  an  attempt  to  call  it  Plainville,  which  failed, 
there  being  another  village  of  that  name  in  the  State.  This  probably 
produced  more  excitement  than  any  event  before  or  since.  The  num- 
ber of  names  proposed  were  only  limited  to  the  number  of  the  inhabit- 


TOIVN  OF  STARKEV.  379 

ants,  nearly  every  one  having  a  pet  name  largely  of  the-"  ville  "  order. 
The  Harpending  family  very  naturally  wanted  the  old  name  in  part 
retained,  and  proposed  "Harpending"  or 'Harpendale."  Rev,  E.  W. 
Martin's  choide  was  La  Grange,  while  others  thought  Stark  or  Stark- 
ville  the  better  name  at  a  meeting  called  to  decide  the  matter.  James 
Giftbrd  proposed  Dundee,  which  was  accepted.  The  real  contest  was 
between  Dundee  and  La  Grange.  Mr.  Gifford  afterward  emigrated 
West  and  founded  the  city  of  Elgin,  111.,  to  which  he  gave  another 
Scotch  name  Mr.  Gififord  built  the  first  house  in  Elgin.  He  named 
another  village  in  Illinois  Dundee.  From  these  names  it  would  be 
supposed  that  he  was  a  Scotchman.  This  was  not  so.  He  was  an  old- 
fashioned  singing-school  teacher  and  selected  his  names  from  the  tiiusica 
sacra.  While  Eddytown  and  Starkey's  Corners  was  favored  with  a  daily 
mail  and  a  daily  line  of  four-horse  stage  coaches,  and  Wayne  and  Tyrone 
had  the  same  accommodation,  a  vveekl)'  mail  service,  and  that  carried 
on  horseback,  was  the  postal  accommodations  for  this  place  until 
1838.  The  Hon.  J.  T.  Andrews,  while  in  Congress,  with  difficulty  had 
the  service  increased  to  semi-weekly  mail.  The  late  Nehemiah  Raplee 
was  postmaster,  and  the  postoffice  was  kept  in  the  kitchen  of  his  dwell- 
ing. There  was  no  public  conveyance  to  and  from  Dundee  until  about 
the  year  1841.  Then  Col.  Benjamin  Tuthill,  of  Starkey's  Corners,  mail 
contractor,  put  upon  the  road  a  oae- horse  vehicle  in  which  the  mail  and 
passengers  were  carried  to  and  from  Starkey  Landing,  on  Seneca  Lake. 
The  mail  service  had  been  increased  to  a  tri- weekly  mail.  The  accom- 
modation was  ample  and  the  old  red  one-horse  " 'bus  "  was  never  so 
crowded  but  that  there  was  room  for  one  more. 

Saturday  was  considered  a  holiday.  The  people  from  the  country 
flocked  into  the  village.  Shooting  at  a  "  mark,"  wrestling,  jumping, 
and  base- ball  playing  (old  style),  and  other  sports  were  indulged  in. 
The  day  usually  closed  with  one  or  more  scrub-races  and  several  fights — 
whisky  was  cheap,  three  cents  a  glass  or  a  shilling  a  bottle.  The  race 
course  was  Seneca  street,  and  the  stakes  were  one,  rhree,  and  on  e.xira 
occasions  five  dollars.  Also  a  special  purse  of  ten  dollars  was  some- 
times risked. 

In  speaking  of  the  early  inhabitants  and  their  relation  to  the  early 
history  of  the  village,  the  late  Gen.  Nehemiah  Raplee  was  a  prominent 


38o  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

figure.  For  more  than  a  half  centtiry  he  was  a  resident  of  this  place, 
and  in  its  early  days  was  associated  with  its  material  development.  He 
was  always  alive  to  the  interest  of  the  village,  and  in  many  ways  con- 
tributed to  its  advancement.  He  held  many  important  offices  and  was 
elected  as  a  Democrat  to  the  Assembly  in  1848,  when  the  county  was 
Whig  by  a  large  majority.  Subsequently  he  was  elected  associate  judge, 
and  for  some  years  was  brigadier-general  of  militia.  He  was  always 
ready  to  lend  a  helping  hand  to  the  young  and  those  starting  in  life.  His 
endorsement,  and  Samuel  Harpending's,  were  on  manj'  notes,  and  were 
aluays  honored  at  the  bank.  Many  now  in  good  circumstances  were 
indebted  to  such  help  for  tiieir  start  in  life.  After  misfortune  had  over- 
taken him  he  said  to  the  writer  that  he  never  asked  favors  of  those  he 
had  helped  but  of  those  on  vvhom  he  had  no  claim.  He  made  no  con- 
cealment of  his  likes  or  dislikes  and  was  a  man  of  decided  opinions,  and 
being  a  trifle  belligerent  sometimes,  made  enemies.  Those  who  only 
remember  him  in  the  latter  days  of  his  life,  when  crushed  and  broken 
by  misfortune  would  hardly  recognize  in  him  the  handsome,  active, 
busy,  hustling  business  man  of  early  days. 

Fires. — Dundee  has  been  severely  scourged  by  fires.  The  three  most 
disastrous  occurred  in  the  year  1859-60-61.  The  first  started  on  the 
east  side  of  Main  street  in  the  center  of  a  frame  block,  and  burning  in 
both  directions  destroyed  all  but  one  building  (Mrs.  Wolcott's)  be- 
tween Hollister  and  Seneca  streets,  and  on  Seneca  street  east  to  the 
Sleeper  residence.  The  second  large  fire  was  started  on  the  west  side 
of  Main  street  on  the  site  of  the  Wilson  house,  and  burning  north  de- 
stro_\-ed  every  building  to  the  corner  of  Union  street.  The  losses  in  this 
fire  were  estimated  at  $60,000,  insurance  $37,000.  In  this  fire  George 
Sayre  lost  a  store.  A.  C.  Harpending,  a  dry  goods  merchant,  lost  a 
block  of  three  brick  stores,  estimated  loss  $20,000,  insurance  $4,500;  he 
had  no  insurance  on  his  stock.  Hamlin  &  Martin,  dry  goods,  estimated 
loss  $20,000;  real  loss  not  more  than  $i2,ooo,  fully  insured.  W.  B. 
Hamlin  lost  a  block  of  three  brick  stores.  W.  H.  Sawyer,  dry  goods, 
$12,000,  and  twelve  other  concerns  including  clothing,  millinery,  and 
drug  stores,  oyster  saloon,  law  office,  daguerrean  and  record  office. 
There  was  no  other  spot  in  the  village  where  so  large  an  amount 
was  exposed  ;   a  greater  amount  was   destroyed    than    in  all   previous 


TO  IV N  OF  5 T.UiKE  V.  38 1 

fires.  The  great  fire  commenced  about  one  o'clock  on  Saturday  morn- 
ing of  March  i,  1861.  It  was  first  discovered  in  a  barn  in  the  rear  of  a 
brick  block  on  Water  street.  A  gale  was  blowing  at  the  time  and  the 
fire  spread  in  all  directions.  Everything  went  down  before  it.  It  was 
said  that  there  were  forty  buildings  burning  at  one  time.  This  was  the 
third  great  fire.  The  people  were  panic  stricken  and  gave  up  the  town 
as  doomed.  There  was  not  a  building  left  on  the  corners.  All  the 
landmarks  were  gone  and  men  blundered  and  stumbled  in  the  darkness 
and  fell  into  the  cellars.  There  were  but  half  the  number  of  inhabitants 
that  there  is  now,  and  in  proportion  to  the  size  of  the  town  it  was  a 
more  disastrous  fire  than  those  of  Chicago  or  Boston.  There  was  no 
places  for  business  left,  and  so  the  merchants  erected  rough  board  shan- 
ties of  100  feet  in  length,  where  they  transacted  their  business  until 
other  buildings  were  erected.  In  these  fires  N.  F.  Murdock  lost  twelve 
stores  and  his  dwelling  and  barn.  W.  R.  Hamlin  lost  one  brick  and  one 
frame  block.  He  had  three  buildings  on  the  same  foundation  in  one  year. 
Hamlin  &  Martin  lost  two  stocks  of  goods  in  three  months  ;  begin- 
ning with  $20,000  stock  and  ending  with  $300.  Justus  Ellis  lost  two 
hotels,  three  brick  stores,  one  bowling-alley,  three  barns,  and  several 
mechanics  shops.  The  Harpending  House  was  burned  leaving  the  vil- 
lage without  a  hotel.  The  business  part  of  the  east  side  of  Main  street 
has  been  burned  over  three  different  times.  The  tuo  last  fires  were 
undoubtedly  incendiary.  Henry  Light  was  indicted  and  tried  for  the 
offence.  The  jury  did  not  agree.  Eleven  jurors  voted  for  conviction, 
one  for  acquittal.  He  was  given  his  choice  between  another  trial  or 
enlisting  for  three  years  in  the  army.  He  chose  the  latter,  soon  de- 
serted and  was  lost  sight  of 

Banks. — The  first  banking  institution  was  "  Jep"  Raplee's  exchange 
and  banking  office  opened  in  1856;  soon  after  it  was  changed  into  a 
State  bank,  1857,  and  moved  to  Penn  Yan  1S58.  The  bank  building  and 
fixtures  were  sold  to  H.  G.  Stafford,  who  continued  the  business  until 
1 87  I,  wiien  it  closed.  Lewis  J.  Wilkin  opened  a  banking  office  in  1868 
and  continued  in  business  until  1880,  when  he  sold  to  the  DundeeNational 
Bank.  The  National  bank  began  business  April  i,  1880,  with  a  capital 
of  $50,000,  with  James  Spicer,  president;  Morris  F.  Sheppard,  vice- 
president  ;   and    Frank   K.  Durrv,  cashier.      Mr.  Spicer  still   retains  the 


382  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

office  of  president  ;  the  vice-president,  M.  F.  Sheppard,  was  succeedt  d 
by  T.  D.  Beel<nian,  January  1887.  Mr.  Beekman  is  still  vice  president. 
The  cashier,  F.  R.  Durry,  was  succeeded  by  George  S.  Sheppard, 
January  1,  1881.  Mr.  G.  S.  Sheppard  held  that  office  until  August, 
1882,  and  was  then  succeeded  by  G.  S.  Shattuck,  who  still  retains  that 
position,  November,  1891. 

Dundee  State  Bank,  February  28,  1882,  Andrew  Harpending,  presi- 
dent; Lewis  J.  Wilkin,  cashier.  Present  officers,  George  P.  Lord,  presi- 
dent; William  C.  Swarts,  vice-president;  Lewis  J.  Wilkin,  cashier;  H.J. 
Youngs,  assistant  cashier.     Capital,  $50,000. 

Former  Business  Firms — The  following  list  of  former  business  firms 
are  given  from  memory.  There  may  be  a  few  errors,  and  possibly  some 
omissions,  but  the  list  is  nearly  accurate.  The  firms  are  given  in  the 
order  of  their  existence  as  near  as  can  be  ascertained,  and  date  down  to 
a  few  years.  Jonathan  Botsford,  John  Starkey,  Starkey  &  Simmons, 
Honey  &  Simmons,  Doolittle  &  Simmons,  Calvin  Honey  (failed  1830), 
Simmons  &  Huson  (Alonzo),  Burgess  Truesdell,  Myron  Hamlin,  Sam- 
uel Huson,  Newell  F.  Murdock,  1832,  William  and  J.  H.  Kinnan,  1834,  Ira 
Fisher  (peddler),  Huson  &  Lewis,  Samuel  Kress,  Huson  &  Simmons 
(G.  W.),  Caleb  Westcott,  Lewis  &  Kress,  W.  B.  HamHn,  1835,  K-  W. 
Lewis  &  Co.,  1837,  Miller  &  Huson,  Cyrus  Miller,  A.  C.  Harpending, 
1835,  Smith  &  Silsbee,  James  Holden,  J.  D.  Morgan  &  Co.  (hard- 
ware), S.  Huson,  1839,  George  W.  Simmons,  E.  W.  Lewis  &  Co. 
(G.  W.  S.),  Huson  &  Maltby,  R.  II.  Murdock  &  Co.,  A.  Maltby  & 
Co.  (Raplee),  Maltby  &  Bradley,  Benham  &  Horn,  S.  S.  Benliam, 
Stafford,  Martin  &  Co.,  1846,  (first  time  for  Martin  1847),  Eaton, 
Spicer  &  Co.,  Spicer  &  Church  (failed),  Hollister  &  Parks  (failed),  Mor- 
gan &  Caton,  Caton  &  Wickoff,  James  Watson,  Edmund  H.  Pierce,  H.  B. 
Newcomb  (failed),  Valentine  Oldfield,  J.  T.  Raplee,  William  B.  Hamlin 
&  Co.,  1849,  (C.  H.  Martin),  John  Caton  (hardware),  F.  Holden,- Clapp 
&  Crittenden,  W.  H.  Sawyer  &  Bro.  (E.  L.),  Eaton,  Spicer  &  Co.,  A. 
Maltby  &  Co.  (Huson),  David  E.  Bedell,  Horace  Kidder,  John  Spicer, 
Rothchild  (clothing),  George  P.  Rose  (jewelry),  two  or  three  other 
clothing  stores  a  short  time,  A.  Wolf  (clothing),  L.  C.  Murdock 
(drugs),  Hamlin  &  Martin,  Maltby  &  McLean,  Hiram  Murdock,  Smith 
&    Benedict,  Beam   &  Noble,  W.  Benedict,  William    Sawyer  (clothing). 


/ 


A 

^^^  ^^i^^^ 

;> 

s^r  ' 

P-i'^v 

TO  J VN  OF  STA RKE  Y.  383 

Jacob  Koons,  Smith  &  Kingsley,  John  Rackman,  Horn  &  Benedict, 
C.  R.  Tenant,  Smith  &  Headley,  Morris  Grant  (fire  bug),  Ira  D.  Fowler, 
Martin  Vosburgh  &  Co.,  1866,  Green,  Rhode  &  Knapp,  C.  E.  Smith, 
Woodward  Bros.,  James  Headlej',  Lutiier  Brown,  Rhode  &  Knapp,  A. 
Maltby  &  Son,  A.  HoUister,  C.  P.  McLean  &  Co.,  George  Z.  Noble,  M.  E. 
Bennett  &  Bro.,  George  Harrington,  Harpencliiig  &  Bro  ,  Boardman  & 
Tate,  Martin  &  Vosburgh,  R.  Vosburgh  &  Son 

Present  Business  Firms. — In  the  dry  goods  trade  the  firm  of  C.  P. 
McLean  &  Co.  is  tiie  oldest.  Mr.  McLean  commenced  business 
about  thirty  years  ago  in  partnership  with  Augustus  Maltby.  The 
present  firm  commenced  business  in  1872.  The  firm  are  doing  a  large 
and  apparently  a  profitable  business.  They  keep  a  general  stock,  in- 
cluding all  articles  sold  in  a  country  store.  Wall  &  Murdock  are  in  the 
same  trade.  They  are  young  men,  very  ambitious,  and  are  selling  a 
large  amount  of  goods.  Mr.  Wall  came  from  Grand  Rapids,  and  was 
a  clerk  for  Martin  &  Vosburgh  several  years.  At  the  present  time 
there  are  four  grocer)'  stores,  Floyd  Ludlow,  John  C.  Koons,  James 
Headly,  and  Charles  Wixon,  all  reliable  and  prospering.  The  clothing 
business  is  represented  by  L.  D.  West  and  Samuel  Levi  ;  both  carry 
large  stocks  and  have  a  custom  deportment.  A.  T.  Gay  is  doing  a 
tailoring  business  at  his  dwelling.  The  boot  and  shoe  business  is  rep- 
resented by  John  H.  Knapp  and  George  Kingsley.  The  diy  goods  and 
clothing  houses  have  shoe  departments  and  are  doing  a  good  business 
in  that  line.  The  two  millinery  and  fancy  goods  stores  are  conducted 
by  George  H.  Harrington  and  Mrs.  Clary  Finch,  where  attractive  as- 
sortments of  goods  can  be  found  at  all  times,  and  at  reasonable  prices. 
Charles  Tenant  and  Levi  Sproul  represent  the  jewelry  business  of  the 
village.  The  two  drug  stores  of  W.  T.  Millard  and  S.  A.  Price,  with  their 
extensive  assortments  would  compare  favorabl)-  with  those  of  our  largest 
cities.     L.  C.  Davis  has  a  variety  store. 

The  buying  and  shipping  of  grain  and  fruit,  which  before  the  building 
of  the  Syracuse,  Geneva  &  Corning  Railroad,  was  merelj-  nothing, 
has  become  the  largest  business  of  the  village.  Three  large  elevators 
were  erected  near  the  depot  They  are  owned  by  C.  Swarts,  W.  S.  Earn- 
est, and  Charles  Watson  respectively,  giving  the  natural  grain  and  fruit 
market  fine  facilties  for  the  purchase  and  shipping  of  cereals.      Each  of 


384  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

them  are  doing  a  lively  business.  The  Goble  brothers,  Charles,  George 
and  Harry,  erected  on  the  completion  of  the  railroad,  near  the  depot,  a 
large  planing-mill.  This  is  one  of  the  most  important  manufacturing 
enterprises  of  the  village.  Charles  Rowland  occupies  the  old  location 
of  the  Dundee  Manufacturing  Company,  and  makes  a  specialty  of  the 
manufacture  of  the  Dundee  chilled  plow.  All  other  work  in  the  foundry 
line  receives  attention. 

Harrison  Howell,  successor  to  Strader  Howell  (his  father)  is  proprie- 
tor of  the  barrel  factory  on  Union  street.  The  demand  for  fruit  barrels 
the  present  season  has  been  so  great  that  he  has  had  orders  for  barrels 
a  month  ahead,  and  it  was  not  unusual  to  see  a  line  of  a  dozen  teams 
waiting  their  turn.  He  also  has  a  large  basket  factory,  giving  employ- 
ment to  a  large  number  of  girls  and  boys. 

Timothy  Lynch,  William  Hamilton,  William  Paige  and  J.  Ruddick 
compose  the  quartette  of  blacksmiths,  all  in  a  huddle  on  Union  street. 
Two  wagon  shops,  Jesse  C.  Knapp  and  J.  Baker,  in  the  same  neighbor- 
hood, with  Rowlands  foundry  complete  the  manufacturing  and  mechani- 
cal interests  of  Union  street. 

Up  to  the  month  of  November,  1843,  the  town  had  been  without  a 
newspaper.  In  that  month  the  want  was  supplied  by  Gififord  J.  Booth 
who  issued  the  first  number  of  the  Dundee  Record.  Some  time  in  the 
first  years  of  its  publication  William  Butman  became  a  partner  and  the 
firm  of  Booth  &  Butman  continued  the  publication  until  1847.  At  that 
time  Edward  Hoogland  became  owner  and  editor.  Mr.  Hoogland  was 
an  old  newspaper  reporter  and  had  worked  on  the  New  York  Herald. 
The  Record  under  Mr  Hoogland's  management  was  a  spicy  and  read- 
able paper,  and  his  retirement  from  the  editorship  of  the  paper  was  re- 
gretted by  all  his  patrons.  Mr.  Hoogland  removed  to  Kansas  where 
he  remained  until  his  death  which  occurred  many  years  ago. 

J.  J.  Diefendorf  became  editor  and  owner  of  the  Reco7-d\n  1853  and 
held  the  position  until  1857  or  1858,  when  it  was  sold  and  David  Bruner 
became  editor  and  owner.  In  i860  the  entire  plant  of  the  Record  was 
destroyed  by  the  fire  of  November  30,  and  Henry  Bruner  became  a 
partner  in  January,  1 86 1.  The  Bruners  sold  out  to  George  D.  A. 
Bridgman  in  the  fall  of  1862.  Bridgman  made  a  Democratic  paper  of  it 
and  supported    Horatio  Seymour  for  governor.     The  change   was  not 


TO  IVN  OF  S TARKE Y.  385 

popular  and  lie  sold  at  the  first  opportiiiiit_\'  to  "Elder"  J.  M.  Westcott. 
Under  the  management  of  Mr.  Westcott  it  did  not  thrive,  and  at  iiis  death 
it  came  into  the  possession  of  his  grandsons,  who  sold  it  to  Dr.  Noble, 
and  after  having  a  half  dozen  or  less  owners  it  was  merged  in  the  Home 
Advocate,  and  the  Dundee  Record  was  a  thing  of  the  past.  The  ne.xt 
paper  was  the  Dundee  Herald,  published   by  Dennison  &  Hobson.      It 

was  short-lived  and    was   finally  sold  to Robinson.      In  1869  Mr. 

Robinson  traded  the  Dundee  Expositor  with  George  D.  A.  Bridgman 
for  the  Penn  Yan  Express.  Bridgman  conducted  the  paper  for  one  year, 
and  in  March,  1870,  he  stopped  its  publication  and  moved  the  material 
to  Penn  Yan.  He  then  repurchased  the  Penn  Yan  Express  of  Robin- 
son, and  in  the  deal  Robinson  took  the  material  of  the  Expositor  and 
moved  it  to  Charleston  or  Savannah. 

Early  Merchants. — In  the  year  1808  or  1809  Benjamin  Potter  built  a 
double  log  house  on  the  west  side  of  Main  street  just  across  Big  Stream. 
The  building  was  occupied  as  dwelling  and  tavern,  and  was  the  first 
public  house  in  what  is  now  the  village  of  Dundee.  Twelve  feet  north 
of  the  house  he  located  his  blacksmith  shop.  The  twelve  feet  between 
the  buildings  was  enclosed  and  occupied  by  Jonathan  Botsford,  known 
sobriquet  of  "  Ducklegs,"  or  "  Ducklegs  Johnny."  This  was  the  first 
store  in  what  is  now  Dundee.  The  place  had  no  name  then  (it  was  be- 
fore the  Harpending's  Corners  era)  and  was  sometimes  called  Stark's 
Mills.  Of  Johnny's  antecedants  it  is  known  that  he  was  the  son  of 
Jonathan  Botsford,  who  came  in  with  the  Universal  Friend  and  was 
one  of  her  adherents.  It  is  safe  to  assume  that  his  business  was  not  a 
success,  for  after  his  store  had  remained  closed  for  two  days  the  door 
was  forced  and  Botsford  was  found  hanging  by  the  neck  stark  and  dead. 

Potash  in  those  early  days  was  the  main  reliance  of  the  merchant. 
It  was  about  the  only  article  that  commanded  cash,  and  was  marketed 
with  difficulty.  The  time  of  which  I  am  now  writing  was  long  before 
the  building  of  the  Erie  Canal,  and  the  only  water  communication  was 
by  the  way  of  the  Seneca  and  Oswego  Rivers  to  Lake  Ontario,  and  the 
market  was  Montreal. 

Soon  after  Botsford's  suicide  we  find  John  Walton  occupying  the  same 
premises.  He  afterward  built  a  store  and  dwelling  combined,  south  of  Big 
Stream   near  the  apple   trees  on  tlie  old   fairground.     The  building  re- 

49 


386  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

niained  until  a  few  years  since,  when  it  was  taken  down.  Mr.  Walton 
was  a  native  of  Nova  Scotia.  His  business,  though  small,  was  a  paying 
one, — at  least  he  paid.      It   was  managed  with  the  most  rigid  economy. 

The  only  public  conveyance  of  the  times  was  the  four  horse  "  tally- 
ho  "  stage  coach,  and  the  fare  was  six  cents  per  mile.  To  avoid  this 
expense  Mr.  Walton  traveled  the  distance  to  and  from  New  York  or  Al- 
bany on  foot  to  make  his  purchases,  saving  about  $40  each  trip.  He 
became  involved  in  law  suits  and  was  compelled  to  close  his  business 
and  leave  the  town.  He  returned  to  Nova  Scotia,  where  he  remained 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  many  years  ago.  After  Mr.  Walton 
closed  his  business  the  hamlet  was  for  some  time  without  a  store.  Ed- 
dytown  monopolized  the  business  and  was  the  most  important  place  be- 
tween Geneva  and  Elmira  (then  Newtown.) 

The  next  merchant  in  order  was  John  Starkey.  Mr.  Starkey  was  a 
native  of  Maryland,  but  came  here  from  Seneca  County.  He  built  a 
store  on  the  west  side  of  Main  street,  on  the  brow  of  the  hill  where 
Nathan  Sayre's  dwelling  now  stands.  This  building  was  afterward 
moved  on  to  the  Presbyterian  church  lot,  and  after  being  occupied  for 
mechanics'  shops,  gambling  rooms,  and  dwelling,  was  purchased  by  the 
Presbyterian  Society,  a  "  lean-to  "  was  attached  to  it  and  it  was  used  as 
a  meetinghouse.  The  old  building  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  i860. 
Mr.  Starkey  was  an  able,  enterprising  and  successful  merchant.  The 
late  Nehemiah  Raplee  made  his  debut  in  this  place  as  clerk  for  Mr. 
Starkey.  Iti  company  with  his  brother-in-law,  Clayton  Semans,  Mr. 
Starkey  built  the  old  red  grist-mill,  the  second  grist-mill  in  the  town, 
near  the  Big  Stream  bridge  on  Main  street.  The  mill  was  burned  a  few 
years  since.  Soon  after  it  was  comijleted  Semans  sold  his  interest  in 
the  mill  to  his  partner,  and  about  the  same  time  another  brother-in- 
law,  Samuel  Kress,  became  a  member  of  the  firm.  On  April  6,  1824, 
the  town  of  Starkey  was  organized.  It  was  taken  from  the  town  of 
Reading.  In  honor  of  Mr.  Starkey  it  was  given  his  name,  and  he  was 
the  first  supervisor  elected.  After  remaining  in  business  a  few  years 
the  firm  of  Starkey  &  Kress  was  dissolved.  The  mills  and  other  real 
estate  were  sold  to  Nehemiah  Raplee;  consideration,  $9,000.  Mr. 
Starkey  removed  to  Starkey's  Corners,  which  was  considered  the  more 
eligible  business  place,  there  built  a  store,  and  for  a  time  left  the  hamlet 


7  O  VVN  OF  ST  A  RKE  V.  387 

again  destitute  of  a  mercantile  establishment.  After  residing  in  Star- 
key's  Corners  some  years  Mr.  Starkey  removed  to  the  village  of  Lodi 
where  he  remained  until  his  death. 

Honey  &  Simmons. —  In  the  year  1S24  Samuel  Harpending  erected 
on  the  southwest  corner  of  Main  and  Union  streets,  in  wliat  at  the  time 
was  a  pasture  lot,  a  one  and  a  half  story  frame  store  for  the  firm  of 
Honey  &  Simmons.  The  inevitable  ashery  belonging  to  the  store  was 
on  Union  street.  The  firm  remained  in  business  about  three  years, 
when  it  was  dissolved.  Honey  built  a  new  store  on  the  corner  of  Main 
and  Spring  streets  ("  Potasli  lane  ").  and  carried  on  the  business  alone, 

Simmons  continuing  the  business  at  tiie  old  stand    with  Doolittle, 

first,  and  later,  Samuel   Huson  as  partner. 

Calvin  Honey  occupied  a  very  prominent  place  in  the  early  history 
of  the  village.  His  failure,  the  first  that  occurred  in  the  village,  gave 
undue  prominence  to  a  very  ordinary  man.  Mr.  Honey  came  from 
Troy,  N.  Y.  He  had  formerly  been  engaged  in  the  Hudson  River 
trade,  running  a  sloop,  of  which  he  was  the  owner,  between  Troy  and 
New  York.  It  is  supposed  that  he  had  at  some  time  had  some  experi- 
ence as  clerk  in  some  mercantile  establishment  in  Troy.  He  had  accu- 
mulated a  capital  of  $1,300,  which  he  invested  in  the  business  of  the 
firm  of  Honey  &  Simmons.  Thirteen  hundred  dollars  was  no  mean 
sum  in  those  times.  The  firm  of  Honey  &  Simmons  was  successful,  and 
Mr.  Honey  had  probably  added  to  his  capital  before  commencing  busi- 
ness on  his  own  account.  After  the  dissolution  of  the  firm  of  Honey  & 
Simmons,  Honey  built  a  store  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Spring  streets, 
was  not  successful  in  business,  and  in  1830  made  an  assignment  for  the 
benefit  of  his  creditors  to  Samuel  Kress.  Honey  was  a  dull,  heavy  man, 
and  his  personal  appearance  was  not  prepossessing  He  was  short,  square 
built,  stoop  shouldered,  dull  eyed,  of  a  tallow- colored  complexion,  and 
had  a  downcast  look.  His  ap[)earance  was  that  of  a  common  laborer. 
It  used  to  be  said  that  "  he  would  sell  a  bill  of  goods  on  credit,  place  a 
dunning  letter  in  the  package  and  sue  the  purchaser  before  he  reached 
home."  After  his  failure  he  removed  to  Mount  Morris,  where  he  re- 
mained several  years,  and  after  serving  a  term  in  Auburn  prison  for 
grand  larceny  he  leturned  to  Dundee,  where  he  remained  until  his 
death.  The  last  years  of  his  life  he  supported  himself  and  family  by 
working  as  a  common  laborer. 


388  HJSTORV  OF   YATES  COUNTY. 

Alonzo  Simmons  was  born  in  Washington  County  in  the  village  of 
Wliitehall.  In  his  obituary  notice  we  read  that  his  "  parents  were  only 
in  moderate  circumstances,  consequently  his  only  heritage  was  an  iron 
will,  and  industry  and  perseverance  that  knew  no  bounds."  Mr.  Sim- 
mons was  a  clear-headed  business  man  and  a  verj-  successful  merchant. 
He  served  in  the  War  of  iSi2  with  honor.  After  pursuing  various  av- 
ocations until  1824,  he  came  into  what  is  now  Dundee,  and  in  company 
with  Calvin  Honey  occupied  the  store  at  the  corner  of  Main  and  Union 
streets,  built  for  them  by  Samuel  Harpending.  After  a  few  years  the 
firm  of  Hone\'  &  Simmons  was  dissolved,  and  Mr.  Simmons  continued 

the  business  at  the  old  stand,  first  witli Doolittle  as  partner,  and 

afterward  with  Samuel  Huson.  After  closing  his  business  here  he 
moved  to  Avoca,  Steuben  County,  and  continued  in  the  same  business 
with  his  brother  George  as  partner.  From  there  he  removed  to  Rock 
Stream,  continuing  in  business  until  1843,  when,  having  accumulated  a 
large  and  constantly  increasing  fortune,  he  retied  from  active  business 
and  purchased  a  farm  at  Reading  Center,  where  he  resided  until  his 
death. 

Doolittle  came  from  Seneca  Countj'.      Of  his  business  cjualifi- 

cations  little  is  known.  He  was  a  large  man  of  fine  presence.  He 
would  now  be  called  a  "dude,"  but  "dandy"  was  the  term  then  ap- 
plied to  him.  He  is  said  to  have  been  a  man  of  violent  temper,  and 
was  not  popular  with  his  customers.  A  story  used  to  be  told  of  his 
carrying  an  elegant  silk  umbrella.  One  day  while  passing  from  his 
store  to  his  boardiiig-house,  during  a  violent  storm,  a  sudden  gust  of 
wuid  wrenched  it  from  his  hand  and  deposited  it  in  a  mud-puddle.  This 
so  enraged  liiui  that  he  jumped  upon  the  offending  article,  stamped  it 
in  the  mud  and  left  it  a  perfect  wreck.  Mr.  Doolittle  did  not  remain 
long.      He  returned  to  his  former  residence,  when  he  was  lost  sight  of 

Burgess  Truesdell's  former  residence  was  Columbia  County,  N.  Y.,  his 
occupation  school  teaching.  His  advent  in  this  place  dates  from  1S26. 
He  bought  on  the  southeast  corner  of  Main  and  Seneca  street  a  build- 
ing formerly  occupied  as  a  "  tavern."  The  corner  room,  former  bar- 
room, dimensions  about  I  5  x  20  feet,  he  fitted  up  for  a  store.  The  room 
was  small  but  ample  for  the  amount  of  business. 

In  1 832  or  1833  1'*^  sold  the  premises  to  Col.  J.  J.  Smith  for  hotel  pur- 


TOWN  OF  STAl^KEV.  389 

poses,  and  built  a  small  store  on  the  coiner  of  Main  and  Spring  streets. 
Spring  street  was  a  private  alley  leading  to  an  ashery  owned  by  Mr. 
Tniesdell.  In  1835,  or  about  that  time,  he  sold  his  store  and  business  to 
Cyrus  Miller,  and  was  for  a  short  time  in  business  with  his  brother  Al- 
vin,  at  Starkey.  lie  then  bought  the  farm  now  owned  by  Mr.  l^run- 
dage,  in  Starkey,  where  he  remained  until  he  removed  to  I'-lgin,  111., 
where  he  was  one  of  the  pioneers.  There  he  resided  until  his  death,  a 
man  of  few  faults  and  many  virtues.  By  a  fortunate  purchase  of  land  in 
the  early  settlement  of  Elgin  he  became  one  of  the  magnates  of  that 
city.  It  has  been  and  still  is  a  puzzle  to  the  later  merchants,  who  have 
sold  ten  times  the  amount  of  goods  sold  by  these  fathers  in  the  trade 
and  hardly  make  ends  meet,  to  know  how  it  was  done  —  how  so  small 
a  business  could  be  made  to  pay.  Small  expenses  and  large  profits 
solves  that  problem.  The  business  of  those  times  was  mostly  conducted 
by  the  owner  and  a  boy  or  low-priced  j'oung  man  as  clerk.  Ten  to  fif- 
teen dollars  per  month  was  the  maximum  price  ;  the  minimum  price 
was  about  nothing  at  all.  The  profits  were  enormous,  often  75  to  100 
per  cent.;   $3,000  to  $6,000  was  a  good  yearly  business. 

Myron  Hamlin  came  to  Ilarpending's  Corners  (now  Dundee)  in  1830, 
and  was  originally  from  Salisburj',  Conn.  Previous  to  his  locating  here 
he  had  been  in  business  at  some  point  on  Lake  Champlain.  He  was 
surprised  to  find  in  his  business  competitor  his  old  school-teacher, 
Burgess  Truesdell.  He  bought  the  store  on  the  southwest  corner  of 
Main  and  Union  streets  (the  McLean  corner),  formerly  occupied  by 
Honey  &  Simmons.  He  brought  with  him  not  much  experience  as  a 
merchant,  but  plent\'  of  the  proverbial  push  and  shrewdness  of  the 
Connecticut  Yankee.  His  business  was  well  managed  and  prosperous 
from  the  outset,  and  it  was  here  that  he  laid  the  foundation  of  his  future 
'  success.  About  this  time  great  questions  began  to  agitate  tiie  public 
mind.  Tlie  commencement  of  the  temperance  movement  dates  from 
about  1830,  and  the  anti-slavery  movement  came  to  the  front  at  the 
same  time.  To  Myron  Hamlin  belongs  the  honor  of  conducting  the 
Jirst  temperance  store  in  Dundee.  It  was  the  custom  of  those  times  for 
country  stores  to  sell  liquors,  and  this  custom  continued  many  jears 
later.  In  1839  there  were  nine  stores  in  Dundee,  and  eight  of  the  nine 
sold  into.xicants.      Whisky  paid  better  than  any  other  merchandise. 


39°  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

For  a  few  months  Mr.  Hamlin  followed  the  prevailing  custom  and 
sold  all  kinds  of  liquors  ;  but  becoming  convinced  of  the  evil  and  mis- 
ery caused  by  the  traffic,  he  not  only  banished  alcoliolic  stimulants  from 
his  store,  but  waged  a  fierce  and  brave  war  against  the  evil.  Upon 
his  counters  could  be  seen  stacks  of  temperance  tracts  and  periodicals, 
and  every  package  that  left  his  store  contained  one  or  more  of  these 
missives.  The  passage  from  temperance  to  anti-slavery  was  natural 
and  easy.  In  the  early  days  of  the  anti- slavery  movement  it  cost  some- 
thing to  be  an  abolitionist.  It  cost  a  merchant  in  the  loss  of  custom 
It  often  cost  a  minister  the  loss  of  his  pulpit  and  living.  More  th;in 
half  a  century  has  passed,  and  the  younger  generations  have  but  small 
appreciation  of  the  rancor  and  hatred  bestowed  on  those  who  believed 
in  and  advocated  the  right  of  a  man  to  the  ownership  of  himself,  his  wife 
and  children.  Anti-slavery  meetings  were  broken  up,  tiie  speakers  in- 
sulted and  hustled,  and  often  pelted  with  ancient  and  unsavory  egg?. 
The  press  thundered  and  the  pulpit  hurled  its  anathemas  against  the 
"cutthroats  and  incendiaries."  "Cursed  be  Canaan"  was  the  theme 
of  many  a  serm'-<>"  and  the  late  Dr.  Van  Dyke  preached  in  Brooklyn  that 
slavery  was  a  Div  ne  institution. 

About  this  time. William  Lloyd  Garrison  was  mobbed  by  the  solid  men 
of  Boston;  Lovejoy  was  murdered  and  his  printing  press  was  thrown  in 
the  Mississippi  at  Alton,  111.,  and  the  office  of  the  anti-slavery  paper  ed- 
ited by  the  Quaker  poet  Whittier  was  burned  by  a  Philadelphia  mob. 
Being  an  abolitionist  \\  as  no  joke  in  those  days.  But  no  personal  con- 
siderations influenced  those  pioneers  in  the  cause.  They  believed  their 
cause  to  be  right,  and  advocated  it  regardless  of  personal  considera- 
tions. The  party  in  the  village  at  that  time  consisted  of  four  members 
all  told — M.  Hamlin,  the  Rev.  E.  VV.  Martin,  James  Gifford,  and  Alonzo 
De  Wolf  The  number  was  small  but  there  was  a  wonderful  amount  of 
back-  bone  in  that  quartette.  They  never  fought  on  the  defensive,  partic- 
ularly Mr  Hamlin,  who  was  intensely  aggressive.  In  the  spring  of  1835 
Mr.  Hamlin  opened  a  branch  store  on  the  east  side  of  Main  street,  occu- 
pying the  building  vacated  by  the  Kinnans,  with  his  brother,  William  B. 
Hamlin,  manager.  In  1836  he  sold  his  whole  business  to  his  brother  and 
removed  to  Buffalo,  where  he  remained  but  a  siiort  time,  finally  settling 
in  Penn  Yan,  where  he  remained  until  his  death,  having  for  fifty  years 
been  the  leading  merchant  of  tlie  county. 


TO  WN  OF  S  TA  RKE  Y.  391 

The  year  183  i  was  noted  for  a  new  impetus  given  to  building  and 
other  interests  of  the  village.  The  first  church  (Baptist)  was  built  in 
1832,  and  in  the  year  1833  the  Methodist  and  Free  Church  (now  Cath- 
olic) were  erected.  An  old  Eddj'town  merchant  once  told  the  writer 
that  the  decline  in  business  in  that  place  dates  from  the  building  of  the 
churches  in  Dundee.  In  the  spring  of  1831  Samuel  Huson  erected  on 
the  northeast  corner  of  Union  and  Water  streets,  on  the  site  of  the  store 
now  occupied  by  Wall  &  Murdock,  and  others  in  the  Murdock  block, 
a  store  and  dwelling.  The  land  up  to  that  time  had  been  used  for  farm- 
ing purposes.  Mr.  Huson  managed  his  business  discreetly  and  it 
was  a  success.  His  ambition  was  not  so  much  to  do  a  large  busi- 
ness as  to  do  a  paying  one.  He  was  very  popular  with  his  patrons 
and  well  liked  by  his  employees.  About  two  years  after  commencing 
business  Edwin  Lewis  was  admitted  as  partner,  forming  the  firm  of 
Huson  &  Lewis.  This  firm  continued  two  years  when  Mr.  Lewis  re- 
tired and  George  W.  Simmons  was  admitted  as  partner  in  the  firm  of 
Huson  &  Simmons.  This  firm  did  a  thrifty  business  for  several 
years,  and  closed  out  tiieir  goods  to  Cosad  &  Carm'  who  removed 
them  to  Junius,  Ontario  County. 

Newell  F.  Murdock's  former  residence  was  McLea'  Cortland  County; 
his  business,  tanner  and  shoe  and  harness  manufacturer.  Before  coming 
to  Dundee  lie  had  been  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  about  four 
years.  He  came  to  what  was  then  Harpending's  Corners,  in  the  year 
1832,  and  rented  part  of  the  corner  store  of  Myron  Hamlin  (there 
were  two  stores  in  a  building  28x40).  Hamlin  occupying  the  other  room. 
In  the  year  1833  lie  built  a  frame  store  on  the  east  side  of  Main  street, 
n  the  site  now  occupied  by  John  H.  Knapp.  A  peculiarity  of  his  was 
that  he  never  insured  his  buildings.  lliiis  policy  worked  well  for  many 
years,  but  in  the  end  proved  disastrous.  In  all  of  the  large  fires  he 
suffered  loss.  The  loss  included  three  blocks  of  stores,  iiis  private  dwell- 
ing and  other  buildings,  all  uninsured.  He  died  in  1861,  after  a  mer- 
cantile experience  of  over  thirty  years,  a  man  universally  respected. 
His  death  removed  one  of  the  landmarks  of  the  village. 

Cyrus  Miller  was  a  wool-carder  and  cloth- dresser  when  most  of  the 
family  clothing  was  made  at  home.  He  purchased  of  Burgess  Truesdcll 
his  store  and    goods   in  the  year  1S34.      Mr.  Miller  was  a  limited   mer- 


o 


392  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

chant.  His  stock  was  limited,  and  so  were  his  sales;  one-half  pound  of 
tea,  and  other  articles  in  proportion,  was  the  limit  he  would  sell  to  one 
person.  He  "  did  not  want  to  break  his  assortment."  This  was  in  the 
early  days  of  his  mercantile  life.  Later  he  was  not  so  limited.  Fire 
and  water  ruined  him.  A  canal  boat  having  on  board  his  fall  pur- 
chases sank,  and  soon  after  his  store  was  burned.  This  finished  him  as 
a  merchant.  He,  honest  man  that  he  was,  he  surrendered  his  property 
to  his  creditors  and  began  life  anew.  The  last  heard  from  him  he  was 
practicing  medicine  in  some  western  State. 
/  In  the  spring  of  1832  Col.  J.  J.  Smith  bought  of  Burgess  Truesdell  the 
lot  on  the  southeast  corner  of  Main  and  Seneca  streets,  on  part  of  the 
purchase  now  occupied  by  W.  H.  Millard's  drug  store.  He  erected  a  frame 
store,  which  he  rented  to  William  H.  and  Joel  H.  Kinnan.  The  Kin- 
nans  came  from  North  Hector,  where  their  father  resided,  a  wealthy 
farmer.  Some  of  the  family  still  reside  in  that  locality.  The  firm  ap- 
peared to  sell  a  large  amount  of  goods,  but  failed  to  make  their  business 
a  paying  one,  and  after  a  struggle  of  two  or  three  years  they  were 
obliged  to  surrender.  This  was  the  second  failure  at  Harpending's  Cor- 
ners. William  returned  to  North  Hector  and  engaged  in  farming,  and 
Joel  H.  removed  to  Westfield,  Chautauqua  County,  and  engaged  in  his 
former  business,  with  what  success  the  writer  is  not  informed.  Both  of 
the  partners  have  been  dead  several  years. 

William  B.  Hamlin  was  born  in  the  town  of  Salisbury,  Conn.,  where  he 
resided  until  he  came  to  Dundee.  His  father  owned  a  large  tract  of  land 
on  which  William  worked  in  the  summer,  and  taught  school  in  the  winter, 
as  was  the  custom  with  farmers  in  Yankeedom  in  those  days.  His  first 
experience  in  mercantile  affairs  was  as  a  clerk  for  his  brother  Mj-ron. 
This  was  in  1835.  The  succeeding  year  he  purchased  his  brother's 
business,  aiid  for  more  than  thirty  years  conducted  one  of  the  largest 
business  concerns  in  Yates  County.  The  first  years  of  his  business  life 
he  pursued  a  very  conservative  policy.  In  the  year  1S42,  six  years 
from  the  time  he  commenced  business,  his  sales  were  on\\  seven  t/toiis- 
and  dollars,  and  he  was  in  a  small  way  making  money.  If  he  had  con- 
tinued this  policy,  the  natural  outgrowth  of  his  Yankee  training,  increas- 
ing his  business  as  his  capital  increased,  his  success  would  have  been 
assured.     The    ne.xt  year,    1843,   his    sales    were  more    than  doubled. 


TO  WN  OF  S  TARKE  Y.  393 

amounting  to  $16,000.  This  sudden  incrcMse  may  not  have  been  to  his 
advantage.  He  became  possessed  with  the  idea  of  seUing  a  larger 
amount  of  goods  than  any  other  concern  in  Yates  Count)'.  He  had 
great  energy  and  was  very  ambitious.  His  industry  and  powers  of  en- 
durance were  wonderful,  and  all  his  efforts  were  directed  to  this  one  object, 
large  sales;  profits  were  incidentals,  although  really  his  profits  were 
larger  than  are  now  obtained  by  the  merchants.  Mr.  Hamlin's  busi- 
ness increased  further  than  his  capital  and  he  was  forced  to  raise  money 
at  ruinous  rates  of  interest.  This,  with  large  running  expenses,  was  the 
cause  of  his  failure.  His  credit  was  always  of  a  high  order  up  to  the 
day  of  his  disaster.  He  had  failed,  but  he  had  accomplished  his  pur- 
pose. His  sales  had  increased  every  year  until  they  amounted  to  over 
one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  the  largest  amount  ever  reported 
to  the  revenue  assessor  in  Yates  County.  In  conversation  with  the 
writer  after  his  failure,  Mr.  Hamlin  said  in  substance:  "I  have  been 
thinking  over  the  events  of  my  past  life,  and  I  am  pretty  well  satisfied 
I  have  had  things  pretty  much  my  own  way.     I  am  much  better  pleased 

with  my  career  than  I  would   have  been  if  it  had  been  like  IMr. ," 

mentioning  the  name  of  a  very  successful  man  whose  business  had  been 
much  smaller  with  a  handsome  fortune  as  the  result.  C.  H.  Martin 
was  connected  with  Mr.  Hamlin  in  business  from  1842  to  1864,  ten  years 
as  clerk  and  twelve  years  as  partner.  The  firm  was  Hamlin  &  Martin. 
Anthony  C.  Harpending,  one  of  the  most  successful  merchants  of 
Dundee,  commenced  business  in  1835  under  very  favorable  circum- 
stances ;  he  had  the  prestege  of  the  family  name  and  was  backed  by  his 
own  and  his  wife's  family,  both  wealthy.  He  had  abundance  of  capital, 
and  unlike  most  of  the  older  merchants,  was  never  pinched  for  means  10 
carry  on  his  business.  He  soon  gathered  a  valuable  lot  of  customers, 
many  of  whom  he  retained  through  all  the  years  of  his  mercantile  career- 
He  was  systematic,  looked  closely  to  the  details  of  his  business,  and 
kept  all  well  in  hand.  His  business  was  usually  managed  with  great 
caution,  but  he  sometimes  took  risks  that  resulted  in  loss.  The  ques- 
tion of  Mr.  Harpending's  place  as  a  merchant  may  be  a  mooted  question 
by  some.  I  know  of  no  better  test  than  success,  and  making  success  the 
standard  would  place  him  in  the  front  rank  of  the  older  or  younger 
merchants  of  Dundee.     The  result  of  his  business  made  a  better  showing 

50 


394  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

than  that  of  any  who  preceded  or  followed  him,  that  notwithstanding 
heav)-  losses  by  fire  and  otherwise.  Mr.  Harpendint(  built  a  block  of 
three  brick  stores  on  the  west  side  of  Main  street ;  they  were  burned  in 
the  fire  of  November,  i860.  He  then  built  two  frame  stores  on  the  same 
premises.  In  the  same  fire  he  lost  almost  his  entire  stock  of  goods, 
which  resulted  in  heavy  loss.  His  death,  which  occurred  in  1880, 
removed  one  of  the  most  prominent  merchants  of  the  county. 

This  town  has  eight  churches,  including  Starkey  Seminary,  v\  ith  a  total 
valuation  of  $62,000,  viz.:  Haptist  Church,  Dundee,  $15,000;  Presb\- 
terian,  $1  2,000  ;  M.  E.  Church,  Dundee,  $8,000  ;  Olivet  Baptist,  $3,000  ; 
Starkey  Seminary,  $18,000;  Third  Presbyterian  Church,  $3,000;  Chris- 
tian Church,  Starkey  and  Reading,  $2,000.  Starkey  had  a  population  in 
1875  of  2,500.  As  late  as  18  12  George  Putnam  shot  two  deer  on  the 
space  between  the  Harpending  house  and  West's  clothing  store.  Jfiel 
A.  Taylor  is  the  oldest  man  living  that  was  born  in  the  town  of  Starkey, 
his  age  is  eighty  two.  Henry  Smith  opened  a  store  in  Eddytown  in 
1809. 

The  Churches} — It  would  be  interesting  if  we  could  trace  the  religious 
movement  back  to  the  early  times  when  the  settlers,  few  in  numbers 
and  poor  in  purse,  congregated  in  their  log  cabins  for  prayer  and  praise, 
and  when  the  larger  congregations  were  gathered  together  in  barns  and 
groves  to  hear  the  preached  word.  Unfortunately  the  pioneers  have 
passed  away.  The  march  of  time  has  wiped  out  all  those  old  land-marks, 
and  the  memory  of  those  times,  treasured  in  many  hearts,  but  scantily 
recorded,  have  passed  away  with  them  beyond  any  hope  of  recovery, 
and  there  are  few  traditions  that  would  give  iis  much  light  on  the  hap- 
penings of  those  long-ago  times.  We  must  begin  at  a  later  date  and 
tell  what  has  happened  under  our  own  observation. 

In  the  year  1830  we  find  the  Methodists  strongly  intrenclied  at 
Starkey's  Corners.  Their  church  edifice,  now  standing,  was  built  in  the 
year  1821,  and  from  that  time  the  church  has  flourished  and  grown 
until  it  has  become  one  of  the  strongholds  of  Methodism  in  the  county. 
Among  the  members  were  numbered  the  Tuthills,  Van  Aliens,  Ilurds, 

1  Vox  much  of  the  information  contained  in  this  chapter  the  writer  is  indebted  to  a  history  of 
the  Dundee  Methodist  Church,  prepared  by  the  Rev.  S.  F.  Sanford,  on  the  occasion  of  the  laying 
of  the  corner  stone  of  the  new  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


TO  WN  OF  5  TA  RKE  Y.  395 

Seamans,  Truesdells,  Hunts,  Pierces,  and  Ilyatts,  of  blessed  memory. 
At  that  time  the  village  and  church  were  at  their  zeniths  ;  since  tiien 
there  has  been  a  gradual  decline  of  both.  The  village  has  disappeared 
and  the  church  has  been  weakened  by  deaths  and  other  causes  until  it 
has  become  one  of  the  weaker  churches  in  the  connection. 

What  has  been  said  of  the  Methodist  church  would  in  a  degree  apply 
to  the  Presbyterian.  They  had  selected  Kddytown  as  their  base  ard 
had  become  a  strong  body.  The  Eddytown  church  was  organized  in 
April,  1822,  and  the  church  edifice  was  built  soon  after.  The  church 
was  strong  in  numbers,  and  among  its  members  were  some  of  the  lead- 
ing men  of  the  county.  One  of  the  members,  James  Taylor,  was  a 
leading  member  of  the  bar  of  Yates  County,  and  afterward  a  resi- 
dent of  Penn  Yan.  Other  names  were  Jolin  O.  Cook,  John  Taylor, 
James  H.  Carmichael,  Hiram  Titsworth,  Isaac  P.  Seymour,  Hon.  James 
Norton,  P.  Broaderic,  Harvey  Weeks,  Clarkson  Martin,  Benjamin 
Cheever,  Dr.  Enos  Barnes,  Nathaniel  Roscoe,  Thomas  Wilson,  Pardon 
Gifford.  The  Rev.  Charles  White  officiated  either  as  pastor  or  "  sup- 
ply." Mr.  White  was  a  ripe  scholar,  and,  after  his  connection  with  the 
church  was  dissolved,  was  for  years  principal  of  Ovid  and  Prattsburgh 
Academies. 

The  first  Baptist  organization  was  in  1812,  at  Eddjtown,  which  at 
the  time  was  in  the  extensive  town  of  Reading,  and  was  called  tiie 
"Baptist  Church  of  Reading,"  finally  re-named  the  "  Baptist  Church  of 
Starkey."  The  church  did  not  flourish  there  ;  it  was  overshadowed  by 
the  Presbyterians,  so  it  drifted  away,  Stopping  for  a  while  at  Beartown 
school-house,  but  finally  settling  at  Harpending's  Corners,  where  it  ob- 
tained a  permanent  foothold,  and  there,  under  a  new  organization,  it  has 
remained,  Harpending's  Corners  at  that  time  was  considered  of  little 
importance,  and  for  several  years  its  possession  was  not  dis[)uted  by 
other  denominations.  Elder  Samuel  Bigelnw  was  a  zealous  man  of 
great  energy,  just  the  man  for  the  times.  His  ministrations  were  scat- 
tered over  a  great  deal  of  territory,  and  their  effects  cannot  be  as  easily 
estimated  as  they  could  be  if  they  had  occupied  less  space.  There  is  a 
class  of  unrecognized  benefactors;  their  service  is  none  the  less  because 
it  is  unrecognized.  Elder  Simon  Sutherland  often  lent  a  helping  hand. 
In  his  old  age,  with  tremulous  voice,  he  loved  to  tell  in  his  quaint  way 


396  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

of  his  journeyings  from  Second  Milo  to  Eddytovvn  and  Harpending's 
Corners,  through  the  wilderness,  guided  by  marked  trees  (there  were 
few  roads  in  those  days),  taking  his  chances  against  wild  beasts,  the 
terror  of  the  forests,  to  dispense  the  everlasting  Word.  Of  the  unrecog-' 
nized  benefactors  Rev.  Simon  Sutherland  deserves  a  high  position. 
His  ministerial  labors  extended  over  a  series  of  fifty  years,  for  which  he 
not  only  never  asked  but  refused  to  receive  any  compensation. 

The  labors  of  those  fathers  in  the  ministry  have  never  been  appre- 
ciated as  they  deserve.  It  is  a  pity  that  more  is  not  known  of  them, 
their  privations  and  hardships.  This  is  a  busy  world  now-a  days,  and 
it  does  not  pause  to  inquire  of  what  does  not  concern  it.  Theirs  is  a 
common  story,  often  told.  All  labor,  all  self-denial,  little  else;  a  small 
pittance  given  grudgingly  and  called  charity.  It  seemed  to  make  no 
difference  with  those  pioneer  preachers  or  their  labors.  They  were  en- 
couraged and  buoyed  up,  not  by  what  they  had  or  expected  to  have 
here,  but  by  the  anticipation  of  what  was  to  come  in  the  future.  Like 
the  great  apostle  they  labored  witli  their  hands  for  their  support,  and 
after  a  day  of  toil  would  return  to  their  poor  homes,  and  taking  the 
Bible  from  the  shelf  perhaps  would  read  that  "It  is  easier  for  a  camel  to 
pass  through  the  eye  of  a  needle  than  for  a  rich  man  to  enter  the  king- 
dom of  Heaven,"  and  they  would  thank  God  devoutly  that  they  were 
not  rich.  Or  they  might  read  of  the  beautiful  city  with  streets  of  gold 
and  foundations  of  precious  stones.  This  was  their  inheritance,  this 
was  durable  riches.  They  were  positive  in  these  possessions.  To 
others  it  might  be  romance;  to  them  it  was  real,  and  so  they  labored 
and  prayed  and  went  to  their  reward,  and  the  world  was  better  for 
their  having  lived,  in  it. 

The  preaching  of  those  days  would  not  have  been  acceptable  in  these 
times,  neither  would  the  present  style  have  pleased  the  pioneers.  They 
were  stalwarts  and  required  strong  spiritual  food  and  a  good  dtal  of  it, 
including  hard  doctrinal  sermons.  There  was  more  fire  and  brimstone 
than  love  in  the  sermons  of  those  days.  It  would  be  curious  to  know 
what  those  patriarchs  in  Israel  would  have  thought  of  the  churches  of 
the  present  times,  with  their  entertainments,  festivals,  fairs,  theatricals 
and  jirivate  progressive  euchre  and  dancing  parties.  It  would  be  safe 
to  assume  that   they  would   have   thought   us  "  all  miserable   sinners," 


TO  IVN  OF  S  TA  RKE 1 '.  397 

and  that  the  whole  concern  was  going  to  the  "bow-wows."  But  who 
will  say  that  the  old  way  is  better  than  the  new  ?  The  church  has  en- 
larged its  functions.  It  has  taken  hold  of  the  social  as  well  as  the  spii- 
itual  life  of  its  members,  and  what  bigotry  once  denounced  as  sinful 
liberality,  now  tolerates  as  innocent  recreation. 

The  year  1832  was  a  notable  one  in  the  religious  history  of  the  vil- 
lage. In  that  year  the  first  church  edifice  erected  in  Dundee  was  com- 
pleted (the  Baptist.)  The  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized  and  the 
first  class  of  the  Metiiodist  Church  was  formed.  The  Presbyterian 
Church  was  a  cion  from  the  Eddytown  church.  Its  beginnings  were 
exceedingly  small ;  a  mere  handful,  so  to  speak,  were  organized  into  a 
church  in  that  year.  The  chinch  was  supplied  with  preaching  from 
the  parent  church.  The  Rev.  W  illiani  Billington  supplied  both  pul- 
pits, preaching  in  the  morning  here,  and  in  the  afternoon  in  liddytown. 

The  proportion  of  salary  paid  by  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Starky  (I  believe  that  was  the  title),  was  $100  a  year.  Even  this  small 
sum  was  not  raised  without  difficulty.  Mr.  Billington  was  very  popu- 
lar with  both  congregations,  and  his  removal  was  generally  regretted. 
He  moved  to  the  western  part  of  the  State,  and  a  short  time  ago  was 
living  at  a  very  ad\anced  age.  So  far  as  remembered  the  male  mem- 
bers of  the  church  as  organized  were  :  John  Tajlor,  James  H.  Car- 
michael,  Aaron  Porter,  Mr.  Hatch,  Joseph  Ireton,  Thomas  Wilson, 
and  Alonzo  De  Wolf — a  very  small  number.  i\Ir.  Bell  was  a  very  lib- 
eral giver  to  the  church,  and  among  his  gifts  was  the  lot  upon  which 
the  parsonage  was  erected.  Joel  A.  Taylor,  Ezra  D.  Cook,  Benjamin 
B.  Beekman  and  BaltisTitsworth  came  into  the  church  a  few  years  later, 
and  were  active  and  efficient  members.  To  the  latter  two,  the  late  Mr. 
Beekman  and  our  esteemed  citizen,  Baltis  Titsworth,  the  church  is  un- 
der many  obligations.  Both  have  done  good  seivice  and  have  tided 
the  church  over  many  difficulties.  Without  the  help  and  the  generosity 
of  these  families  the  present  beautiful  structure  would  not  have  been 
erected.  Jolin  Taylor  and  James  H.  Carmichael  were  ruling  elders  in 
those  early  days  of  the  church.  How  readily  the  picture  of  those 
worthies  comes  up  before  me,  seated  on  a  bench,  one  on  each  side  of  the 
preacher's  desk,  calm,  sedate  and  dignified.  A  smile  in  church  would 
to  them  have  been  a  sin.  Grand  old  men  tlu-y  were,  long  since  gone 
to  their  reward. 


398  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

During  the  early  years  of  the  cliurch  the  late  Myron  Hamlin  and 
Nehemiah  Raplee  contributed  liberally  to  its  support.  Soon  after  the 
church  was  organized  the  present  site  of  the  new  church  edifice  was 
jlurchased.  On  the  lot  at  that  time  was  tiie  building  formerly  built  and 
occuijied  by  John  Starkey  as  a  store,  an  old  dilapidated  concern, 
"  painted  red."  The  building,  repaired  and  added  to  and  seated  with 
benches,  was  used  on  Sundays  as  a  place  of  worship,  and  on  weekdays 
was  rented  for  school  purposes.  For  about- ten  years  it  was  the  meet- 
ing place  of  the  church,  when  it  was  removed,  and  the  building  demol- 
ished about  five  years  ago  was  erected  in  its  place.  The  price  paid  for 
the  lot  and  building  was  about  $400,  and  the  repairs  $150  more,  mak- 
ing an  aggregate  of  $550.  From  the  best  information  obtainable  this 
is  the  only  church  building  that  was  completed  without  debt,  e.xcept 
the  I5aptist  Church,  which  was  built  and  donated  by  H.  Shannon.  The 
building  was  not  elegant,  but  it  was  comfortable  and  served  the  purposes 
of  the  church  until  a  better  one  could  be  afforded. 

Following  are  the  names  of  the  ministers  who  have  served  as  pastor 
of  Dundee  Presbyterian  Church,  with  the  date  of  their  terms  of  service  : 
William  Billington,  1832  ;  B.  Foster  Pratt  (first  time),  David  Perry, 
B.  Foster  Pratt  (second   time),   Avon    H.  Powell,    1 845-1 848;    William 

Bridgeman,  1 848-1 849;  Frazer,  John  C.  IVToses  (first  time),  1852 

-1857;  J.  K.  Warner,  1857-1859;  W.  W.  Collins,  1859-1861;  J.  C. 
Moses  (second  time),  1 862-1 87 1  ;  Walter  S.  Drysdall,  1871-1872; 
S.  A.  Rawson,  1S73-1874;  Nathan  Bosworth,  1874-1883;  W.  H. 
Tracy,  1884-1887;   Stanley  B.  Roberts,  1887-1891. 

In  the  latter  part  of  1830  the  Baptists  called  the  Rev.  E.  W.  Martin, 
of  Geneva,  to  be  their  pastor.  This  pastorate  continued  until  1 84 1  or 
'42,  and  is  the  longest  on  the  records  of  the  church  under  its  present  or- 
ganization. It  would  probably  have  continued  longer  had  it  not  been 
for  the  anti  slavery  question.  During  all  those  years  the  spirit  of  peace 
and  harmony  brooded  over  the  church.  Its  membership  was  largel)' 
increased  and  the  foundation  was  laid  for  its  present  commanding  po- 
sition. 

In  the  early  months  of  1831  the  question  of  building  a  "  meeting- 
house "  was  agitated.  Such  a  house  had  become  a  necessity,  and  a 
subscription  was  circulated  to  raise  the  necessary  funds  for  that  purpose. 


TO  JVA  OF  S  TA  RK'E  Y.  399 

A  considerable  portion  of  those  subscriptions  were  payable  in  labor  and 
materials.  Andrew  Raplee  headed  the  list  with  a  yift  of  $ioo.  He 
also  ga\e  a  large  amount  in  timber  for  wliich  there  was  no  charge.  Sam- 
uel Harpending  donated  the  lot  and  $100.  These  were  the  largest  sub- 
scriptions on  the  list.  Excepting  the  above,  which  were  cash,  no  amount 
appeared  on  the  paper  over  $50.  It  was  no  easy  matter  to  raise  the 
comparatively  small  amount  needed  to  build  the  church  edifice  pro- 
posed. It  required  a  resolute  and  patient  effort,  and  after  obtaining  all 
possible  by  subscription,  there  was  still  a  deficiency.  The  building  of 
the  church  was  commenced  in  the  spring  of  183  I.  Benjamin  B.  Beek- 
man  was  the  contractor.  There  were  the  usual  delays,  and  it  was  not 
completed  until  some  time  in  June,  1832.  The  building,  as  compared 
with  the  present  edifices  in  this  village,  was  a  small  affair,  but  it  aver- 
aged well  with  the  same  kind  of  buildings  of  the  times.  It  cost  less 
than  $2,000,  but  small  as  that  amount  appears  it  was  too  large  for,  the 
subscriptions,  and  a  deficiency  was  reported  of  $300  at  date  of  dedica- 
tion. This  seemingly  small  anKnint,  which  now-a-days  would  be 
paid  for  a  pair  of  diamond  ear-rings  or  a  seal-skin  sack  without  much 
consideration,  remained  unpaid  for  some  years  and  was  a  grievous  bur- 
den. The  members  were  poor,  with  a  few  exceptions,  and  the  greater 
number  were  in  debt  for  their  farms.  The  aggregate  wealth  of  the 
church  did  not  exceed  $40,000,  and  was  probabi)'  less.  The  debt  was 
a  source  of  annoyance  to  pastor  and  people.  At  a  meeting  called  for 
the  consideration  of  "  waj's  and  means  "  for  payment,  the  pastor  pro- 
posed to  allow  $50  a  year  to  be  deducted  from  his  meager  salary,  to  be 
applied  to  extinguish  the  indebtedness.  This  offer  was  accepted,  and 
that  amount  for  three  years  was  regularly  deducted  from  his  j'carly 
stipend. 

Before  a  deed  was  given  for  the  lot  a  defect  was  discovered  in  the  or 
ganization  of  the  church.  It  was  considered  doubtful  whether  by  that 
organization  it  was  legally  entitled  to  become  owner  and  holder  of 
real  estate.  The  machinery  of  the  Baptist  Church  is  so  extremely  sim- 
ple that  this  defect  was  easily  remedied.  The  male  members  met  at 
the  pastor's  iiOuse  and  organized  the  "  Baptist  Church  of  Plainville." 
Tlie  liieeting  in  a  private  house  was  a  common  occurrence.  The  ordin- 
ation services  of  Elder  Bigelow  were  held  in  his  dwelling.     The  scliool 


400  HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUNTY. 

houses  during  the  secular  days  of  the  week  were  used  for  school  pur- 
poses, hence  the  necessity  of  resorting  to  private  dwellings.  The  regular 
Sunday  service  was  sometimes  held  in  private  houses.  The  writer  re- 
members one  held  at  the  dwelling  of  Thomas  Roszell.  At  the  close  of 
the  service  there  was  a  general  invitation  for  the  congregation  to  re- 
main to  dinner,  and  the  greater  part  accepted.  The  tables  were  boun- 
tifully spread  with  good  things,  and  the  most  pleased  of  the  party  were 
host  and  hostess.  At  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  Baptist  Churcli 
of  Plainville  the  male  members  were  Andrew  Raplee,  Thomas  Roszell, 
Dr.  Millard  Deacon,  Moses  S.  Littell,  John  Beers,  Levi  French,  Deacon 
Lewis  La  Fevar,  father-of  the  late  Deacon  La  Fevar,  Samuel  Conklin, 
Ephraim  Bennett,  Abram  Sheldon,  Henry  Osman,  Joel  Hayes,  David 
Peterson,  Daniel  Miller,  Alonzo  W,  Sunderlin  (afterward  ordained  a  min- 
ister), David  B.  Bartholomew,  Abia  Ketchum,  David  Hayes, sen.,  Richard 
Townsend,  John  Harmon,  and  Daniel  Wilson. 

In  the  year  1834  the  name  of  the  church  was  changed  from  Plainville 
to  Dundee.  Of  the  members  of  the  Baptist  Church  of  Plainville  at  its 
organization  not  one  is  now  living.  The  following  is  a  complete  list 
of  the  pastors  that  have  served  the  Baptist  Church  since  its  first  organ- 
ization: Samuel  Bigelow,  Baptist  Church,  Reading,  1812  ;  E.  W.  Mar- 
tin, Plainville,  later  Dundee,  1831-1842;  C.  S.  Smith,  1841-1843; 
J.  J.  Fuller,  1843;  Philander  Shedd,  1845-1850;  O.  Montague,  1850- 
1852  ;  J.  L  Seeley,  1 85 2- 185  5  ;  F.  Glenville,  i  855-1856  ;  T.  S.  Harrison, 
1 857-1 862;  Daniel  Taylor,  1 863-1 866;  L.  C.  Bates,  1867-1869  ;  Will- 
iam Cormac,  1 867- 1 870;  G.  VV.  Abrams,  1 870-1 871  ;  William  H.  Pease, 
1873;  James  Mullen,  1873;  W.  N.  Tower,  1876;  William  Entworth, 
1880;  Isaac  B.  Thompson,  1 881-1883  ;  W.  F.  Benedict,  1 883-1 886; 
Jes<e  A.   Hengate,  1886-1890;   R.  H.  Colby,  1891. 

In  the  year  1833  a  band  of  Christian  ministers  invaded  Dundee  for 
the  purpose  of  holding  a  series  of  meetings,  and  if  sufficiently  encouraged, 
of  forming  a  church.  Among  the  number  were  the  Revs.  Ira  Brown,  Mil- 
lard Badger,  and  Dr.  Holland,  (whether  it  was  the  "Timothy  Titcomb  " 
Holland  or  another  person  of  the  same  name  the  writer  does  not  know; 
some  persons  who  made  his  acquaintance  aver  that  it  was  the  veritable 
Timothy.)  The  ministers  applied  to  the  Baptist  trustees  for  the  privi- 
lege of  holding  the  meetings  in  their  church.      The  request  was  refused. 


TOWN  OF  STARKEY.  401 

From  one  standpoint  tlie  refusal  was  unwise.  It  alienated  friends  and 
exasperated  nearly  tlie  whole  community.  In  those  earl\-  times  the 
people  in  all  matters  of  difference  usually  "  took  sides,"  and  so  a  fierce 
and  bitter  controversy  was  the  result,  and  the  church  was  placed  in  a 
wrong  position,  on  the  defensive.  And  so  it  came  to  pass  that  from  the 
refusal  of  the  trustees  came  the  building  of  the  Free  Church.  The 
ministers  secured  the  use  of  a  large  barn  belonging  to  Jacob  Hackett, 
located  on  the  lot  now  owned  by  Mr.  Oldfield.  In  that  barn  they  held 
their  meetings  of  several  days'  duration,  and  in  it  was  organized  the 
Christian  Church  of  Dundee. 

While  the  dissatisfaction  at  the  refusal  of  the  Baptist  trustees  was 
highest  the  project  of  building  a  f7re  church  was  agitated,  and  a  sub- 
scription to  raise  the  necessary  funds  was  circulated.  The  responses 
were  liberal  and  there. was  soon  enough  to  warrant  the  commencement 
of  the  undertaking.  Samuel  Harpending  came  down  with  his  usual  sub- 
scription of  fifty  dollars  and  the  building  lot.  The  terms  of  the  sub- 
scription were  curious.  After  reciting  the  grievances  it  went  on  to  say 
in  substance  that  the  proposed  church  should  be  absolutel)-  free  to  any 
or  all  sects,  denominations  or  indi\iduals,  that  no  one  should  be  debarred 
from  its  use  on  account  of  religious  belief,  whether  Pagan,  Mahometan, 
Jew  or  Christian.  The  terms  of  the  subscription  paper  gave  to  the  infidel, 
deist  or  atheist,  or  the  deciple  of  Buddah,  the  same  rights  and  privileges 
as  those  of  the  most  orthodox  sects.  The  terms  of  the  subscription 
were  never  repudiated  while  under  the  control  of  the  free  church  or 
Christian  trustees.  From  its  pulpit  Christians,  Presbyterians,  Method- 
ists and  Universalists  have  proclaimed  their  doctrines  and  dogmas. 

The  Christian  Church  organization  was  continued  for  many  years. 
The  building  of  Starkey  Seminary  diverted  the  attention  of  the  church 
to  that  place,  and  the  organizing  of  the  church  at  Rock  Stream  so  w  eak- 
ened  this  church  that  it  ceased  to  exist.  As  was  the  case  with  the  other 
churches,  the  subscriptions  for  the  building  of  the  free  church  were  in- 
sufficient and  the  curse  of  debt  rested  upon  it.  For  the  payment  of  the 
debt  it  was  mortgaged,  and  as  time  went  on  and  the  excitement  that 
brought  it  into  existence  was  forgotten,  no  provision  for  the  payment  of 
the  debt  having  been  made,  the  mortgage  was  foreclosed,  and  at 
tile    sale   the    church  was    bid   off  by   Daniel    Shannon,   who   donated 

51 


402  HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUNTY. 

it  to  the  Christian  Church.  There  was  a  proviso  in  the  deed  given  for 
the  lot  that  when  it  ceased  to  be  used  for  religious  purposes  it  should 
revert  to  the  original  owners.  The  Christian  Church  having  aban- 
doned it,  the  lot  became  the  property  of  the  Harpending  estate  and  was 
sold  with  the  building  to  the  present  owners,  the  Catholics. 

The  Methodists  from  the  smallest  beginning  numerically  have  become 
the  largest  in  the  village.  The  first  Methodist  class  was  formed  in  the 
year  1833.  It  was  the  outcome  of  a  "protracted  meeting"  held  in 
connection  with  the  Baptists  the  previous  year.  The  class  numbered 
but  few  members.  I  can  remember  only  the  three  Pierce  brothers, 
Abel,  Samuel  and  Abner,  Arch  Strowbridge,  Thomas  Swarthout,  Asher 
Spicer,  Nash  Sawyer,  Dill  Sawyer,  Isaac  H.  Maples,  Edward  J.  Smith, 
Burges  Truesdell,  Charles  Chandiler.  If  there  were  any  others  among 
the  male  members  their  names  have  escaped  my.  memory.  The  wives 
of  males  named  were  all  members.  An  effort  was  at  once  made  to  se- 
cure subscriptions  for  the  building  of  a  chapel.  The  chapel  was 
built  by  donations  of  labor,  timber  and  other  materials,  but  still  there 
remained  a  debt  on  it  that  harrassed  the  society  for  a  number  of  }'ears. 
Samuel  Harpending  donated  a  lot  and  fifty  dollars,  his  usual  subscrip- 
tion. In  1835  the  quarterly  conference  made  a  recommendation  to 
liquidate  the  debt.  This  chapel  was  used  until  1849,  when  it  was  moved 
off  the  lot  and  used  for  an  academy  and  other  purposes,  and  is  now  a 
part  of  the  Casino. 

A  large  brick  church  was  built  on  the  same  site.  It  is  a  singular  co- 
incidence that  each  of  the  three  Protestant  churches  have  built  three 
houses  of  worship.  The  chapel  was  queerly  arranged,  being  long  and 
narrow,  with  galleries  on  two  sides  and  one  end,  a  single  aisle  running 
from  the  door  to  the  altar,  with  long  benches  running  from  the  aisle  to 
the  wall.  The  aisle  separated  the  sexes,  the  men  and  women  sitting  on 
different  sides.  This  was  at  the  time  the  custom  in  all  the  churches. 
The  benches  were  not  ornamented,  but  for  comfort  were  an  improve- 
ment over  pews  of  the  churches  of  the  times  and  the  other  churches  of 
the.  village. 

Among  the  conspicuous  and  active  members  who  came  into  the 
church  in  those  early  days  were  David  Smith,  Lewis  Millard,  Loren 
Barnes  and  James  Wright,  and  afterward  William  McLean.     These  with 


TO  WN  OF  ST  A  RKE  Y.  403 

the  older  members  formed  a  band  of  earnest  workers.  The  chiircli  be- 
gan to  be  heard  from  the  first,  and  its  meetings  both  for  preaching  and 
prayer  were  largely  attended,  and  the  chnrch  soon  became  a  i)ower  in 
the  village. 

The  preaching  was  "served  "  by  circuit  preachers.  These  preachers 
were  hard  workers  and  poorly  paid.  Three  sermons  on  Sunday,  with  a 
ride  of  miles  between  their  appointments,  were  their  usual  work.  A  few 
specimens  will  illustrate  how  small  was  the  amount  paid  for  their  serv 
ices.  The  circuit  was  very  large,  covering  most  of  Yates  County,  and 
parts  of  Steuben  and  Schuyler.  The  three  ministers  received  that  year 
(1826)  $231.71.  The  succeeding  year  Abner  Chase  was  still  presiding 
elder,  and  Dennison  Smith  and  Natiian  B.  Dalson  were  the  circuit 
preachers  and  receixed  .$345.56  for  this  j'ear. 

In  1830-31  R.  M.  Everts  and  C.  Story  served  the  circuit  and  received 
for  their  services  $388.72,  including  presiding  elder's  claims.  Who  re- 
members the  Methodist  circuit  preachers  of  olden  times?  Tiiere  was  a 
tacit  regulation  in  their  dress  and  equipage.  The  sulky,  the  clerical 
coat,  usually  of  indigo-blue  broadcloth,  the  white  neck  cloth,  and  sum- 
mer or  winter  the  inevitable  tall  white  beaver  hat.  The}'  always  drove 
fine  horses,  and  it  was  generally  understood  that  the  circuit  preachers 
were  good  judges  of  horse-flesh.  There  have  been  greater  preacliers 
than  those  poorly  paid  ministers  of  the  circuit,  but  tlie  list  of  names  is 
one  that  any  church  might  be  proud  to  recognize.  Some  of  them  be- 
came eminent  in  there  denomination.  Many  of  the  churches  for  the 
first  few  years  had  a  hard  struggle  for  e.xistence,  and  had  it  not  been 
for  the  fidelity  and  devotion  of  the  early  members  would  have  perished 
in  their  infancy.  The  circuit  system  was  good  for  those  early  tinus, 
but  the  country  has  outgrown  it,  and  except  in  newly  settled  portions 
it  has  gone  into  disuse.  The  name  of  Abner  Chase  often  appears  in 
the  early  history  of  the  church.  He  honored  tlie  office  of  presiding 
elder  for  two  or  more  terms.  His  record  is  one  of  fidelity  and  confi- 
dence— fidelity  on  his  part  to  his  duties  and  obligations  to  his  church, 
and  confidence  on  the  part  of  those  over  whom  he  presided.  Outside 
the  church  he  was  respected  and  reverenced  for  liis  sterling  worth. 

On  all  the  great  moral  questions  of  the  times  the  Methodist  Church 
has  been  on  the  right   side.      Early  in  its  histor\'  stringent  temperance 


404  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

resolutions  were  passed,  and  it  was  strongly  anti-slavery.  The  building 
of  the  last  church  gave  it  an  impetus  and  its  future  looks  brighter  than 
ever  before. 

Tlie  great  religious  awakening  of  the  centurj-  occurred  in  the  years 
1831—32.  Never  since  the  times  when  Wesley  and  Whitfield  preached 
repentance  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  land,  has  there 
been  anything  comparable  to  it  in  extent  and  interest.  In  the  years 
mentioned  Rev.  Charles  G.  Finney  (afterward  president  of  the  Oberlin 
College)  preached  and  held  revival  meetings  in  this  and  adjoining 
States  The  interest  created  by  those  meetings  spread  and  widened 
until  it  reached  the  smaller  villages,  the  hamlets,  and  the  school  dis- 
tricts. The  additions  to  the  churches  during  those  years  were  num- 
bered by  thousands. 

In  the  fall  or  early  winter  of  1832  there  was  held  in  what  is  now 
Dundee,  then  Plainville  or  Harpending's  Corners,  the  first  "protracted 
meeting."  My  recollection  is  that  the  meeting  was  projected  by  the 
Methodists,  and  after  its  commencement  the  Baptists  joined  and  made  it 
a  union  meeting,  or  it  may  have  been  union  from  the  commencement. 
It  was  held  in  the  Baptist  Church.  The  Methodists  were  represented 
by  their  circuit  preacher,  the  Rev.  VV.  Jones,  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Com  ■ 
stock,  of  Trumansburg,  and  the  Baptists  by  their  pastor.  Rev.  E  W. 
Martin,  and  the  Rev.  Joseph  Sheardown,  an  evangelist  of  considerable 
local  fame.  The  meeting  was  continued  twenty-two  days,  and  the 
converts  numbered  considerably  more  than  100.  As  a  result  of  these 
meetings  the  churches  received  numerous  additions,  and  from  the  con- 
verts and  others  the  first  Methodist  class  was  formed. 

It  was  during  the  progress  of  these  meetings  that  Jacob  Hackett  put 
in  an  appearance.  During  the  afternoon  service,  and  while  the  Rev. 
William  Green  was  preaching,  Hackett  entered  the  church  on  the  west 
side,  and  passing  half  way  up  the  aisle,  halted,  and  pointing  his  finger 
at  the  preacher  said  in  a  loud  voice:  "  I,  Jake  Hackett,  the  second   man 

in  the  Trinity,  command  you  to  come  down,  you  d rascal."    There 

'A  as  a  great  commotion  for  a  few  minutes.  He  was  soon  ejected  and 
the  services  went  on.  The  next  morning  Hackett  appeared  on  the 
street  in  a  perfectly  nude  state — the  costume  of  Eden  before  the  fig-leaf 
era  was  no  more  scanty  than  was  his.      He  had  started  for  the  church. 


TO  WN  OF  S  TARKE  Y.  405 

but  was  soon  captured  and  returned  to  his  liome.  From  this  time  lie 
went  from  bad  to  worse  until  it  became  necessary  to  confine  him  with 
straight-jacket  and  chain. 

Having  introduced  Hackett  I  think  I  will  give  him  a  chapter,  thinking 
his  strange  life  and  its  tragic  ending  may  interest  the  reader.  Some- 
time in  his  early  career  John  Shoemaker  built  a  fine  dwelling  on  the 
farm  now  owned  by  the  Raplee's,  half  a  mile  west  of  Hillside  Cemetery. 
The  house  was  completed  and  ready  to  be  occupied,  when,  on  a  dark 
night,  it  was  burned  to  the  ground.  The  fire  was  evidently  incendiary, 
and  suspicion  rested  on  Hackett,  but  there  was  no  proof  of  his  guilt. 
There  was  the  usual  nine  days  wonderment,  and  as  years  passed  the 
circumstance  was  nearly  forgotten. 

Hackett  was  easily  wrought  upon  religiously,  and  at  a  funeral  some 
years  after  the  burning,  while  the  services  were  progressing,  he  arose  in 
tlie  congregation  and  made  confession  that  he  caused  the  burning  of 
Shoemaker's  house,  and  afterward  deeded  iiim  fifty  acres  of  timber- 
land  in  restitution.  Sometime  subsequent  to  the  burning  Hackett  built 
a  saw  mill  on  Big  Stream,  half  a  mile  west  of  the  Raplee  mills.  What- 
ever he  attempted  was  always  well  done,  and  the  mill  was  no  exception. 
The  building  of  this  mill  was  a  pet  scheme.  It  was  his  pride  to  make 
it  the  best  mill  on  the  stream.  The  mill  was  finished,  but  before  it  was 
started  there  came  a  flood  and  carried  away  the  dam.  The  dam  was 
rebuilt  in  the  most  substantial  manner.  Nothing  that  could  give  it  sta- 
bility was  omitted.  Standing  on  the  dam  after  it  was  finished,  and 
raising  his  arm,  Hackett  defied  God,  man,  or  the  devil  to  tear  it  away. 
It  was  a  strange  coincidence  tliat  while  returning  to  his  home,  on  the 
evening  of  that  same  day,  a  heavy  rain  set  in  and  before  the  next  morn- 
ing the  dam  was  washed  out.  It  was  never  rebuilt.  The  wheels  of 
that  mill  never  made  a  revolution.  Year  after  year,  for  half  a  centurj', 
it  rusted  and  rotted  and  went  to  ruin  ;  piece  by  piece,  it  fell  into  the 
stream  and  was  carried  away  by  the  current,  until  now  not  a  vestage  re- 
mains It  was  said  that  Hackett  never  visited  the  spot  after  his  dam 
was  destroyed.  Whether  this  was  trutii  or  romance  I  do  not  know. 
Later  in  life  Hackett  purchased  the  Crosman  farm  in  "  Beartown  "  now 
owned  by  Mr.  Phillips.  On  this  farm  he  spent  his  last  dajs.  Caleb 
Cowing  bought  an  adjoining  farm.     They  were  cousins  and  came  from 


4o6  HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUNTY. 

Massachusetts,  and  traveled  together  on  foot  the  200  miles  between  Old 
Rochester  and  Canandaigua.  They  siiould  have  lived  peaceful  lives, 
which  they  did  not.  A  dispute  soon  arose  between  them  regarding  the 
disposition  of  the  surface  water  that  in  rainy  times  overflowed  parts  of 
their  farms.  The  neighbors  said  that  in  their  disputes  Hackett  was  in 
the  right.  Frequent  disputes  occurred,  and  there  was  bad  blood  be- 
tween the  parties.  A  meeting  to  settle  tiie  difficulties  was  arranged. 
It  was  held  in  a  school  house  located  on  the  line  between  their  farms. 
It  was  a  strange  meeting.  In  the  darkness  of  a  November  night  they 
met ;  no  witnesses  were  present ;  high  words  were  heard  by  persons 
massing  by  the  place;  criminations  and  recriminations.  Cowing  was 
cool,  crafty,  and  exasperating.  Hackett  impulsive,  wild,  and  turbulent. 
Cowing  agravated  his  opponent  in  every  possible  manner.  Hackett 
raged,  stormed,  and  blasphemed.  Cowing  afterward  said  that  Hackett 
offered  to  fight  it  out  to  the  death.  The  proposition  was  declined.  At 
that  argument  Hackett  would  have  had  his  opponent  at  an  advantage. 
The  meeting  continued  until  well  in  the  night,  when  they  parted.  The 
ne.Kt  morning  tliey  met  and  quarrellecL  It  was  their  last  meeting.  They 
both  returned  to  their  homes.  Hackett  sat  down  to  his  morning  meal, 
but  before  he  tasted  of  food  fell  forward  on  the  table  a  corpse.  Hackett 
was  not  all  bad.  In  his  dealings  he  was  just,  a  good  neighbor,  and  very 
kind  and  benevolent  to  the  poor. 

These  papers  have  treated  of  the  formation  of  the  churches.  The 
results  of  that  period  may  be  of  sufficient  importance  to  warrant  a  {cw 
lines,  more  or  less,  to  be  added  to  those  already  written.  Who  would 
have  ventured  the  prediction  on  New  Year's  day  of  1S85,  that  on  New 
Year's  day  of  1888  there  would  have  been  built  within  three  years  four 
beautiful  churches,  at  an  aggregate  cost  of  $40,000,  and  that  three 
good  buildings  of  the  same  kind  would  have  been  demolished  to  make 
room  for  new  and  better  ones.  The  Rev.  William  Tracy  commenced 
his  labors  as  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  eight  years  ago,  with 
a  membership  of  sixty- five.  The  church  had  then  been  organized  fifty- 
two  years.  During  his  pastorate  of  four  years  there  were  added  ninety 
members.  Tlie  number  at  the  time  of  his  resignation  was  147,  after 
deducting  for  deaths  and  removals  nearly  one  and  one-half  of  the  orig- 
inal  number.     There  was  but  one  communion   while  he  was  pastor,  in 


TO  I KA'  0J=-  S  TA  RKE 1  •.  407 

wliich  tliere  was  no  addition.  Mr.  Tracy  was  followed  b)-  Re\'.  Stan- 
ley B.  Roberts  four  years  ago,  who  lias  just  closed  his  pastorate  and 
removed  to  Utica  During  Mr.  Roberts's  labors  there  were  added 
1 10.  The  pulpit  is  now  supplied  by  their  new  pastor,  the  Rev.  Augus- 
tus Frederick. 

Mr.  Hungate  closed  his  four  years'  pastorate  with  the  Baptist  Church 
and  accepted  a  call  from  the  Baptist  Church  of  Hornellsville.  Mr. 
Hungate's  labors  were  acceptable  to  his  people  and  his  removal  was 
very  much  regretted.  Within  the  past  eight  years  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  has  had  phenomenal  additions,  and  the  other  churches 
report  satisfactory  gains. 

The  Catholic  Church  has  been  organized  about  twelve  years.  It 
numbers  about  135  members.  Service  is  held  once  in  three  weeks. 
Father  Eugene  Pagani,  the  priest,  is  very  popular  with  his  church,  and 
has  made  hosts  of  friends  outside  of  his  own  pastorate.  At  the  present 
time  he  is  under  treatment  for  disease  of  the  eyes,  which  has  nearly 
deprived  him  of  sight.      All  who  know  him  wish  him  a  speedy  recovery. 

The  Olivet  Baptist  Church  was  organized  in  1884.  The  Rev.  R. 
Kocher  was  pastor  four  j'ears  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  D.  T.  Van 
Doren,  May,  1888,  to  September,  1890;  Rev.  N.  C.  Hill,  from  Octo- 
ber, 1890,  to  February,  1891.  The  church  edifice  was  built  in  1885-86. 
and  dedicated  in  1886.  The  church  has  had  a  healthy  growth  up  to 
the  present  time.  Joseph  Taylor,  a  licentiate  and  student  of  Cook's 
Academy,  has  supplied  the  pulpit  since  May  last. 

Glenora —  Glenora  is  beautifully  situated  on  the  west  shore  of  Seneca 
Lake.  The  banksof  the  lake  rise  abruptly  to  a  height  of  200  feet  or  more. 
The  Northern  Central  Railroad  bridge  spans  the  chasm  made  by  Big 
Stream  at  that  dizzy  height.  The  mercantile  business  is  represented 
by  one  store,  and  the  manufactures  by  a  flouring-mill.  saw- mill  and  a 
large  factory  manufacturing  grape  and  other  fruit  baskets.  There  is  a 
"  Union  hall  "  for  the  accommodation  of  religious  gatherings  and  other 
purposes.  The  village  was  formerly  called  \\\g  Stream  Point,  and  was 
a  place  of  business  importance.  Larmon  G.  Townsend,  an  energetic 
merchant,  controlled  the  mercantile  business  of  the  hamlet.  He  came 
from  New  Haven.  Conn.,  and  commenced  business  as  a  merchant.  He 
soon  enlarged  his  sphere,  taking  in  the  grain  and  produce  business,  and 


4o8  HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUNTY. 

filially  became  owner  of  the  flouring  and  saw-mill  and  a  woolen  factory. 
The  business  was  too  much  for  his  capital,  and  like  most  business  too 
much  extended  ended  disastrously.  The  village  has  of  late  years  be- 
come a  summer  resort.  Major  Budd's  summer  hotel  is  always  well 
patronized,  and  there  are  several  cottages  rented  or  occupied  by 
owners. 

Rock  Stream. — The  village  of  Rock  Stream  is  located  in  the  extreme 
southern  limit  of  the  town  of  Starkey.  It  has  two  stores,  two  churches. 
Christian  and  Presbyterian,  and  a  variety  of  mechanics.  It  has  been  a 
place  of  considerable  business  importance.  It  was  first  known  as  Hurd's 
Corners,  from  a  family  of  that  name,  early  settlers.  The  Hathaway  fami- 
lies are  among  the  older  families.  Gilbert  Hathaway  was  a  large  land 
owner,  and  kept  a  public  house  for  many  years. 

Mr.  C.  W.  Barnes  was  for  many  years  a  merchant  at  Rock  Stream 
and  carried  on  a  large  business  in  merchandise  and  cou-ntry  produce. 
Mr.  Barnes  was  the  senior  partner  in  the  firm  of  Barnes  &  Sharp, 
which  was  dissolved  many  years  ago.  Alonzo  Simmons,  a  very  suc- 
cessful merchant,  amassed  a  handsome  fortune  here,  and  retired  to 
Reading  Center  in  1843.  The  village  is  located  in  one  of  the  finest 
sections  of  farming  land  in  the  State,  and  has  the  Northern  Central 
Railroad  on  the  east  and  the  Syracuse,  Geneva  &  Corning  on  the  west. 

Reminiscences. — Under  a  pile  of  rubbish  in  the  southwest  corner  of 
an  old  "grave-yard,"  now  included  in  the  public  school  lot,  with  noth- 
ing to  mark  the  place,  lie  the  remains  of  Isaac  Andrews,  private  secre- 
tary to  Gen.  George  Washington  during  the  war  for  Independence.  Mr. 
Andrews  drew  the  forms  of  the  pay  rolls  used  by  General  Washington, 
and  which  I  have  been  informed  are  still  used  in  the  army.  Mr.  An- 
drews was  by  profession  a  teacher  and  surveyor.  Over  his  grave  the 
wagons  rumble  carrying  supplies  of  fuel,  etc.,  to  the  public  school,  and 
the  children  innocently  and  unknowingly  pursue  their  nois)-  sports. 
Mr.  Andrews  was  a  scliolar  and  Christian,  and  a  gentleman.  He  was 
also  a  Mason.  His  funeral  was  the  first  Masonic  funeral  held  in  the 
town  and  was  largely  attended. 

Gen.  Timothy  Hurd  was  a  captain  of  militia  in  the  War  of  1812,  and 
with  his  company  (or  with  as  many  as  he  could  persuade  to  go  over), 
crossed  the   Niagara    River  into  Canada.      He  was  later  elected   briga- 


TOWN  OF  STARKEY.  409 

dier-general  of  militia.  He  settled  in  Eddytown,  built  himself  a  large 
dwelling,  and  became  one  of  the  leading  men  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  and  in  the  town.  He  built  a  saw- mill  in  1809  on  Big  Stream 
south  of  Eddytown,  and  later  a  grist-mill.  It  is  claimed  that  his  was 
the  first  saw- mill  on  the  stream.  Isaac  Stark's  was  senior  one  year. 
His  family  occupied  a  very  high  social  position.  Leveret  Gabriel,  a  boy, 
came  from  Vermont  with  General  Hurd,  and  afterward  settled  south  of 
Eddytown. 

Stephen  Reeder  and  his  brother-in-law,  Joshua  Tuthill,  bought  360 
acres  of  land  at  Starkey  Corners  and  divided  it  equally  between  them, 
Tuthill  taking  the  north  half  and  Reeder  the  south.  Josiah  Reeder 
came  at  the  same  time,  181 1,  and  located  on  fifty  acres  in  Eddytown, 
on  the  northwest  corner  of  the  Dundee  road. 

Henry  Schenck  sold  to  Teval  Swarts  the  farm. now  owned  by  William 
C.  Swarts,  one  and  one-half  miles  north  of  Dundee.  The  farm  contains 
107  acres,  consideration  $900.  The  farm  has  remained  in  the  Swarts 
family  since  its  purchase,  and  is  the  only  farm  in  the  town  that  has  never 
been  incumbered  with  a  mortgage  nor  has  it  been  bequeathed.  When 
it  has  changed  owners  it  has  been  by  purchase  and  sale.  Teval  sold  it 
to  his  son  Peter  for  a  monej'  consideration.  Peter  sold  to  iiis  son,  Will- 
iam C.  Swarts,  the  present  owner. 

Among  the  prominent  families  who  came  early  to  the  village  of  Dun- 
dee, then  Harpending's  Corners,  that  of  Benjamin  B.  Beekman  deserves 
particular  mention.  Mr.  Beekman  was  one  of  the  older  citizens.  He 
came  from  New  York  city  in  1830  and  sto[5ped  for  a  few  months  in 
Eddytown,  moving  to  Dundee  in  1831  with  his  wife  and  oldest  son, 
Cornelius.  From  that  time  until  his  death  he  was  a  prominent  figure 
in  the  affairs  of  the  village.  He  built  on  contract  the  first  Baptist 
"  meeting-house,"  and  erected  for  himself  three  brick  blocks  of  stores 
and  two  dwellings,  all  of  which  remain  the  property  of  tiie  estate  except 
one  dwelling.  He  was  for  many  years  a  ruling  elder  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian Churclj,  and  to  him  and  his  neighbor,  Baltis  Titsworth,  is  the 
church  indebted  for  many  helps  in  time  of  need.  Mr.  Beekman's  busi- 
ness was  originally  that  of  builder  or  carpenter ;  later  in  life  he  engaged 
in  the  furniture  and  undertaking  business,  and  was  very  success- 
ful.    His  oldest  son,  Cornelius,  emigrated  to  California  in  1849,  ''"d  is 

52 


4IO  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

now  a  resident  of  Jacksonville,  Oregon.  In  i8 — he  ran  for  governor, 
and  claims  he  was  fairly  elected,  but  was  defrauded  of  his  rights.  Of 
the  other  sons,  Abram  and  John  have  made  a  success  of  their  business 
in  Bath,  N.  Y.,  and  T.  Dewitt,  after  succeeding  his  father  in  the  furni- 
ture business,  sold  out  and  is  now'one  of  the  firm  of  F.  H.  Sayre  &  Co., 
hardware  merchants  of  Dundee. 

John  T.  Andrews  has  for  many  years  been  a  prominent  figure  in 
Dundee.  He  came  to  the  village  sometime  in  the  early  forties  and  has 
resided  here  since.  The  Andrews  family  originally  came  from  near  the 
Hudson  River  and  settled  in  the  town  of  Reading  in  1812.  While  a 
resident  of  Steuben  County  he  held  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace, 
was  elected  sheriff  and  member  of  the  Twenty-fifth  Congress.  After 
coming  to  Dundee  he  retired  from  business  until  1866,  when  he  be- 
came a  partner  in  the  firm  of  Martin  Vosburg  &  Co.  until  1874;  since 
then  he  has  not  engaged  in  active  business.  At  the  age  of  eighty- eight 
years  he  is- active  and  in  appearance  has  many  years  of  life  before  him. 

Griffin  R.  Hazard  built  a  saw- mill  in  181 1,  and  a  grist-mill  in  1812 
on  Big  Stream,  south  of  Dundee.  The  mills,  with  600  acres  of  land, 
came  in  possession  of  his  son  James  P.  Hazard,  who  kept  them  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  1872.  James  Hazard  invested  a  large  amount 
in  the  building  of  a  mill  that  was  never  finished  and  was  a  total  loss. 


CHAPTER   XXHI. 

HISTORY  OF    THE    TOWN    OF   JERUSALEM. 

JERUSALEM  is  practically  and  substantially  the  mother  of  towns 
in  Yates  County.  The  district,  sometimes  called  township,  of 
Jerusalem,  was  organized  in  1789,  as  one  of  the  subdivisior»6  of  Ontario 
County,  and  included  within  its  limits  all  that  is  now  Milo,  Benton  and 
Torrey,  as  well  as  its  own  original  territory.  On  the  erection  of  Steu- 
ben County  in  1796,  the  region  or  district  called  Bluff  Point,  or  so  much 
of  it  as  lies  south  of  the  south  line  of  township  seven,  was   made  a  part 


TO  WN  OF  JER  U SALEM.  4 1 « 

of  the  new  formation  ;   but   in  1814   an  act  of  the  Legislature   annexed 
Bluff  Point  to  Jerusalem,  and  to  which  it  has  since  belonged. 

In  1803  the  town  of  Jerusalem  was  definitely  erected,  embracing 
township  seven,  second  range,  and  so  much  of  township  seven,  first 
range,  as  lay  westward  of  Lake  Keuka  and  lot  No.  t^j.  At  or  about 
the  same  time  the  other  territory  that  had  previously  formed  a  part  of 
the  district  of  Jerusalem  was  organized  into  a  town  and  called  \'^ernon, 
afterward  Snell,  and  finally  Benton. 

The  town  of  Jerusalem,  as  at  present  constituted,  is  the  largest  of  the 
towns  of  Yates  County  ;  also  it  is  one  of  the  most  important  towns  of 
the  shire.  As  compared  with  the  eastern  towns  of  the  county,  Jerusalem 
may  be  called  quite  hilly,  and  in  some  places  mountainous.  Hluff 
Point,  if  standing  independently,  might  properly  be  called  a  mountain, 
at  least  its  southern  extremity,  but  with  its  surroundings  becomes  not 
more  than  a  formidable  hill,  elevated,  at  its  highest  point,  more  than 
700  feet  above  Lake  Keuka.  Rose  Hill  in  Jerusalem  is  572  feet  above 
the  lake,  while  the  county  poor-house  is  634  feet  higher  than  the  lake. 
The  highest  general  elevation  in  the  town  is  on  the  west  side  near 
Italy,  from  whence  there  is  a  gradual  descent  as  one  travels  eastward 
toward  the  West  Branch  inlet.  Still  further  east  is  another  though 
lesser  rise  of  land,  the  summit  of  which  is  about  two  miles  from  the  lake. 
It  will  be  seen,  therefore,  that  Jerusalem  possesses  superior  natural 
drainage  advantages.  At  the  same  time  the  town  is  exceedingly  well 
watered,  as  it  has  more  lake  frontage  than  any  town  in  the  count)-,  not 
even  excepting  Milo.  A  considerable  depression  in  tiie  surface  is 
noticeable  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  town,  the  locality  being  desig- 
nated by  the  name  of  Shearman's  Hollow. 

Shearman's  Hollow  possibly  includes  historic  ground,  for  it  is  alleged 
that  in  the  southeast  corner  of  lot  48,  near  the  school-house  site,  are  the 
remains  of  an  old  fort;  and  that  this  fort  was  neither  American,  Indian 
or  French  in  its  construction.  Therefore,  if  such  allegations  are  true, 
the  fort,  or  whatever  may  have  been  its  character,  was  undoubtedly  of 
pre  historic  origin.  But  there  have  not  been  discovered  relics  to  show 
whether  the  fortification  was  the  work  of  the  mound-builders  or  some 
other  ancient  race.  But  as  this  is  a  subject  of  entire  speculation,  and 
can  only  be  treated  facetiously,  it  might  more  properly  be  passed  and 
remain  a  mystery. 


412  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

Jerusalem,  too,  contends  for  whatever  of  honor  attaches  from  the  fact 
that  Red  Jacket,  the  famous  Seneca  chief,  first  saw  the  Hght  of  day  on 
tlie  shores  of  Keuka  Lake,  at  a  point  near  the  village  of  Branchport. 
But  the  people  of  a  town  in  Seneca  have  very  recently,  in  1891,  erected 
a  monument  to  the  memory  of  Red  Jacket,  and  on  the  stone  is  recorded 
the  fact  that  the  celebrated  warrior  was  born  very  near  the  spot  on  which 
it  stands.  It  may  be  said,  however,  that  the  claims  of  Jerusalem  to  the 
place  of  birth  of  the  chief  were  and  are  founded  on  the  statements  made 
by  himself  on  the  occasion  of  one  of  his  speeches  at  Geneva.  But  even 
this  is  not  an  important  question,  and  whatever  may  be  the  truth  it  will 
neither  benefit  or  injure  the  people  of  Jerusalem  one  single  whit 

Township  seven  of  the  second  range  formed  a  part  of  the  vast  Phelps 
and  Gorham  purchase,  a  full  history  and  description  of  which  niaj'  be 
found  among  the  general  chapters  of  this  work.  The  proprietors, 
Oliver  Phelps  and  Nathaniel  Gorham,  sold  township  seven,  second 
range,  to  Thomas  Hathaway  and  Benedict  Robinson  in  1789,  but  not 
until  the  following  year  was  the  deed  executed.  In  1790  the  town  was 
surveyed  into  lots  under  the  direction  of  Noah  Guernsey,  and  it  was 
found  that  the  measurements,  both  north  and  south,  overran  six  miles 
square. 

Hathaway  and  Robinson  purchased  this  township  that  it  might  be 
made  the  permanent  abiding  place  of  the  Public  Universal  Friend,  and 
that  on  the  lands  surrounding  her  home  there  might  be  built  up 
dwelling  places  and  farms  for  those  of  her  followers  who  remained  faith- 
ful and  true  to  her  leadership  and  teachings.  Such  seems  to  be  the 
understanding  of  those  best  informed  concerning  the  Friend's  affairs, 
although  at  the  time  the  puichase  was  made  she  had  not  been  to  the 
vicinity  of  the  New  Jerusalem,  but  was  still  at  and  near  Philadelphia. 
If  this  be  true,  then  the  settlement  and  colony  at  Hopeton  and  on 
Seneca  Lake  were  but  temporary.  It  is  not  understood,  either,  that 
there  was  as  yet  any  disturbance  or  dissension  in  the  Friend's  society. 
But  whatever  motive  may  have  prompted  the  Friend  to  cause  the  pur- 
chase of  the  town  to  be  made  cannot  now  be  well  explained,  but  from 
what  was  done  we  may  suppose  that  she  was  looking  carefull)'  into  the 
future  of  herself  and  her  society.  At  all  events  it  is  generall}'  under- 
stood that  the  purchase  was  made  at  her  solicitation  and  under  her  ad- 


TOWN  OF  JERUSALEM.  413 

vice.  But  the  worthy  proprietors  found  themselves  unable  to  pay  the 
consideration  money  for  the  whole  township,  whereupon  they  recon- 
veyed  to  their  grantors  a  strip  about  two  miles  in  width  and  extending 
across  the  south  part  of  the  town.  This  tract  contained  some  seven 
thousand  acres  of  land.  It  passed  through  a  number  of  ownerships  and 
finally  came  into  the  possession  of  Captain  John  Beddoe,  after  which  it 
was  ever  known  as  the  Beddoe  Tract. 

On  the  west  side  of  the  town,  Hathaway  and  Robinson  conveyed  a 
strip  of  land  extending  from  the  north  line  of  the  Beddoe  Tract  to  the 
north  line  of  the  township  to  William  Carter  as  grantee,  but  the  latter 
also  appears  to  have  defaulted  in  his  payment,  as  he  conveyed  back  the 
strip,  embracing  4,000  acres,  to  Phelps  and  Gorham.  This  tract,  after 
passing  through  several  owners,  was  finally  sold  on  foreclosure  of  mort- 
gage held  by  the  State  of  Connecticut.  It  was  bought  in  by  Gideon 
Granger,  of  Canandaigua,  who  perfected  the  title  to  the  tract  and  after- 
ward, June  30,  1816,  sold  it  to  Henry  and  Oren  Green  for  $12,000,  or 
$4.00  per  acre,  and  this  became  thenceforth  known  as  the  Green  Tract. 
The  rest  of  the  lands  of  the  town  appear  to  have  been  retained  by 
Thomas  Hathaway  and  Benedict  Robinson  for  the  use  of  the  Friend 
and  her  society.  However,  it  appears  that  Thomas  Hathaway  sold  or 
conveyed  his  interest  in  the  townsiiip  to  his  associate,  Benedict  Robin- 
son, and  the  latter  appears  to  have  been  the  principal  actor  in  the  mat- 
ter of  after  transfers.  Commencing  in  1792,  the  Friend  made  frequent 
purchases  of  lots  and  parcels  of  land  in  township  seven,  so  that  when 
her  acquisitions  were  completed  she  was  the  possessor  of  4,480  acres  of 
land  in  the  town,  but  not  in  her  own  name.  According  to  her  belief 
and  holding  she  could  not  hold  real  or  other  property  in  her  own  name 
and  right,  or  at  least  she  would  not  do  so,  and  the  conveyances  were 
made  to  one  of  her  trusted  lieutenants,  generally  Sarah  Richards,  but 
occasionally  Rachel  Malin,  each  of  whom  held  the  property  in  trust  for 
the  Friend. 

In  1791  the  Friend  and  Sarah  Richards  made  a  selection  of  land  in 
the  town  upon  which  should  be  erected  her  domicile  and  other  buildings 
for  a  permanent  residence.  They  selected  a  tract  in  the  vale  of  the 
Brook  Kedron,  as  they  were  pleased  to  term  it,  and  Sarah  Richards 
directed    with  her  own  hand  the   improvements  necessary  to  be  made. 


414  HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUNTY. 

In  1793,  after  clearings  had  been  made,  some  ten  or  twelve  acres  of  the 
land  were  enclosed  and  a  log  house  erected.  But  the  faithful  Sarah 
never  lived  to  see  the  completion  of  her  undertaking,  for  she  died  dur- 
ing the  latter  part  of   1793. 

During  the  spring  of  1764  the  Friend  left  the  Seneca  Lake  place, 
and  took  up  her  home  at  the  newly- built  log  house  in  Jerusalem.  She 
was  followed  here  by  many  of  her  former  adherents,  but  was  not  sub- 
ject to  the  intrigues  of  her  enemies  until  some  years  later.  For  the 
poorer  members  of  her  society  the  Friend  provided  a  home  upon  her 
own  tract,  while  those  of  her  society  who  were  able  to  buy  and  build 
for  themselves,  did  so  on  the  lands  of  the  town.  Therefore  the  Univer- 
sal Friend  herself  was  a  pioneer  in  this  town,  as  were  those  of  her  fol- 
lowers who  also  made  this  an  abiding  place.  Many,  however,  of  her 
society  remained  at  the  original  settlement  near  the  lake,  and  never  be- 
came residents  of  Jerusalem. 

The  Public  Universal  Friend,  Jemima  Wilkinson,  was  of  course  a 
pioneer  of  this  town,  the  same  as  she  had  been  in  the  locality  and  set- 
tlement on  Seneca  Lake.  In  1790  she  first  came  to  the  Genesee 
country  and  four  years  later  she  established  herself  permanently  in  the 
town  of  Jerusalem.  One  of  the  general  chapters  of  this  volume  has 
narrated  at  length  concerning  the  Friend,  her  life  and  works,  in  view  of 
which  nothing  further  need  be  said  in  this  place. 

Early  Settletnent  in  Jerusalem. — So  far  as  they  were  able  and  so  far 
as  they  considered  it  a  prudent  measure,  the  Friend  and  her  followers 
settled  her  lands  in  the  town  with  none  but  members  of  her  society. 
Still  there  were  localities  which  the  Friend  did  not  control,  and  there- 
fore such  sections  were  settled  by  whomsoever  saw  fit  to  purchase.  And 
even  in  the  Friend's  society,  after  the  lapse  of  not  many  years,  there 
grew  such  dift'erences  and  dissensions,  that  strangers  to  her  doctrines  at 
last  obtained  a  foothold  within  the  lands  she  aimed  to  control  in  owner- 
ship and  occupancy. 

The  first  settlers  in  district  No.  i  of  the  town  of  Jerusalem  were  as 
follows:  The  Friend  and  her  family,  consisting  of  Rachel,  Margaret, 
and  Elijah  Malin,  Samuel  Doolittle,  Solomon  Ingraham,  Mary  Hopkins, 
Mary  Bean,  and  Chloe,  a  colored  woman  ;  Elnathan  Botsford's  family 
consisted  of  himself  and  his  children,  Lucy,  Sarah,  Benajah,  Mary,  El- 


TOWN  OF  JERUSALEM.  415 

nathan,  jr.,  and  Ruth;  Achilles  Comstock,  S*ah,  his  wife,  and  tlieir 
children,  Alphia,  Martha  and  Israel ;  Ezekiel  Shearman,  his  wife  and 
children,  Isaac,  John  and  Bartleson  ;  Asahel  and  Anna  Stone,  and  their 
children,  Aurelia,  Mary  and  Asahel,  jr.;  Samuel  Harnes  and  wife,  and 
their  children,  Elizur,  Julius,  Samuel  and  Henry  ;  Parmalee  Barnes  and 
wife  ;  Amos  Guernsey  and  John,  his  son,  and  Clarissa,  his  niece  ;  Castle 
Dains  and  wife,  and  children,  Abel,  Saloma,  Anna  and  Simeon ; 
Ephraim  Dains  and  family;  Jonathan  Davis  and  family;  Benjamin 
Durham  and  family;  Daniel  Brown,  wife  and  two  sons,  Daniel  and 
George;  Elizur  and  Nathaniel  Ingraham,  and  their  families;  Reuben 
and  Mary  Luther,  and  Susanna  Spencer,  Phebe  Cogswell,  Mary  Holmes, 
Elizabeth  Kin)on,  Lucy  Brown,  Martha  Reynolds,  Hannah  Baldwin, 
Patience  Allen,  Mary  and  Sarah  Briggs,  and  Ephraim,  Isaac  and  Eliz- 
abeth Kinney. 

One  of  the  prominent  members  of  the  Friend's  society  was  Ezekiel 
Shearman,  who,  in  his  zeal  to  serve  his  leader,  acted  as  one  of  the  com- 
mittee to  visit  the  Genesee  country  in  1786,  for  the  purpose  of  select- 
ing a  site  for  a  home  for  the  society.  Mr.  Shearman  was  a  Rhode 
Islander,  and  was  one  of  the  first  to  come  to  the  region  of  the  New 
Jerusalem  and  there  make  a  home.  Soon  after  coming,  or  in  1790,  he 
married  the  widow  of  John  Bartleson,  the  latter  a  follower  of  the  Friend 
from  Pennsylvania.  In  1794  Mr.  Shearman  moved  to  Jerusalem  and 
located  on  lot  47.  He  lived  and  died  in  the  town,  dying  in  1824,  and 
his  wife  in  1843.  They  had  three  children:  Isaac,  born  in  1792  ;  John, 
who  died  young  ;  and  Bartleson,  born  in  1797,  who  became  one  of 
the  leading  men  of  the  town  of  Jerusalem,  and  died  at  an  advanced  age. 

Daniel  and  Anna  Brown,  husband  and  wife,  and  their  sons,  Daniel, 
Gei  rge  and  Russell,  were  among  the  pioneers  of  the  Friend's  tract. 
But  this  family  became  alienated  from  the  Friend  not  many  years  af- 
terward. They  settled  on  lot  5,  then  an  almost  unbroken  wilderness, 
and  with  no  neighbors  nearer  than  two  or  three  miles.  By  industry, 
perseverance  and  energy  Daniel  Brown  and  his  sons  succeeded  in  build- 
ing up  one  of  the  best  farms  of  the  town.  Daniel  Brown,  jr.,  married 
Lucretia  Coats.  He,  too,  became  a  prominent  man  in  the  town  ;  \\'as 
justice  of  the  peace  for  many  years.  He  kept  public  house,  called 
"Grandfather's   House;"  also  he  built  a   distillerj'   in   the  town.     The 


4 1 6  HIS  TORY  OF  YA  TES  CO  UN  T  Y. 

children  of  Daniel,  jr., 'and  Lucretia  Brown  were  Alfred,  Anna  and 
Mary.  Alfred  was  born  in  1798,  and  was  sheriff  of  the  county  one 
term;  Anna,  born  in  1805,  married  Gideon  Wolcott ;  Mary,  born  in 
18 1 8,  became  the  wife  of  Mordecai  Ogden. 

George  Brown,  son  of  Daniel,  the  pioneer,  became  the  owner  of  600 
acres  on  the  east  side  of  the  Beddoe  tract,  including  the  site  of  the  vil- 
lage of  Branchport.  George  Brown  was  also  prominent  in  the  affairs 
of  Jerusalem;  was  several  terms  its  supervisor.  His  children  were 
Theda,  Harriet  and  John  R.  Brown. 

Jonathan  Davis  came  to  the  New  Jerusalem  in  1792,  and  died  in  the 
County  of  Yates  in  1870.  His  first  residence  was  at  the  little  settle- 
ment on  Seneca  Lake,  but  after  a  few  years  he  returned  to  Philadelphia, 
and  there  married,  in  1801,  Rachel  UpdegrafT.  They  then  returned  to 
this  region,  living  near  the  lake  for  a  short  time,  and  then  locating  in 
Jerusalem,  on  land  purchased  from  the  pioneer,  Jacob  Wagener.  Here 
the  parents  lived  and  died.  Their  children  were  Mary,  Isaiah,  Leah 
and  Lydia. 

Thomas  Hathaway,  for  many  years  a  leading  and  influential  member 
of  the  Friend's  society,  and  one  of  the  original  purchasers  of  the  town 
of  Jerusalem,  or  No.  seven,  range  two,  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  and 
became  a  follower  of  the  Friend  in  17S4.  He  brought  to  the  New  Je- 
rusalem four  children  :  Thomas,  Mary,  Elizabeth  and  Gilbert.  Thomas 
Hathaway  sold  a  large  share  of  his  interest  in  the  town  to  William  Car- 
ter.     He  died  in  1798,  aged  sixty- six  years. 

Elnathan  Botsford  was  also  one  of  the  more  influential  of  the  Friend's 
followers.  His  wife  was  Lucy  Stone,  by  whom  he  had  six  children  : 
Benajah,  Sarah,  Mary,  Lucy,  Ruth  and  Elnathan.  Elnathan  Botsford, 
the  pioneer,  died  in  Jerusalem  at  the  age  of  eighty-eight.  Many  de- 
scendants of  this  respected  old  family  are  still  residents  of  the  county. 

In  1807  John  Race  and  his  wife  left  the  eastern  part  of  the  State  and 
located  in  Jerusalem,  a  few  miles  up  the  lake  from  Penn  Yan,  on  lot 
50,  now  the  Purdy  place.  John  Race  was  known  throughout  the 
country  as  a  famous  hunter  and  fisherman  ;  withal  he  was  a  good 
farmer.  He  had  seven  children  :  William,  Jonathan,  Joseph,  Catharine, 
John  H.,  Phebe  and  Andrew  J. 

Samuel  Davis,  son  of  Malachi  Davis,  a  pioneer  Friend,  settled  in  Je- 


TOlViX  OF  JERUSALEM.  417 

rusalem  in  1805,  on  lot  42.  He  was  the  sliingle-maker  for  the  locality, 
and  laid  the  foundation  of  his  success  in  that  calling.  His  cliildren 
were  Rachel,  Rebecca,  Joseph,  Jesse,  Eliza,  George  W.  and  LydiaAnn. 
The  surname,  Davis,  has  a  number  of  representatives  now  in  the  town. 

Benjamin  Durham,  the  millwright,  was  among  the  pioneers  of  Jeru- 
salem. He  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Dains,  daughter  of  Castle  Dains, 
by  Benedict  Robinson.  He  bought  land  of  Mr.  Robinson,  on  lot  17, 
and  made  his  home  there  in  1799.  The  children  of  Benjamin  and  Eliz- 
abeth Durham  were  Ann,  Rebecca,  George,  John,  James,  Joanna,  Abel, 
Albert  and  Elizabeth.  After  the  death  of  his  wife,  Mr.  Durham,  in 
1 81 8,  married  Mary  Bates,  of  Potter,  by  whom  these  children  were 
born  :   Lucy  C.,  Myron  H.,  Benjamin,  Mary  C.  and  Charles  M. 

Achilles  Comstock  and  his  wife  Rachel,  the  daughter  of  the  senior 
Elnathan  Botsford,  with  their  three  children,  Israel,  Apphi  and  Martha, 
became  residents  of  Jerusalem  in  1799,  having  previously  lived  at  the 
settlement  near  Seneca  Lake.  The  lands  bought  for  them  were  on  the 
north  side  of  the  Friend's  estate,  and  embraced  400  acres.  Achilles 
was  a  Methodist,  while  his  wife  was  one  of  the  Friend's  society.  He 
died  in  1832,  and  his  wife  in  1845. 

Henry  Larzelere  was  the  youngest  child  of  Daniel  and  Elizabeth 
Larzelere,  and  was  born  in  1798  at  Hopeton,  in  the  Friend's  settle- 
ment. He  became  a  resident  of  Jerusalem  by  being  adopted  into  the 
family  of  Elijah  Botsford  upon  the  death  of  his  mother.  He  became  a 
hotel,  or  public- house,  keeper  in  1826,  in  the  locality  in  which  he  lived 
for  many  years  thereafter,  and  known  as  Larzelere's  Hollow.  I  lis  wife 
was  Rebecca  Durham,  who  bore  him  two  children,  Sarah  A.,  who  mar- 
ried Erastus  Cole,  and  William  B.,  whose    wife  was  Sarah  A.  Sheppard. 

Elizabeth  Kinney  was  a  native  of  Connecticut.  She  was  a  widow  at 
the  time  of  her  coming  to  the  New  Jerusalem,  but  her  devotion  to  the 
Friend  caused  her  to  follow  here,  bringing  her  children,  who  were  Sam- 
uel, Isaac,  Ephraim,  Statira  and  Mary.  They  lived  for  a  time  near 
Seneca  Lake,  but  afterward  moved  to  Jerusalem.  Samuel,  the  eldest 
child,  made  the  first  clearing  on  the  site  of  the  Poor- House  larm. 

Samuel  Hartwcll  married  Elizabeth  Wilkinson,  sister  of  the  Friend. 
Their  settlement  was  made  first  in  Benton,  from  whence  they  moved  to 
Canada,  but  were  obliged  to  leave  the  province  during  the  second  war 
53 


4i8  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

with  Great  Britain.     They  came  to  Jerusalem  and  hved  for  a  time,  and 
then  left  the  country. 

Samuel  Clark  and  wife  first  settled  on  lot  56,  in  what  was  township 
seven,  first  range,  but  which  became  a  part  of  Jerusalem.  His  title  to  the 
land  failed,  thus  losing  him  his  farm,  after  which  the  family  located  on 
lot  41.  Mr.  Clark  settled  in  the  town  in  1799.  His  children  were 
Emma,  Abigail,  Laura,  Ezekiel,  Aurilla  and  Sally.  Descendants  of  this 
famil)'  still  live  in  the  town. 

Sanford  Coats  and  Jerusha  (Miner)  Coats  were  natives  of  Connecti- 
cut, and  came  with  their  five  children  to  Jerusalem  in  1817.  This  fam- 
ily name  is  still  well  represented  in  the  town.  The  children  of  Sanford 
and  Jerusha  were  Gilbert,  Anner,  Sidney,  William  S.,  Susan  A.,  Lu- 
cretia,  John  L.,  Russell  and  Miner. 

Erastus  Cole  and  family  settled  in  Jerusalem  at  Sabintown,  so  called, 
in  18 17.  He  died  in  i860,  and  his  wife  five  years  afterward.  Their 
children  were  Hiram,  Wolcott,  Elizabeth,  Ardelia,  Mar)-,  Erastus  and 
Harris.  Joseph  Cole  and  his  family  came  to  the  town  at  an  'early  day, 
purchasing  lands  on  the  Benedict  Robinson  tract.  The  children  of 
Joseph  and  Hannah  Cole  were  Allen,  John,  Laura,  Lydia,  Simeon,  Ma- 
ria, Peleg,  Sarah,  Thomas  and  Jane. 

The  surname  Purdy  stands  not  only  for  pioneership,  but  for  high  re- 
spectability in  Jerusalem.  The  pioneer  of  the  family  in  the  town  was 
John  Purdy,  a  native  of  this  State,  and  his  wife  was  Esther  Barton. 
They  had  a  lart^e  family  of  children  before  coming  to  this  locality,  but 
not  all  the  children  came  to  Yates  County.  John  Purdy,  his  son  Fran- 
cis, and  daugliter  Mary,  with  their  families,  located  in  the  southwest 
part  of  the  town,  on  the  Green  Tract,  at  what  was  called  Lightning 
Corners.  The  children  of  John  Purdy,  from  whom  have  descended  the 
Purdy  families  of  the  town  to  day,  were  Abijah,  Mary,  Elizabeth,  Isaac,- 
Joshua,  Ann,  Francis,  Hannah,  Abigail  and  Mariam. 

John  and  Elizabeth  Merritt,  formerly  of  Armenia,  Dutchess  County, 
and  their  children  came  to  Jerusalem  in  1827.  He  died  there  in  1850, 
and  his  wife  seven  years  later.  Their  children  were  Chauncey,  Sarah  A., 
Eliza,  Emma  J.,  Rensselaer,  John,  Alanson  and  La  Fayette. 

William  Henry  Stewart,  a  Scotch  sea  captain  of  many  years'  experi- 
ence, and   his  wife,  settled  in  this  town   in    1817,  on   lot  50.     The  wife 


// 


TOWN  OF  JERUSALEM 

419 

W.lham.  George  B.,  Belle  and  Saunders  C  '  '      '""' 

Samuel  Hartshorn,  who  was  a  native  of  Amherst   Mas.    h.      ■ 
marnVd  c;arai,  r ^..  c  r^  ^1^'1'iierst,  iMass,,  born  in  1772 

marriea  iarah  Genung,  of  Otse<To   Countv    M   V     k   ^  •         . 

J-sey.     They  came  to  Yates  Co\,nty  s/^-    ettl ml;;::"'^'  '''"' 

ton.  but  five  years  later  moving   to  Jerus  lem    on  lo    .f  ^;"         '''"^'" 

pioneer,  died    in  .854.  and  his^ife  i       86      '  tIII  Z   s,       Tm  '" 

as  follows:    Hiley.  Betsey.  Abigail.  William  W     laac  VV  /  ^  ,       '""' 

Of  one  of  this  family  of  children.  Isaac  W.  Har't     or     I-l    b  ^^Z 

extended  mention  in  the  biographical  departme^ to      „     worl      '"' '^" 

Jonathan  S.sson  was  the  son  of  George  Sisson    the  l.n'  • 

Friend.     Jonathan  served  in  Captain   Reme    s  Be  "  '"""""^ 

a  part  of  the  War  of  ,812-1:       h"  827  hT     ^T   7  ""'"''""''  '"''"^ 

l^ents  of  J.       ,em.      His  wi^  wl:  "r^a ^t  ;;r  ^  ^^^^ ' 

Zln  ZT.  ""'''''•  ^°'"'  ""''''•  "-^■■-"  -^  lethal  ^^'^  '''■ 
Kobert  M.  Boyd  was  a  native  of .Pennsvlvani-,    ^nH  .      •  • 

re.   Roben  „.,  Man,.  R^,  A.a.et  R   a„"  VyT''""'  "' '  **"""- 

Isaac,  P,„bc,  Ma„ha.  Sa,:,.  '„T  L^dia  '    '"''""■  "">'•  ^'™'>-' 

Alexander  A„d„so„  was  a  pioneer  on  Bluff  Poi„,  „l,er.  I,e  settled 


420  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

in  1 813,  but  later  moved  to  Kinney's  Corners,  originally  called  Fox's 
Corners.  He  had  a  large  family  of  children  :  Beeciier,  Rachel,  Sarah, 
Hison,  John,  Nancy,  Augustine,  Mary  Ann,  Dow  F.  and  Susan;  but  the 
name  is  not  now  a  common  one  in  the  town. 

John  Moore  came  to  the  town  in  18 15,  married  the  daughter  of  John 
Beal,  and  settled  about  four  miles  from  Kinney's  Corners,  on  Bluff 
Point.  Eight  children  were  born  to  them,  viz.:  Mary  Ann,  Phebe  A., 
Beal,  Lydia,  Obera,  Jane  E.,  Sabra  B.,  and  George  D. 

The  famil>»  of  Benjamin  Waite  settled  on  Bluff  Point  about  18 16,  and 
there  both  he  and  his  wife  died.  Their  children  were  Polly,  Ray,  Alfred, 
Albert,  William,  Stephen,  Eliza,  and  Mercw 

David  Thomas  and  family  were  also  early  on  the  Point,  but  afterward 
moved  to  Shearman's  Hollow.  The  children  of  this  family  were  Frank, 
Eliza,  Emily,  Mary  Ann,  Sarah,  David  and  Loring. 

Ira  Smith  was  a  prominent  man  in  Jerusalem,  and  reared  a  some- 
what prominent  family  ;  but  he  was  not  a  pioneer,  having  come  to  the 
town  in  1834.  His  children  were  Morgan,  Rosalinda,  Mary,  Jane  M., 
Eben  S.,  William  H.,  Eleanor  and  Martha. 

Benajah  Andruss  was  the  third  settler  on  Bluff  Point,  coming  there 
with  his  family  in  18 13.  His  wife  was  Abigail.Nash,  by  whom  he  had 
ten  children  :  James,  Zabina  C,  Ora,  Jason,  Henry  G.,  Rossen,  Esther, 
Nancy,  Emily  and  Almira. 

John  N.  Rose  was  a  Virginian,  born  in  1 789.  He  was  the  son  of  Rob- 
ert Selden  and  Jane  (Lawson)  Rose,  and  the  second  of  their  seven  chil- 
dren. Mr.  Rose  purchased  i  ,050  acres  of  the  Beddoe  Tract,  all  that  part 
of  it  lying  east  of  the  west  branch  of  Lake  Keuka,  and  here  he  made  his 
home.  His  wife,  whom  he  married  in  1829,  was  Jane  E.  Macomb,  niece 
of  General  Macomb,  the  hero  of  Plattsburg.  Mr.  Rose  erected  the  stone 
mansion  in  1838.  Henry  Rose  was  a  younger  brother  of  John  N.  Rose, 
and  his  wife  was  Sarah  L.  Macomb.  They  were  married  in  1832,  and 
four  years  later  toolc  up  their  abode  in  Jerusalem. 

Robert  S.  Rose  was  the  son  of  Robert  L.  Rose,  brother  to  John  N.  and 
Henry.  He  purchased  land  in  this  town  from  his  uncle,  amounting  to 
362  acres  of  the  homestead  tract.  He  married  Frances  T.  Cammann, 
of  New  York  city,  who  bore  him  these  cliildren  :  Oswald  J.,  Cammann, 
Robert  L.,  Edward  N.,  Frederick  D.,  George  S.,  Catharine  N.  M.,  and 
John  Henry. 


TOWN  OF  JERUSALEM.  421 

Solomon  D.  Weaver  was  a  native  of  Saratoga  Countj',  born  in  1797. 
He  came  to  Penn  Yan  when  a  youth  and  engaged  in  a  mill.  Later  he 
became  proprietor  of  several  industries.  In  1832  he  bought  a  part  of 
the  Beddoe  Tract  and  moved  to  Branchport,  where  he  died.  His  wife 
was  Elizabeth  Gamby,  by  whom  he  had  five  children  :  Myron  H., 
Llewellyn  J.,  Sherrel  S.,  George  S.  and  Helen  E.  His  wife  died  in  1862, 
after  which  Solomon  D.  Weaver  married  Mrs.  Julia  L.  Righter. 

Dr.  Wynans  Bush  married  Ann  Loomis  in  1824.  In  1832  they  moved 
to  Branchport  from  Ontario  County.  Their  children  were  Elliot  M., 
Henry  M  ,  Irene,  Caroline,  Ellen,  Harlem  P.,  Frances,  Robert  P.,  and 
Julia  G. 

Peter  H.  Bitley  was  one  of  the  most  extensive  timber  and  lumber 
manufacturers  that  ever  came  into  Yates  Count}'.  He  first  operated  in 
Jerusalem  as  earlj- as  1833,  then  as  an  employee,  and  afterward  as  pro- 
prietor. In  1 839  he  married  Mary  J.  Laird,  of  Branchport.  They  had 
one  child,  Mary  E.  Bitley,  also  one  by  adoption,  Ella  Rozelle. 

The  Green  Tract. — On  one  of  the  earlier  pages  of  the  present  chap- 
ter mention  has  been  made  of  the  fact  that  there  were  conveyed  off  the 
west  side  of  Jerusalem,  extending  from  the  Beddoe  Tract  north  to  the 
north  line  of  the  town,  three  tiers  of  lots,  which,  with  lot  56  of  Guern- 
sey's survey,  were  thereafter  known  as  the  Green  Tract.  This  tract  com- 
prised over  4,000  acres,  and  was  purchased  by  Henry  and  Oren  Green 
for  the  sum  of  $12,000.  John,  Clark  and  Henry  Green,  sons  of  Capt. 
Henry  Green,  one  of  the  proprietors,  and  Ira,  son  of  Hezekiah  Green, 
the  latter  a  brother  of  Capt.  Henry  Green,  all  became  settlers  on  the 
tract.  Clark  Green  settled  on  lot  25.  Ira  Green  kept  a  tavern  on  lot 
1 1.  John  Green  settled  south  of  Ira.  Benjamin  Stoddard  settled  on  lot 
12  of  tiie  Green  Tract;  was  a  pioneer  tiiereon  in  1818.  Joseph  Wright 
and  his  wife  Lucy  (Woods)  Wright,  settled  on  lot  27  of  the  tract  in  1817. 
In  1 8 18  David  Turner,  wife  and  family,  formerly  of  Benton,  settled  on 
lot  14.  Their  children  were  Reuben,  Maria,  Hannah,  Catharine,  Su- 
san M.,  Sarah  Ann  and  David  H. 

In  1826  Jonathan  Welden,  an  early  settler  on  the  tract,  sold  his  land 
on  lot  24,  to  Nathan  G.  Benedict,  who  wit!)  his  family  became  settlers 
thereon.  In  1832  Rowland  Champlin,  jr.,  located  on  lot  10  of  the  Green 
Tract.      In  1817  John  T.  Almy,  from   Benton,  settled  on    lot  19.     The 


422  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

family  of  Samuel  P.  Carvey  located  on  lot  i8  in  1825.  Nathan  Harris 
was  the  original  settler  on  lot  10,  the  date  being  1819.  His  wife  was 
Nancy  Benton,  by  whom  he  had  ten  children  :  John  B.,  Henry,  Marcia, 
Otis,  Sally,  Nathan,  Maria,  James  K.,  and  Charlotte.  William  Thrall, 
a  captain  in  the  Revolution,  was  the  first  settler  on  lot  7.  Silas  Cook 
located  on  lot  10;  Zadoch  Bass  on  27;  Benjamin  and  William  Lafler  on 
lot  II;  Joseph  Gay  on  8. 

In  the  same  connection  there  may  also  be  mentioned  the  names  of 
other  settlers  on  the  same  tract,  though  data  concerning  some  of  them 
are  meagre  and  unreliable.  They  were  Enoch  Remington,  William  Sim- 
mons, David  Conley,  Seth  Hanchett,  John  Purdy,  William  Folsom, 
Henry  Dennis,  Ruel  Rogers,  Horton  Rounds,  David  Page,  Lewis  Car- 
vey, Jacob  Coddington,  Benjamin  Washburn,  Jacob  Youngs,  Edmund 
Robinson,  Samuel  Weldon,  Piatt  Kinney,  John  Blakeman,  Peter  Sim- 
mons, William  Paul,  Thomas  B.  Smith,  each  of  whom  was  a  pioneer  of 
more  or  less  prominence,  and  each  of  whom  was  in  some  manner  iden- 
tified with  the  early  history  of  the  town,  its  growth,  development  and 
prosperity. 

One  of  the  early  settlers  in  the  town  was  Ebenezer  Shattuck,  who 
located  on  lot  56  of  the  Guernsey  survey  in  1816.  His  children  were 
Ebenezer,  Sewall,  Lucy,  Mahala,  Hepzibah,  Aaron  W.,  George  W.,  Re- 
becca and  Clarissa. 

The  Beddoe  Tract. — As  has  been  narrated  in  a  preceding  portion  of 
the  present  chapter,  the  district  of  territory  in  Jerusalem  commonly 
known  as  the  Beddoe  Tract,  was  so  named  after  its  owner  and  proprie- 
tor, Capt.  John  Beddoe.  The  tract  was  purchased  by  him  froni  John 
Johnson,  an  Englishman,  and  was  acquired  by  the  latter  from  James 
Wadsworth,  the  grantee  of  Oliver  Phelps.  Seven  thousand  acres  was 
the  extent  of  the  tract,  and  it  extended  from  the  west  side  of  the  town 
along  its  southern  border  to  the  lake.  Two  thousand  acres  on  the  lake 
were  taken  off,  and  the  remainder  was  surveyed  into  160-acre  lots  and 
numbered  consecutively  from  one  to  thirty- two. 

John  Beddoe  was  a  Welshman  by  birth,  and  came  directly  to  Jerusa- 
lem from  the  old  country  in  1798.  He  left  his  family  at  Geneva  and 
came  to  the  tract  with  help  sufficient  to  make  rapid  and  substantial  prog- 
ress in  clearing  and  improving  the  land  and  providing  a  place  of  abode 


TOWN  OF  JERUSALEM.  423 

for  himself  and  his  family.  The  wife  of  Captain  Beddoe  was  Catharine 
James,  by  whom  he  had  three  children:  John  S.,  Charlotte  H.  and  Lyn- 
ham  J.      Capt.  John  Beddoe  died  in  1835,  his  wife  in  18  15. 

Albert  R.  Cowing  is  said  to  have  been  the  first  permanent  settler  on 
the  Beddoe  5,000  acre  tract,  the  date  of  his  location  being  given  as 
1825.  William  Runner  moved  in  during  the  same  year  and  settled  on 
the  south  side.  John  Runner,  the  father  of  William,  came  in  1826.  Ezra 
Loomis  moved  on  the  tract  in  1826.  John  Coleman  came  in  from  Ben- 
ton the  same  year.  Henry  Nutt  also  came  in  1826,  settling  on  lot  30. 
Benjamin  Rogers,  from  Seneca,  and  Morris  Ross  also  settled  on  the 
tract  in  1S26.  Meli  Todd,  from  Starkey,  who  married  the  daughter  of 
pioneer  William  Ovenshire,  of  Barrington,  located  on  the  tract  in  1830. 
Rochester  Hurd  moved  from  Starkey  to  Jerusalem  in  1826,  and  settled 
on  Beddoe  Tract.  James  Royce,  from  the  .same  town,  came  one  year 
later.  Rufus  Henderson,  also  from  Starkey,  came  in  1827.  Dexter 
Lamb  came  from  Wayne  in  1826.  John  Corwin,  a  pioneer  of  Starkey, 
left  that  town  and  settled  on  the  tract  in  1826,  on  lot  27. 

Peter  D.  Stever,  the  ancestor  of  a  numerous  family  in  the  town,  was 
one  of  the  prominent,  though  possibly  not  earlj'  pioneers  of  the  Beddoe 
Tract,  his  settlement  dating  in  1830.  Seven  years  later  he  married  Ann 
Baker.  Their  children  were  Hannah,  Ruth,  Franklin,  Hester,  Oscar, 
David,  Cecelia,  David,  Annette,  and  Rupert.  James  Stever,  brother  to 
Peter,  came  in  the  town  in  1832.  His  wife  was  Desire  Goodsell,  by 
whom  these  children  were  born  :  Leonard,  Peter,  Elizabeth,  George, 
Joseph  and  Jennie. 

James  Taylor  and  family  came  to  the  tract  in  1829,  and  ultimately 
became  owners  of  the  the  Beddoe  homestead.  Among  his  children 
were  Mary,  John,  William  D.,  James  L.,  Thomas,  Charles,  Susanna  and 
Eleanor  E. 

Among  the  other  early  families  in  the  town,  who  may  be  mentioned 
without  reference  to  particular  location,  was  that  of  Judah  Chase,  who 
came  to  Bluff  Point  in  1820.  Later  he  moved  to  the  west  part  of  the 
town  and  there  died.  His  children  were  John,  William,  Judah,  Ira, 
Christopher  C,  Elias,  Levi,  Hannah  antl  Jane. 

Amos  Perr)-  was  an  eaily  comer  to  the  town.  He  married  here,  in 
1823,  Abigail   Clark,  by  wiiom    he  had   si.\    children  :    Samuel,  Alma, 


424  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

Samantha,  Mary  J.,  Ezekiel  C.    and   Elizabeth.     Wallace,    Daniel   and 
Thomas  Benedict  came  to  Jerusalem  in  1816,  and  settled  on  lot  56. 

Other  than  have  been  mentioned  early  settlers  on  Bliift'  Point  were 
Anthony  Rouse,  18 13;  Timothy  Rouse,  1815;  Elnathan  Finch,  1812; 
the  Dykemans,  father  and  son  ;  Howland  Hemphill,  Jared  and  Nathan 
Herrick,  and  George  Heck. 

Sabintown  was  the  name  given  a  settlement  made  on  lot  58,  during  or 
about  the  year  1798.  The  residents  here  were  Asa  and  Burtch  Sabin, 
and  their  nephew,  Hiram  Sabin,  and  their  families,  and  from  them  the 
locality  derived  its  name.  The  pioneers  of  the  families  died  many  years 
ago,  and  their  descendants  scattered  and  settled  in  other  communities, 
with  result  in  the  loss  of  the  name  to  the  town.  Among  the  other 
early  settlers  in  the  vicinity  of  Sabintown  were  Gideon  Burtch,  Braman 
Burtch  and  Hezekiah  Dayton.  Zephenia  Briggs  was  the  pioneer  set- 
tler on  lot  69,  Ij'ing  next  west  of  58,  and  very  near  the  settlement  called 
Sabintown. 

Kinney's  Corners  was  so  named  and  called  after  Giles  Kinney,  who 
about  1825  was  a  tavern-keeper  and  tradesman  at  that  point,  but  he 
was  not  the  founder  of  the  Corners,  that  honor  being  due  to  an  older 
settler,  Abraham  Fox,  for  whom  the  locality  was  originally  called  Fox's 
Corners.  Mr.  Fox  was  landlord  of  the  hotel  at  the  Corners,  where  he 
dispensed  good  cheer,  but  in  addition  thereto  he  inaugurated  a  custom 
of  public  exhibitions  at  the  place,  such  as  athletic  sports,  horse- racing, 
with  an  occasional  assembling  of  the  local  niilitia  in  their  usual  general 
training.  But  during  later  years  the  Corners  has  lost  much  of  its 
former  glory,  a  post-ofifice,  with  wagon  repair  shop  combined,  an  old 
hotel  building,  and  the  public  pump,  with  a  half  dozen  dwellin'gs  consti- 
tuting about  all  there  is  of  the  place  at  the  present  time. 

BrancJiport. —  The  pretty,  pleasant  and  healthful  little  village  of 
Branchport  is  situated  wholly  within  the  limits  of  the  old  Beddoe  Tract. 
Directly  its  location  is  on  elevated  ground,  within  convenient  walking 
distance  from  the  west  branch  of  Lake  Keuka.  It  is  distant  from  the 
county  seat  about  eight  miles,  and  the  journey  between  these  points 
is  made  by  daily  stage  and  by  boat ;  by  the  latter,  however,  only  dur 
ing  the  warm  months  of  the  year. 

Originally,  the  village  was  called    Esperanza,  a  Spanish  name,  signi- 


1 


\ 

TOWN  OF  -JERUSALEM.  425 

fjing  hope  ;  but  the  staid  denizens  of  the  locaHty  considered  this  coj^- 
nomen  rather  sentimental  or  romantic  for  their  quiet  ways  in  hfe,  and 
as  a  consequence  changed  the  name  to  Branchport.  In  population  the 
village  amounts  to  not  exceeding  four  or  five  hundred  inhabitants,  and 
has  not  materially  increased  in  numbers  or  industries  during  the  last 
score  of  years.  In  1867  the  village  became  incorporated,  taking  upon 
itself  certain  municipal  characteristics  that  its  local  affairs  might  be  or- 
dered and  governed  independent  of  the  township  of  Jerusalem,  of  which 
it  forms  a  part. 

The  first  mo\ement  in  the  direction  of  establishing  this  as  a  trading 
center  and  subsequent  village  was  made  in  1831,  by  Judge  Samuel  S. 
Ellsworth  and  Spencer  Booth,  who  erected  a  store  building  at  the  south- 
east corner  of  the  intersecting  roads.  Judge  Ellsworth  soon  afterward 
withdrew  from  this  store,  but  the  business  was  continued  by  Mr.  Booth 
until  1866.  In  1832  Solomon  Weaver  built  a  hotel  on  the  southwest 
corner  of  the  cross-roads.  Judge  Ellsworth  built  a  store  on  the  north- 
east corner,  and  William  D.  Henry  the  store  and  dwelling  on  the  north- 
west corner.  The  stone  school- house  was  built  in  1868,  Mary  Williams 
being  the  first,  and  Mr.  Henneberg  the  second  teacher  of  the  village. 

Thus  was  the  village  of  Branchport  established.  From  the  begin- 
ning made  by  Ellsworth  &  Booth,  there  has  been  built  up  in  later  years 
the  third  village  in  importance  in  Yates  County ;  likewise  it  is  one  of 
the  three  incorporated  villages  of  the  shire.  However  interesting  it 
might  be  to  the  reader  to  see  here  the  succession  of  operators  in  the  various 
branches  of  mercantile  and  business  pursuits,  those  usually  found  in 
every  trading  center,  it  can  hardly  be  done  with  reliable  accuracy  ;  stilly 
some  of  the  earlier  merchants  can  be  called  by  name,  among  them 
Ellsworth  &  Booth,  William  D.  Henry,  Peter  Youngs,  sen  .Lawrence 
&  Smith,  Harvy  I.  Andrus,  Goodrich,  Easton  &  Co.,  Solomon  D. 
Weaver,  Myron  H.  Weaver,  Bradley  Shearman,  Frederick  Parris,  James 
H.  Gamby,  John  Laird,  Asa  E.  Pettengill,  Peter  H.  Bitley.  Clark 
kighter.  Nearly  all  of  these,  during  their  time,  were  general  or.coun- 
try  merchants,  keeping  stocks  which  embraced  dry  goods,  groceries, 
hardware,  drugs  and  medicines,  boots  and  shoes,  and  in  fact  almost 
every  commodity  incidental  to  average  country  stores.  However,  drugs 
were   the  special  stock  kept  by  Bush  &  Andrews,  Elliot  Bush,  L.  J. 

34 


426  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

Beddoe,  Robert  Boyd,  Tomer  Bros.,  T.  B.  Boyd,  and  James  H.  Gamby. 
Hardware  dealers  were  James  T.  Durry,  C.  J.  Hathaway,  and  Joel 
Dorman. 

The  present  business  interests  of  the  village  of  Branchport  may  be 
summed  up  about  as  follows  :  Parris  &  Stex'cr,  general  store  ;  Alfred 
E.  Hayes,  dry  goods  and  groceries  ;  William  Joy,  general  store  ;  Charles 
Bean,  druggist ;  David  Parris  as  successor  to  Parris  &  Boyd,  foundry, 
basket  factory  and  planing- mill ;  Philip  Wheeler,  builder,  planing  and 
matching;  Edwin  Mattison,  harness  shop;  S.  S.  Ellsworth  &  Co.,  lum- 
ber, coal,  lime  and  cement ;  George  S.  Weaver,  lumber  dealer  ;  Jasper 
C.  Sluill,  proprietor  of  the  Branchport  Hotel. 

The  first  post-office  in  the  town,  established  in  1824,  called  Jerusalem, 
was  located  near  the  ancient  Havens  Tavern.  Nathaniel  Cothern  was 
its  postmaster.  He  was  succeeded  b}'  Henry  Larzelere,  who  held  from 
1826  to  1852,  when  the  office  was  discontinued.  At  Branchport  a  post- 
office  was  established  in  1832,  the  incumbents  of  which  have  been  Spen- 
cer Booth,  till  1849;  Myron  H.  Weaver  till  1853  ;  William  S.  Booth 
till  1 861  ;  Bradley  Shearman,  succeeded  by  Peter  H.  Young,  and  the 
latter  by  his  wife,  Almeda  Young  ;  she  having  held  the  office  for  twenty- 
seven  consecutive  years.  An  office  was  established  at  Shearman's  Hol- 
low in  1 84 1,  and  at  Kinnej-'s  Corners  (Bluff  Point)  in  1850. 

Ecclesiastical  History. — The  oldest  denomination  or  sect  to  find  a 
foothold  within  the  town  of  Jerusalem  was  probablj'  that  of  the  Society 
of  Friends,  headed  by  Jemima  Wilkinson,  or  the  Public  Universal 
Friend,  as  she  styled  herself  This  remarkable  woman  made  the  town 
her  home  in  1794,  and  her  domicile  was  the  place  of  meeting  for  her 
society.  But  this  is  a  subject  fully  treated  elsewhere  in  this  work  and 
needs  no  repetition  here. 

As  was  the  case  in  many  of  the  towns  in  this  region,  the  Methodists 
early  sowed  the  seed  of  their  church  in  Jerusalem,  the  year  1793  being 
announced  as  that  in  which  the  first  meetings  were  held,  although  it 
was  not  until  1838  that  any  effective  organization  was  made.  Prior  to 
that  the  meetings  were  of  an  embryo  character,  consisting  of  class  gath- 
erings and  informal  worship,  with  an  occasional  regular  preaching  service 
conducted  by  the  circuit  preachers  of  the  region.  Prominent  among 
the  pioneer  Methodists  of  the  town  was  Uriah  Townsend,  a   resident  of 


TOWN  OF  JERUSALEM.  427 

the  locality  called  in  succession  Fox's  and  Kinney's  Corners  ;  and  in 
the  same  relation  may  be  mentioned  Isaac  Tovvnsend,  Peter  Althizer, 
Stephen  Bagley,  Eleanor,  wife  of  John  Rice,  and  the  wives  of  the  per- 
sons alread)'  named.  In  183S  was  organized  "  The  First  Society  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Jerusalem,"  the  trustees  being  John 
Dorman,  William  H.  Decker,  James  P'redenburg,  Robert  C.  Brown  and 
Rufus  Evans.  At  once  measures  were  taken  for  theercction  of  a  meet- 
ing house  at  the  Corners,  and  the  result  was  its  construction  at  a  cost  of 
about  $850.  The  lot  for  the  church  was  donated  by  Hixson  Ander- 
son, a  pioneer  merchant  at  Kinney's  Corners.  John  Dorman  was  the 
first  class-leader,  followed  by  William  T.  Moore,  Isaac  Purdy,  and  A.J. 
Brown  in  succession. 

Another  class  in  the  town  was  formed  at  Brown's  Mills  in  18  I  5,  Isaac 
Kinney  being  its  leader,  followed  by  Daniel  Brown  and  Benjamin  Dur- 
ham. This  class  was  maintained  for  many  years,  and  finally  moved  to 
Branchport.  In  1866  the  organization  of  a  society  was  perfected  at  the 
latter  place,  the  first  board  of  trustees  being  Solomon  D.  Weaver,  James 
Gamby,  Henry  Larzelere,  Henry  W.  Harris,  William  H.  Decker,  Nel- 
son Bennett,  Elias  Madison,  and  James  Spencer.  The  newly-formed 
society  selected  Schuyler  Sutherland,  Joseph  Abbott,  and  William  H. 
Decker  as  building  coiimiittee.  They  purchased  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church  building  at  Nettle  Valley  and  moved  it  to  Branchport, 
where  it  was  reconstructed  and  fitted  up  into  a  pleasant  and  commo- 
dious house  of  worship.  The  work  cost  about  $2,500.  The  pastors  of 
the  Branchport  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  have  been  as  follows  :  1 866, 
Schuyler  Sutherland  ;  1867,  Solomon  Wetzell ;  1868-69,  C.  Dillenbeck  ; 
1870,  Philo  Cowles;  1871-72,  A.  D.  Edgar;  1873-75,  J.  J.  Payn; 
1876-78,  1883-85,  R.  D.  Phillips;  1879,  Charles  Hermans;  1880-82, 
S.  C.  Hatmaker;  1886,  R.  N.  Leak;  1887-90,  J.  N.  Sackett,  1891, 
G.  W.  Reynolds. 

The  Baptist  Churcii  and  society  in  Jerusalem  dates  back  to  the  early 
years  of  the  present  century,  and  to  1815,  when  Elder  Elnathan  P^inch 
completed  an  informal  organization  and  held  regular  meetings  in  a  little 
log  church  on  Bluff  Point.  Elder  Finch  and  his  successor.  Elder  House, 
were  the  ministers  of  the  church,  but  their  labors  w-ere  voluntary  and 
without  compensation. 


428  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

In  Jatuiar)',  1834,  a  meeting  was  held  at  Rranchport  for  the  purpose 
of  organizing  a  Baptist  society  at  that  place.  The  result  was  the  incor- 
poration of  the  First  Baptist  Society  of  Branchport,  with  Erastus  Cole, 
Benajah  Andrus,  William  Richardson,  Benjamin  Runyan,  Israel  Mer- 
rick, and  John  French  as  trustees.  Erastus  Cole,  John  French,  and 
Benjamin  Rogers  were  made  deacons.  During  the  same  month  the 
society  resolved  to  build  a  church,  38  by  50  feet  in  size,  and  to  cost  not 
more  than  $2,000.  Jacob  Herrick,  Benjamin  Rogers,  and  Ezra  Witter 
were  appointed  a  building  committee.  Tliis  house  stood  until  1870, 
and  was  then  radically'  remodeled  and  refitted,  at  an  expense  of  over 
$1,800.  The  succession  of  pastors  of  the  Branchport  Baptist  Church 
has  been  as  follows  :  E.  D.  Owen,  A.  B.  Winchell,  S.  S.  Haywood, 
William  Frary,  Reuben  P.  Lamb,  Elder  Mosher,  Peter  Colegrove,  M.  W. 
Holmes,  Vincent  L.  Garrett,  William  H.  Shields  (supply),  Daniel  De- 
lano, Levi  Hicks,  Vincent  L.  Garrett  (f<jr  a  second  pastorate).  George 
Balcom,  Vincent  L.  Garrett  (for  third  pastorate),  Joiin  C.  Rooney, 
George  Gates,  C.  H.  Planch,  Edwin  Hard,  L.  B.  Albert,  L  E.  Brown, 
C  R.  Negus,  James  Cook. 

The  Branchport  Presbyterian  Chiircli. — The  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Branchport  and  Jerusalem  had  its  inception  in  the  early  meetings  and 
services  held  by  Rev.  James  Rowlette  at  West  Jerusalem  and  on  Bluff 
Point.  Two  years  later,  or  in  1832,  a  society  was  organized  through 
the  efforts  of  Revs  Samuel  White,  William  Todd  and  Stephen  Crosby, 
with  members  as  follows:  Ira  and  Abigail  Green,  Wynans  and  Julia 
Bush,  Dexter  and  Sarah  Lamb,  David  Rumsey,  Lydia  Tettsworth,  So- 
phia Rumsey,  Jane  Rumsey,  Eliza  Rumsey,  Betsey  Hoffstratter,  Mrs. 
Mary  Morse,  Miss  Mary  Morse,  Mrs.  Leman  Dunning,  Polly  Dunning, 
Hopestill  Hastings  and  Painelia  Jagger.  The  organization  was  com- 
pleted on  the  24th  of  July,  1832,  and  Rev.  James  Rowlette  was  the  first 
chosen  pastor.  The  cliuich  edifice  was  erected  in  1833,  costing  $1,900, 
and  was  dedicated  in  October  of  the  year  named.  The  building  an- 
swered the  purposes  of  the  society  until  1851,  when  it  was  removed 
from  the  hill  to  its  present  location.  At  the  same  time  it  was  thor- 
oughly repaired  and  remodeled.  Succession  of  pastors  :  James  Row- 
lette, Robert  L.  Porcer,  Lewis  Hamilton,  John  C.  Morgan,  Samuel 
Porter,  Horace  Fraser,  A.  P'oster,  Lewis  M.  McGlashan,  Horace  Eraser, 


TOWN  OF  JERUSALEM.  429 

Richarii  WoodrutT,  Lewis  M.  McGlashan,  Rev.  Fitch,  A.  T.  Wood, 
S.  Ottnian,  Theo.  O.  Marsh,  Rev.  McLain,  Rev.  Judsoii,  Chauncey 
Francisco,  Charles  T.  White,  E.  H.  Stratton,  J.  Cairnes,  H.  B.  Sayre. 
M.  E.  Nelson  acted  as  supply  through  the  summer  of  1872. 

St.  Luke's  Church. — The  church  and  parish  of  St.  Luke's  at  Branch- 
port  was  informally  organized  in  1863,  but  prior  to  that  time  Episcopal 
services  had  been  held  for  several  years,  and  since  1855.  The  families 
in  the  locality  were  connected  with  St.  Mark's  parish  and  church  at 
Penn  Yau,  and  the  early  services  here  were  held  by  the  rectors  of  that 
church  and  by  lay  readers  living  in  the  town.  In  1863,  upon  the  or- 
ganization of  the  parish,  Rev.  Henry  B.  Barton  became  rector,  but  died 
within  a  month  of  his  coming  to  the  town  He  was  succeeded  in  1865 
by  the  Rev.  William  B.  Otis.  In  1866  the  parish  was  regularly  organ- 
ized according  to  law,  and  a  church  edifice  erected.  The  first  officers 
were  Henry  Rose  and  Joseph  A.xtell,  wardens;  Solomon  D.  Weaver, 
John  N.  Rose,  James  C.  Wightman,  Harris  Cole,  Lynham  J.  Beddoe, 
John  Haire,  Henry  R.  Sill  and  John  N.  Macomb,  jr.,  vestrymen  ;  John 
N.  Macomb,  jr.,  clerk  ;  and  J.  C.  Wightman,  treasurer.  The  church  is 
of  stone,  28  by  54  feet  in  size,  with  recess  chancel  fourteen  feet  deep. 
Its  cost  was  $4,000.  Succession  of  rectors :  B.  W.  Stone,  Camman 
Mann,  M.  Teller,  Henry  Dennis,  W.  H.  Lord. 

The  Brancliport  Universalist  Church  became  first  rooted  in  Jerusalem 
during  the  "  Forties,"  and  under  the  labors  of  Rev.  Wheelock  as  minis- 
ter. In  the  same  relation  he  was  followed  by  Revs.  Clark,  Sawyer  and 
Carpenter,  each  in  succession  conducting  services  whenever  and  wher- 
ever opportunity  oftered.  On  the  9th  of  April,  1851,  the  "Univer- 
salist Society  of  Branchport"  was  duly  organized,  and  in  June  following 
the  present  church  edifice  was  erected,  costing  about  $2,500.  Ira 
Pearce  was  then  moderator,  and  Peter  H.  Bitley  first  clerk.  Bradley 
Shearman.  James  Stever  and  G.  F.  Colburn  were  the  trustees.  Rev. 
Reuben  Cheeney  was  the  first  pastor,  followed  in  succession,  by  V>.  Hunt, 
A.  G.  Clark,  James  Fuller,  Asa  Countryman,  H.  B.  Howell,  H.  K. 
White,  C.  F.  Dodge,  J.  F.  Leland.  N.  E.  Spicer  and  A.  U.  Hutchins  ; 
tiie  latter  being  the  present  pastor.  The  society  owns  a  parsonage  and 
a  small  farm  of  fifty  acres  about  a  mile  north  of  tlie  village.  The  latter 
was  the  generous  gift  of  Peter  H.  l?itle>-.     Connected   with  the  church 


430  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

are  the  organizations  known  as  "  The  King's  Daughters,"  and  the 
"Young  People's  Christian  Union." 

Supervisors} — Eiiphalet  Norris,  1799;  Levi  Benton,  1800;  Benj. 
Barton,  1801;  Daniel  Brown,  sr.,  1802;  George  Brown,  1803-09, 
1813-16  ;  John  Beddoe,  1810-12;  John  B.  Chase,  1817;  Joel  Dor- 
man,  1818-22;  Jacob  Herrick,  1823,  1827;  Elisha  Mills,  1824-26; 
Alfred  Brown,  1828-30;  John  Phelps,  1831;  Aza  B.  Brown,  1832; 
Asahel  Stone,  jr.,  1833;  Henry  Larzelere,  1834-35;  Spencer  Booth, 
1836,  1840-41,  1844;  Lynham  J.  Beddoe,  1837  ;  James  Brown,  1S38- 
39;  Samuel  Botsford,  1842, '47,  '51,  '60;  George  VVagener,  1843  ;  Al- 
bert Wait,  1845;  Simeon  Cole,  1846;  Myron  H.  Weaver,  1848;  Peter 
H.  Bitley,  1849,  54;  George  Crane,  1850;  Hiram  Cole,  1852;  Uriah 
Hanford,  1853;  John  C.  Miller,  1855  i  Ferris  P.  Hurd,  1856,  '57,  '65  ; 
Henry  W.  Harris,  1858  ;  Bradley  Shearman,  1859;  J.  Warren  Brown, 
1861-62;  Daniel  B.  Tuthill,  1863-64;  Phineas  Parker,  1866;  Morgan 
Smith,  1867;  Harrison  H.  Sisson,  1868;  John  Laird,  1869-70;  Charles 
W.  Taylor,  1871-74;  William  F.  Hurd,  1875-76;  Leonard  Stever, 
1877;  Watkins  Davis,  1878-79;  Joseph  Purdy,  1880-81  ;  William  F. 
Hurd,  1882;  George  C.  Snow,  1883  ;  John  C.  Watkins,  1884;  John  F. 
Finnegan,  1885;  George  W.  Hobart,  1886;  Edward  N.  Rose,  1887- 
88;   Henry  R.  Sill,  1889-90;  Thomas  Campbell,  1891. 

Justices  of  the  Peace? — Daniel  Brown,  jr.,  Giles  Kinney,  John  Beal, 
Thomas  Sutton,  Joel  Dorman,  Joseph  Gay,  Nathaniel  Cothern,  Nicho- 
las Bennett,  Erastus  Cole,  sr.,  Ezra  Pierce,  Elisha  Mills,  Erastus  Cole, 
1830,  '34;  Uriah  Hanford,  1830,  '31,  '32,  '37;  Jonathan  Talmadge, 
1831  ;  Bartleson  Shearman,  1832,  '35;  Hixon  Anderson,  1833;  Mar- 
tin Quick,  1836,  '43,  '45;  William  Culver,  1838;  John  A.  Gallett, 
1838;  Israel  Comstock,  1839,  '43;  Henry  Hicks,  1840;  Hiram  Cole, 
1841  ;  George  Wagener,  1844;  Benedict  R.  Carr,  1846 ;  -Almon  S. 
Kidder,  1847,  '5'  !  James  P.  Pardon,  1848  ;  Heman  Squires,  1848;  S.  S. 
Millspaugh,  1849,  '53'  Kenj.  Colegrove,  1850;  Isaac  Purdy,  1852;  Jo- 
siah  White,  1854,  '58  ;  Jeremiah  S.  Burtch,  1855  ;  Miles  B.  Andrus,  1856, 
'60,  '64,  '69;   Charles  H.  Vail,    1857;  Watkins  Davis,  1859,  '63;   Levi 

'  There  appears  no  reliable  record  of  supervisors  of  Jerusalem  prior  to  1799,  except  that  the  office 
was  held  by  Thomas  Lee  in  1792,  and  by  James  Spencer  in  1-^97. 
2  Dates  of  election  given  when  known. 


TOWN  OF  TORREY.  431 

Millspaugh,  1861,  '65,;  Tlios.  W.  Smith,  1862,  '66;  J.  Warren  Brown, 
1867;  Rotsford  A.  Comstock,  1868,  '72,  '76, '80, '84;  James  Hender- 
son, 1870;  Seymour  B.  Coe,  1871,  '"JJ,  '81;  James  McKie,  1874; 
Henry  Stork,  1875,  '79;  James  E.  Watkins,  1878;  Thomas  Campbell, 
1882,  '86;  John  N.  Macomb,  jr.,  1883;  Robert  C.  Bishop,  1885; 
WiUiam  Van  Tuyl,  1887;  John  J.  Comstock,  1888;  William  M.  Bar- 
ron, 1889;   Rowland  Champlin,  1890;   Nathaniel  Keech,  1891. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

HISTORY    OF    THE    TOWN    OK   TOKREV. 

OF  the  nine  separate  townships  which  comprise  the  county  of  Yates, 
that  called  Torrey  is  the  youngest  in  point  of  organization,  but 
at  the  same  time  the  town  enjoys  the  distinction  of  having  been  the  site 
of  the  first  white  civilized  settlement  west  of  Seneca  Lake.  In  fact,  as 
early  as  the  year  1776,  emissaries  of  the  Society  of  Friends  visited  the 
lake  country  of  New  York  State  for  the  purpose  of  selecting  a  home 
and  location  for  their  society,  and  after  casting  about  in  various  locali- 
ties, finally  and  by  mere  accident  pitched  upon  this  as  the  most  suitable 
of  all  the  places  they  had  examined.  The  result  was,  though  not  until 
a  further  examination  had  been  made,  that  in  tlie  year  1788  about 
twenty-five  persons,  among  them  Abel  Botsford,  Peleg  and  John  Briggs, 
George  Sisson,  Isaac  Nichols,  Stephen  Card,  John  Reynolds,  James 
Parker,  with  others,  members  of  the  families  named,  came  to  the  locality 
and  made  the  first  permanent  settlement  in  all  this  vast  Genesee 
country. 

The  pioneers  of  1788  built  for  their  accommodation  during  the  com- 
ing winter  a  single  log  house,  and  here  dwelt  until  the  next  spring  all 
that  remained  in  the  locality,  a  number  ha\'ing  returned  to  their  homes 
in  the  east.  In  1789  many  other  Friends  came  to  the  New  Jerusalem, 
as  the   locality  was  called,  and   more  log  houses  were   erected  for   their 


432  HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUNTY. 

accommodation.  A  road  had  been  opened  from  the  settlement  to 
Norris  Landing,  so  called,  and  along  this  highway  the  houses  were 
built,  and  farms  cleared  and  improved.  In  1790  the  Friend's  frame 
house  was  built  and  made  ready  for  occupancy  by  the  distinguished 
leader  of  the  society. 

Thomas  Hathaway,  one  of  the  leaders  of  the  society,  lived  in  a  log 
house  about  half  a  mile,  perhaps  less,  east  of  the  Friend's  house.  The 
aristocratic  Potter  family,  headed  by  Judge  William  Potter,  lived  south 
of  Hathaway's  place.  Benjamin  Brown,  sr.,  lived  nearer  the  Friend's 
home,  and  only  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  therefrom.  Abel  Botsford 
dwelt  northwest  of  the  leader,  and  Elnathan  and  Jonathan  Botsford 
directly  west  of  City  Hill.  Within  a  circuit  of  two  or  three  miles  dwelt 
all  the  familiar  names  of  the  remarkable  community. 

In  the  year  1790  the  Friend  herself,  the  distinguished  leader  of  the 
devoted  following,  left  her  former  residence  in  Pennsylvania  and  made 
the  journey  to  the  New  Jerusalem,  joining  her  faithful  adherents  early 
in  the  spring  This  same  year  the  log  meeting-house  was  built  on  the 
road  leading  from  Norris  Landing  to  the  Friend's  mill.  The  Friend's 
frame  house  was  also  built  this  year,  the  means  therefor  being  mainly 
contributed  by  Anna  Wagener.  This  also  stood  on  the  old  road  fre- 
quently mentioned,  between  the  mill  and  the  landing;  and  it  still  stands, 
though  but  a  wreck  of  its  former  greatness. 

These  original  settlers  of  the  Genesee  country  came  singly  and  in 
family  groups,  commencing  with  the  year  1788,  and  continuing  for 
several  years  after  the  arrival  of  the  Friend.  Upon  the  organization 
of  Ontario  County  in  1789,  it  was  provided  that  the  territory  thereof 
should  be  formed  into  districts  as  the  country  should  become  settled,  or 
as  the  government  of  the  shire  should  seem  to  warrant  and  require.  In 
accordance  with  this  provision  the  district  of  Jerusalem  was  created,  but 
it  was  not  until  the  year  1792  that  any  government  was  attempted 
to  be  established  therein.  In  that  year  Thomas  Lee  was  chosen  super- 
visor, and  he  made  the  first  tax  roll  of  the  district,  which  roll  was  signed 
by  the  supervisors  of  Ontario  County.  A  copy  of  the  names  contained 
in  this  roll  will  show  to  the  reader  who  were  the  taxable  inhabitants  of 
the  district  at  that  time.  But  the  reader  must  understand  that  the  dis- 
trict of  Jerusalem  embraced  all  the  territory  now  included  by  the  towns 


TOWN  OF  TORREY.  433 

of  Benton,  Jerusalem,  Milo,  Potter  and  Torrey.  However,  although 
settlement  had  in  a  measure  progressed  m  other  towns,  the  greater  por- 
tion of  the  then  population  was  within  the  present  limits  of  Torrey 
township.  The  roll,  less  the  amount  assessed  against  name,  was  as  fol- 
lows :  Peleg  Briggs,  Peleg  Briggs,  jr.,  John  Briggs,  Isaac  Nichols, 
John  Supplee,  William  Davis,  William  Robinson,  Micajah  Brown,  Elijah 
Brown,  Beloved  Luther,  Thomas  Sherman,  James  Hathaway,  Lewis 
Birdsall,  Daniel  Brown,  jr.,  John  Laurence,  Abraham  Dayton,  Richard 
Smith,  Adam  Hunt,  Silas  Hunt,  Silas  Spink,  Thomas  Prentiss,  James 
Parker,  David  Wagener,  Jesse  Dains,  Castle  Dains,  Eleazer  Ingraham, 
Amos  Gurnsey,  Reuben  Luther,  George  Sisson,  Sheffield  Luther,  Eze- 
kiel  Shearman,  Noah  Richards,  Hezekiah  Townsend,  Joseph  Landers, 
Enoch  and  Elijah  Malin,  Stephen  Card,  Benedict  Robinson,  Sarah 
Richards,  Elnathan  Botsford,  Mercy  Aldrich  (widow),  Susannah  and 
Temperance  Brown,  Jonathan  Dains,  Ashael  Stone,  Jonathan  Botsford, 
Jacob  Wagener,  Jedediah  Holmes,  Thomas  Hathaway,  Abel  Botsford, 
Benajah  Mallory,  Benjamin  Brown,  John  Blake,  Anna  Wagener,  Elijah 
Botsford,  Barnabas  Brown,  Levi  Benton,  Samuel  Taylor,  Capt.  David 
Brown,  James  Spencer,  Martin  Spencer,  Richard  Hathaway,  Philemon 
Baldwin,  James  Scofield,  George  Wheeler,  John  Pond,  Perley  Dean, 
Robert  Chissom,  Truman  Spencer,  Abraham  Voak,  Edward  Walworth. 

The  little  settlement  on  the  lake,  practically  within  the  limits  of  the 
present  town  of  Torrey,  was  composed  almost  exclusively  of  members 
of  the  Society  of  Friends  and  their  families.  And  throughout  the  dis- 
trict of  Jerusalem,  although  there  were  many  pioneers  who  had  nothing 
in  common  with  the  Friends,  particularlj-  in  religious  opinion,  the  greater 
part  of  the  population  was  either  directly  or  indirectly  affiliated  with  the 
society. 

In  making  their  first  settlement  on  and  near  the  shores  of  Seneca 
Lake,  the  society  believed  themselves  to  be  located  upon  State  lands,  to 
which  they  might  readily  acquire  title  through  the  governor.  For  this 
purpose  early  application  was  made  to  the  proper  authorities,  and  the 
agents  of  the  society  were  requested  to  attend  the  public  land  sales  at 
Albany.  This  was  done,  with  result  in  the  purchase  of  a  vast  area  of 
14,040  acres  of  land  by  James  Parker,  William  Potter  and  Thomas 
Hathaway.  This  tract  afterward  became  known  as  the  Potter  Loca- 
55 


434  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

tion.  North  of  it  lay  Read  and  Ryckman's  Tract ;  west  of  it  was  Lan- 
sing's Location  and  other  grants.  The  deed  to  the  grantees  above 
named  was  dated  October  lo,  1792.  But  the  Friends  were  in  a  measure 
mistaken  in  tlie  belief  that  the}'  were  locating  on  State  territory,  but 
the  fault  lay  not  with  them.  As  the  old  or  first  pre-emption  line  was 
run  or  surveyed,  their  location  was  appropriate,  but,  as  in  the  course  of 
a  few  years  became  apparent,  there  had  been  perpetrated  a  gross  fraud  in 
making  the  original  east  boundary  of  the  Phelps  and  Gorham  purchase; 
and  in  running  the  true  line,  some  four  j-ears  later,  it  was  found  that  a 
considerable  portion  of  the  Friend's  settlement  and  improved  lands  lay 
west  of  the  line,  and  therefore  were  then  the  property  of  the  association 
represented  by  Charles  Williamson,  the  latter  the  grantee  of  Robert 
Morris,  and  he  the  successor  to  Phelps  and  Gorham. 

This  unfortunate  discovery  worked  to  the  disadvantage  of  the  societ}', 
and  was  the  occasion  of  a  petition  by  twenty  three  prominent  members 
thereof  to  Mr.  Williamson,  requesting  that  they  be  quieted  in  their  pos- 
session of  the  lands  through  permission  to  purchase  from  him.  This 
request  was  granted,  and  none  of  the  settlers  lost  his  lands  through 
the  fault  of  the  first  surveyors  of  the  pre-emption  line  on  the  east. 
The  State,  however,  was  obliged  to  make  proper  restitution  to  Mr. 
Williamson  and  others  who  suffered  on  account  of  the  fraudulent  survey. 
But  the  one  thing  above  all  others  that  contributed  to  the  decline  in  the 
society,  and  of  its  strength  and  influence  in  this  locality,  was  the  with- 
drawal in  membership  and  support  of  James  Parker  and  William  Pot- 
ter. In  fact,  the  disturbance  and  complications  growing  out  of  this 
withdrawal  worked  a  partial  disintegration  of  the  .society,  and  was  a 
controlling  cause  in  influencing  the  Friend  to  depart  from  the  settle- 
ment and  take  up  her  final  abode  in  the  town  of  Jerusalem,  which  town 
lier  faithful  followers  had  purchased  for  this  purpose.  But  although  it 
may  be  an  essential  subject  of  Torrey's  early  history  to  thus  treat  at 
length  of  the  events  herein  narrated,  the  same  has  also  been  done  in 
one  of  the  general  chapters  of  the  present  volume.  Therefore  the  at- 
tention of  the  reader  is  directed  to  the  chapter  devoted  to  the  Society 
of  Friends  for  more  particular  narrative  concerning  the  early  history  of 
Torrey. 

Running  through  several  chapters  of  township  history  in  this  work, 


TOWN  OF  TORREY.  435 

particularly  in  those  relating  to  Benton,  Jerusalem  and  Mile,  the  reader 
will  find  a  record  of  many  of  the  early  families  who  were  originally 
dwellers  in  Torrey,  as  afterward  constituted,  and  who  changed  their 
places  of  abode  at  such  an  early  day  as  to-  make  them  pioneers  of  the 
towns  to  which  they  moved.  Still,  there  are  yet  resident  in  the  locality 
now  called  Torrey  many  descendants  of  pioneer  heads  of  families,  who 
are  worthy  of  at  least  some  brief  mention  in  this  connection ;  and  in 
another  department  of  this  work  will  be  found  still  further  mention  of 
the  prominent  men  of  the  town  within  the  last  half  century,  and  since 
the  town  was  brought  into  existence. 

The  family  of  Benedict  Robinson  was  one  prominently  conspicuous 
and  important  in  the  Friend's  settlement  on  Seneca  Lake.  The  head 
of  this  family  was  not  only  a  pioneer,  but  is  said  to  have  been  one  of 
the  commissioners  sent  to  locate  a  tract  for  the  society's  home,  although 
the  name  of  Mr.  Robinson  has  not  been  previously  mentioned  in  that 
connection.  Mr.  Robinson  was  also  one  of  the  leading  men  who  became 
alienated  from  the  society,  and  from  that  time  forth  was  in  bitter  enmity 
with  the  Friend's  doctrine.  Benedict  Robinson  died  in  1832,  and  his 
wife  in  1837.  The  family  home  was  on  the  "gore,"  as  it  has  been  com- 
monly known.  The  children  in  this  family  were  Phebe,  Daniel  A., 
James  C,  and  Abigail. 

In  1869  Dr.  John  Hatmaker,  at  the  expense  of  much  time  and  labor, 
made  and  reported  to  the  Yates  County  Historical  Society  a  complete 
list  of  the  first  settlers  in  the  town  of  Torrey,  together  with  the  names 
of  persons  who  in  1869  were  the  occupants  of  the  lands  on  which  the 
pioneers  located.  The  report  was  as  follows :  "  The  south  part  of 
what  is  now  the  town  of  Torrey,  on  the  south  side  of  the  stream,  was  all 
a  part  of  John  Lansing,  jr.'s  location,  where  small  improvements  were 
made  by  different  individuals,  viz.  :  Elisha  Botsford,  Sheffield,  Elisha 
and  Beloved  Luthur ;  and  afterwards  Benedict  Robinson  and  William 
Potter  became  owners  or  agents  of  the  location,  and  it  was  sold  to 
those  who  made  improvements." 

The  first  settlers,  with  occupants  at  the  time  of  making  the  report, 
1869,  were  as  follows  :  Jcptha  Randolph,^  Daniel  Randolph  ;    Jonathan 

)  For  convenience  and  brevity  the  names  of  tirst  settlers  are  given  in  italics. 


436  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

Lamb,  Moses  Rapalee  ;  Jonathan  Sisson,  George  Y.  Dains  ;  Isaiah  Youngs, 
Benjamin  Youngs;  James  Meek,  Perry  Denniston ;  Richard  Hayes, 
Henry  Brown;  Wright  Brown,  Wright  Brown,  jr.;  Esther Briggs  (or 
Plant),  Mr.  Gelder  and  Mrs.  J.  Perry;  Silas  Hunt,  Dr.  E.  S.  Smith; 
Elsie  Hazard,  Russell  Buckley  and  D.  W.  Dox.  Above  the  road  : 
Silas  Hunt,  Uriah  Bennett;  Jesse  Dains,  N.  Rapalee;  George  Sisson, 
— ;  George  and  Abncr  Gardner,  George  G.  Gardner;  Sheffield  Luther, 
Rufus  E.  Tovvnsend  and  Mr.  Deniston  ;  David  King,  Daniel  King,  J. 
BeU  and  J.  Beard  ;  The  Friend's  place,  owned  by  C.  J.  Townsend  ;  Abel 
Botsford,  A.  Leach  and  James  Clark ;  Adam  and  John  Castner,  Charles 
J.  Townsend  ;  William  and  Arnold  Potter,  Adam  Clark  ;  John  Bruce, 
G.  Turner ;  Hezekiah  Townsend,  Allen  Owens  ;  Elijah  Malin,  Samuel 
Embree  ;  Gilbert  Hathaivay,  Richard  H.  Hathaway  ;  Thomas  Hath- 
azuay,  Manchester  Townsend  ;  John  Remer,  J.  J.  and  G.  B.  Hazard  ; 
B.  W.  Hazard,  Andrew  Oliver ;  Benedict  Robinson,  William  Benedict, 
P.  J.  Seeley  and  David  Hatmaker ;  Latimore  and  Birkett,  A.  V. 
Remer. 

One  of  the  most  historic  and  sadly  interesting  situations  in  the  town 
of  Torrey  is  that  commonly  called  the  City  Hill  Cemetery.  It  is  well 
known  that  the  Friends  intended  to  not  only  found  a  colony  and  spread 
their  possessions  over  a  considerable  area  of  country,  but  it  was  also 
their  purpose  and  design  to  found  and  establish  a  village  or  city,  where 
should  be  the  chief  center  of  trade  for  their  community  of  people. 
They  did  establish  a  village,  and  named  it  Hopeton.  As  a  necessary 
adjunct  also  to  this  village,  and  as  well  of  their  entire  settlement,  they 
laid  out  and  founded  a  cemetery  for  the  burial  of  their  dead.  The 
Friend  herself  here  on  many  an  occasion  officiated  at  a  funeral,  and 
laid  peacefidly  away  some  of  the  most  devout  and  worthy  members  of 
her  flock. 

The  cemetery  itself  was  laid  out  on  the  elevated  land  that  took  the 
name  of  City  Hill,  from  whence  the  burial  place  was  likewise  named. 
It  was  and  is  a  beautiful  situation,  about  one  mile  west  from  the  lake. 
The  first  person  here  buried  was  the  wife  of  pioneer  Jedediah  Holmes, 
one  of  the  first  comers  of  the  Friend's  society,  and  one  of  her  most 
faithful  adherents.  To  make  a  coffin  or  burial  casket,  a  log  was  hol- 
lowed out  after  splitting  a  slab  from  one  side  ;  and  being  afterward  re- 
placed, the  slab  served  as  a  cover. 


TOWN  01'    lORREV.  437 

Among  the  prominent  Friends  and  others  buried  in  the  Cit)'  Hill 
Cemetery,  we  furnish  the  names  of  a  number,  with  the  age  of  the  per- 
son at  the  time  of  death.  They  were  all,  or  nearly  all,  members  of  the 
society,  and  it  will  be  observed  that  the  simple  and  frugal  manner  of 
living  observed  by  nearly  all  of  them  was  especially  conducive  to  lon- 
gevity. Stephen  Card  died  and  was  buried  in  1836,  aged  seventy- five 
years;  Hannah,  wife  of  Stephen  Card,  died  in  1851,  aged  ninety-four ; 
Mary,  wife  of  George  Gardner,  died  in  1848,  aged  ninety-four;  Abner 
Gardner,  i860,  aged  seventy-nine;  Rowland  Champlin  in  1848,  aged 
seventy-four;  Jonathan  J.  Hazard  in  1812,  aged  eighty-four;  Patience, 
wife  of  J.  J.  Hazard,  in  1810,  at  seventy-six;  Mary,  wife  of  Griffin  B. 
Hazard,  in  1845,  at  seventy-nine  ;  Mary  Norris,  daughter  of  Thomas 
Hathaway,  in  1847,  at  seventy-six ;  Hezekiah  Townsend  in  1812,  at 
sixty;  Daniel  Castner  in  181 1,  at  eighty-five  ;  Andrew  Castner  in  1847, 
at  eighty-one;  Adam  Castner  in  1858,  at  eighty- five  ;  John  D.  Castner 
in  1852,  at  seventy-eight ;  John  Remer  in  1820,  at  seventy- five ;  Sarah, 
wife  of  John  Remer,  in  1S17,  at  si.xty-tiiree  ;  Aaron  Remer  in  1841,  at 
sixty;  George  I.  Remer  in  1845,  at  seventy;  Isaiah  Youngs  in  1829, 
at  eighty  ;  Mary,  wife  of  Isaiah  Youngs,  at  seventy-three  ;  George  Sis- 
son,  of  the  first  company  of  Friends,  in  1831,  at  seventy  eight ;  James 
Pitney  in  1845,  ^t  eighty-three  ;  Rebecca,  his  wife,  in  1853,  at  eighty  ; 
Sheffield  Luther  in  1845,  at  eighty- four;  and  Mary,  his  wife,  in  1S49, 
at  ninety-two;  James  Meek  in  1836,  at  seventy- three,  and  Mary  Ann, 
his  wife,  in  1855,  at  eighty-nine;  Wright  Brown  in  1837,  at  eighty- 
seven,  and  Bethany,  his  wife,  in  1828,  at  sixty-nine  ;  Thomas  Hatlia- 
way,  jr.  in  1853,  at  eighty-four,  and  Mary,  his  wife,  in  1866,  at  ninety- 
five  ;  Abel  Botsford  in  1817,  at  seventy,  and  Mary,  his  wife,  in  1830,  at 
eighty-eight;  Jonathan  Botsford  in  1833, at  ninety- two  ;  Robert  Buckley 
in  1849,  at  seventy  six  ;  Peleg  Briggs  in  1807,  at  seventy-eight,  and 
Margaret  Briggs  in  1800,  at  sixty-six;  Rowland  Embree  in  1837,  ^t 
seventy-seven,  and  Allah,  his  wife,  in  1852,  at  seventy- seven ;  Samuel 
Hadley  in  1847,  ^t  eighty-three,  and  Elizabeth,  his  wife,  in  1846,  at 
seventy. 

In  the  year  18513  number  of  the  enterprising  citizens  residing  in  the 
northeast  part  of  Mile  and  the  southeast  part  of  Benton,  conceived  the 
idea  of  organizing  a  new  township  in  Yates  County.      It  is  just  possible 


438  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

that  the  projectors  of  this  sclieme  had  this  erection  iti  mind  at  an  earlier 
date  than  that  mentioned,  but  the  matter  did  not  assume  any  tangible 
form  prior  to  that  time.  In  the  result  sought  to  be  accomplished  the 
chief  actors  had  a  double  purpose  to  actuate  their  movement.  They 
desired  on  the  one  hand  to  have  organized  in  the  county  a  truly  Dem- 
ocratic town,  while  the  other  moving  consideration  had  its  object  in  the 
building  up  of  the  little  borough  of  Dresden,  and  the  making  thereof  the 
chief  center  of  trade  and  business  for  the  town  to  be  erected.  The  sec- 
ond object  was  certainly  commendable,  while  the  first  named  was  not 
to  be  condemned. 

The  proposition  to  create  a  new  town  out  of  the  lands  of  Benton  and 
Mile  came  before  the  county  legislative  body,  the  Board  of  Supervis- 
ors, at  its  annual  session  in  1851.  Of  course  the  taking  of  the  most 
desirable  section  of  these  two  old  towns,  and  therefore  depriving  them 
of  long  established  and  thoroughly  developed  resources,  met  with  serious 
opposition  on  the  part  of  their  people  and  representatives,  and  the  re- 
sult was  that  the  scheme  was  defeated  by  the  supervisors'  vote.  At 
that  time  Henry  Torrey,  of  Rusliville,  in  the  town  of  Potter,  was  a 
member  of  the  board,  and  its  chairman.  After  the  proposition  had 
been  defeated.  Chairman  Torrey  said  if  the  town  was  to  be  named  after 
his  surname  he  would  move  a  reconsideration  of  the  former  vote,  and 
again  put  the  proposition  upon  its  passage.  This  was  agreeable  to  the 
friends  of  the  new  town  ;  the  vote  was  reconsidered  and  the  town 
formed  by  a  majority  of  the  board  on  the  14th  of  November,  185  i. 

In  1852  the  first  town  meeting  was  held,  and  a  complete  set  of  offi- 
cers was  elected.  From  that  time  to  the  present  the  supervisors  of  the 
town  of  Torrey  have  been  as  follows:  1852,  Charles  J.  Townsend  ; 
1853,  Heman  Chapman;  1854,  Luther  Sisson  ;  1855,  Luther  Sisson  ; 
1856-57,  Levi  Speelman  ;  1858,  George  W.  Gardner  ;  1859,  Charles  J. 
Townsend;  i860,  Harvey  W.  Norman;  1861,  Jacob  Van  Deventer  ; 
1862,  Darius  Baker;  1863,  Dudley  W.  Do.\  (resigned),  George  W. 
Gardner  (appointed);  1864,  George  W.  Gardner;  1865,  Harvey  W. 
Norman;  1866,  George  W.  Gardner;  1867-68,  Jacob  Van  Deventer ; 
1869-70,  Stephen  D.  Graves;  1 871,  Eben  S.  Smith;  1872,  James  M. 
Clark;  1873,  Lewis  B.  Dunning;  1874,  James  M.  Clark;  1875,  Ste- 
phen D.  Graves;    1876,  Charles   M.  Speelman;    1877,  Horatio    N.  Ha- 


'  TOWN  OF  TORREY.  439 

zen  ;  1878,  Charles  M.  Speelman  ;  1879,  Charles  J.  Townsend  ;  1880, 
Eben  S.  Smith  ;  1881,  Charles  M.  Speelman;  1882,  Stephen  D.  Graves; 
1883,  Amos  A.  Norman;  1884,  Charles  H.  Gardner;  1885-87,  John 
W.  Smith;  1888-89,  Johnson  J.  Denniston  ;  1890-91,  John  W. 
Smith  2d. 

Dresden  Village. — With  the  building  of  the  Crooked  Lake  Canal,  in 
1830—33,  there  was  about  the  same  time  built  up  at  its  eastern  termina- 
tion a  thriving,  prosperous  village  to  which  was  given  the  name  of 
Dresden ;  but  why  so  named  there  appears  no  present  satisfactory  ex- 
planation. The  village  of  Dresden,  as  originally  established,  occupied 
that  part  of  the  then  town  of  Milo  that  bordered  upon  Seneca  Lake, 
and  in  close  proximity  to  the  canal  line,  but  as  the  hamlet  increased 
many  fine  houses  and  a  number  of  public  buildings  were  erected  on  the 
more  elevated  lands  north  of  the  village  proper,  and  all  were  included 
within  corporate  boundaries  in    1867. 

As  early  as  the  erection  of  Yates  County,  Dresden  village  had  an  ex- 
istence, and  the  good  people  of  the  locality  presented  to  the  commis- 
sioners selected  to  designate  a  site  for  county  buildings  their  claims  to 
the  seat  of  justice  of  the  county.  The  broad  table- lands  overlooking 
the  beautiful  waters  of  Seneca  Lake  presented  a  most  attractive  situa- 
tion, not  only  for  the  buildings  themselves,  but  as  well  for  the  gradual 
building  up  of  a  municipality  of  consideiable  size  and  importance.  But, 
unfortunately  for  Dresden  and  its  people,  the  then  owner  of  this  table- 
land refused  to  part  with  any  portion  of  his  possessions  for  less  consid- 
eration than  $1,000  per  acre;  nor  would  he  sell  his  entire  tract  for 
anything  less  than  a  fabulous  sum.  The  result  was  that  the  county 
buildings  were  given  to  Penn  Yan,  and  the  possibilities  of  a  future  Dres- 
den of  some  note  were  practically  destroyed.  However,  during  the 
early  canal  days  Dresden,  in  a  way,  was  an  important  place.  On  the 
outlet  were  saw  and  grist-mills,  a  woolen -factory  and  other  industries, 
while  a  boat- yard  and  dry-dock  on  the  canal  added  to  the  business  of 
the  locality.  Hut  when  canal  boating  on  and  between  the  lakes  began 
to  decline,  and  yielded  to  the  more  rapid  transportation  by  rail,  there 
began  also  a  decline  in  the  importance  of  Dresden  and  her  business  in- 
terests. The  old  industries  were  changed  in  occupancy,  and  a  number 
of  them  were  destroyed  by  fire;  and  the  only  manufacturing  concerns 


440  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUA'TY. 

now  within   tlie  village  are  tlie   Russell  &  Birkett  mills,  and  one  other 
not  in  operation. 

On  the  i6th  of  July,  1867,  the  village  of  Dresden  was  incorporated. 
To  accomplish  this  a  numerously  signed  petition  was  presented  to  the 
County  Court,  and  five  months  later  the  application  was  granted.  At 
that  time  the  territory  sought  to  be  incorporated  contained  a  popula- 
tion of  slightly  more  than  300  persons,  and  the  survey  made  by  Lori- 
mer  Ogden  included  within  the  village  limits  a  little  more  than  200 
acres.  The  committee  to  superintend  the  survey  and  census  taking 
comprised  Jacob  Van  Devente'r,  Charles  W.Brown  andGeorgeS.  Downey. 
The  first  officers  elected  were:  Trustees,  Luther  Harris,  Edward  M.  Van 
Chef,  Charles  W.  Brown,  George  W.  Brundage  and  James  Thomas  ; 
assessors,  Aaron  M.  Davis,  Charles  F.  Sisson  and  Albert  G.  Prosper  ; 
collector,  George  W.  Hazard  ;  treasurer,  Francis  Hood  ;  clerk,  Aaron 
R.  McLean.  The  officers  for  1891  are:  President,  Benjamin  F.  Pad- 
dock, and  trustees,  Christopher  Halpin  and  Michael  Kinney;  treasurer, 
George  C.  Smith;  collector,  Charles  C.  Carr,  and  clerk,  Seth  Youngs. 

The  business  interests  of  Dresden  now  comprise  the  general  stores  of 
Caleb  Brundage  and  Denniston  &  Son  ;  the  post-office  and  grocery  of 
C.  A.  Davis;  the  drug  store  of  Edward  Castle;  the  Dresden  Hotel  of 
George  R.  Hazard;  the  American  Hotel,  kept"  by  Albert  Norman;  the  ele- 
vator of  Denniston  &  Birkett,  and  the  mills  before  mentioned.  The 
public  buildings  of  the  village  are  the  large  brick  school-house,  and  the 
churches  of  the  Methodist,  Presbyterian  and  Episcopal  societies.  These, 
although  located  in  the  village,  are  institutions  of  the  town,  and  as  such 
will  be  treated. 

Torrey  Cliurcli  History. — Religious  services  of  various  church  socie- 
ties have  from  time  to  time  been  conducted  in  the  town  of  Torrey,  but  of 
the  many  denominations  that  have  had  a  temporary  existence  in  the 
town,  but  three  have  found  here  a  permanent  abiding  place.  With  the 
possible  exception  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Benton  (from 
which  town  Torrey  was  in  part  formed),  which  had  its  organization  dur- 
ing the  early  years  of  the  century,  the  Methodists  appear  to  have  been 
the  pioneers  in  making  church  history.  But  of  course  from  this  state- 
ment must  also  be  excepted  the  Society  of  Friends,  who  built  a  log 
meeting-house  in  1791. 


TOWN  OF  lORREY.  '  441 

In  1827  Dresden  was  made  an  appointment  in  the  Crooked  Lake 
Methodist  Episcopal  circuit,  at  which  time  Dennison  Smith  and  Jacob 
Early  were  circuit  preachers,  and  conducted  semi-monthly  services  in 
the  school-house.  In  1831  the  first  class  was  organized,  Alfred  Ly- 
man being  its  leader.  In  1829  Herman  H.  and  Isaac  Bogart  built  at 
their  own  expense  a  free  church,  in  which  all  denominations  were  per- 
mitted to  worship.  Services  were  held  in  this  edifice  on  occasions  by 
Methodists,  Presbyterians,  Dutch  Reformed,  Baptists  and  Universalists, 
just  as  they  came  along  and  made  appointments.  The  Sunday-school 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  organized  in  Maj',  1833. 

In  1839,  March  21,  the  Methodist  Episcopal  society  of  Dresden  was 
organized  according  to  law.  The  trustees  then  chosen  were  Daniel 
Dean,  Russell  Brown,  sr.,  Smith  Beers,  Lewis  N.  Beard,  John  R.  Mc- 
Lean and  H.  H.  Hazen.  The  society  made  an  effort  to  purchase  from 
Aaron  Remer  the  church  built  by  the  Bogarts,  which  had  passed  to 
Remer  by  purchase,  and  for  this  purpose  several  hundred  dollars  were 
collected  together;  but  Pastor  Beers  absconded  with  the  money.  Mr. 
Remer,  however,  gave  permission  to  the  society  to  use  the  church. 
This  society  continued  with  varying  success  and  strength  until  1841, 
when  it  became  practically  extinguished. 

A  Baptist  society  was  organized  in  the  town  about  1845,  with  Josiah 
C.  Swarthout,  Alpheus  Veazie  and  Seymour  Tracy  as  trustees.  They 
bought  the  old  Bogart  church  from  the  Remer  estate.  Rev.  A.  Valen- 
tine was  the  first  pastor  of  the  society.  But  the  Baptist  Church  of 
Dresden  and  Torrey  was  also  of  short  life. 

The  First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Dresden  was  duly  organ- 
ized on  the  2 1  St  of  March,  1848,  being  in  part  a  revival  of  the  old  West 
Dresden  society  above  referred  to.  The  new  trustees  were  Henry  Lar- 
zelere,  Daniel  Castner,  Luther  Harris,  William  E.  Bellows,  George  W. 
Graves,  Caleb  J.  Legg  and  A.  H.  Condit.  The  society  first  leased  and 
occupied  the  Presbyterian  Church,  but  in  1849  ^h^  trustees  purchased 
the  Baptist  Church  property  at  a  cost  of  about  $450.  The  next  year 
the  church  building  was  completed  at  a  further  cost  of  $400.  In  1851 
the  edifice  was  dedicated.  In  1854  the  parsonage  was  purchased.  In 
1867  arrangements  were  made  for  repairing  and  reseating  the  church. 
The   building   committee   for   this   work   comprised    Daniel    Dean,    W. 

5G 


442  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

Longwell,  J.  D.  Jacobus,  L.  B.  Dunning  and  C.  W.  Brown.  Funds  to 
the  extent  of  $1,500  were  raised  for  the  work.  All  was  accomplished 
and  the  church  rededicated  on  May  20,  1868.  The  cost  of  the  recent 
work  was  $3,800. 

The  Presbyterian  Church  of  Dresden,  or,  as  organized,  the  First  Pres- 
byterian Church  of  West  Dresden,  is  the  almost  direct  outgrowth  of  the 
mother  church  known  as  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Benton. 
The  latter  was  formed  through  the  efforts  of  Stephen  Whitaker  during 
the  latter  part  of  the  year  1809,  and  numbered  in  its  membership  many 
of  the  substantial  residents  of  what  is  now  Torre)'.  In  January,  1823. 
the  members  voted  for  a  division  of  the  society,  a  part  coming  to  the 
Penn  Yan  church,  while  about  eight  of  its  membership  formed  a  Con- 
gregational society  in  Torrey  in  November,  1830.  In  1834  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  of  West  Dresden  supplanted  and  superseded  tiie 
Congregational  organization,  and  has  since  been  one  of  the  institutions 
of  this  town.  The  first  house  of  worship  was  erected  in  1834,  and  dedi- 
cated on  November  24  of  that  year.  In  1868  it  was  materially 
enlarged  and  improved,  at  an  expense  of  about  $3,000,  and  was  rededi- 
cated December  24  of  the  same  year.  The  office  of  pastor  has  been 
filled  by  these  incumbents;  Linus  W.  Billington,  George  T.  Evert, 
J.  Petrie,  Stephen  Porter,  D.  A.  Abby,  Robert  McMath,  Calvin  Chase, 
C.  H.  Chester,  Frederick  Graves,  Allen  Traver,  E.  W.  Brown,  David 
A.  Blose,  John  Cairns,  H.  H.  Lipes  and  Samuel  C.  Garlick. 

St.  John's  Church  and  parish  were  the  outgrowth  of  the  early  mis- 
sion services  conducted  first  about  i860,  by  "Rev.  Timothy  Wardwell, 
during  his  rectorship  of  the  church  at  Penn  Yan.  The  parish  was  or- 
ganized and  the  church  erected  about  1869  or  1870.  It  is  of  brick,  and 
has  a  seating  capacity  for  180  persons.  In  the  parish  are  thirty- two 
families,  while  the  church  has  about  forty-one  communicants.  A  parish 
building  was  erected  in  1889,  costing  about  $600.  The  rectors  of  St. 
John's  Church  have  been  Rev.  Timothy  Wardwell,  Cameron  Mann, 
William  Atwell,  H.  S.  Dennis,  H.  B.  Gardner,  Jeremiah  Cooper  and 
William  H.  Lord.  Since  1885  the  parish  has  been  without  a  rector, 
services  being  held  during  the  time  from  that  until  the  present  under 
the  direction  of  the  Convocation,  either  by  a  clergyman  or  lay  reader. 


TOWN  OF  HARRINGTON.  443 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF    BARRINGTON. 

AMONG  the  towns  of  Yates  County,  Barrington  occupies  a  position 
on  the  south.  As  a  part  of  the  Phelps  and  Gorham  Purchase,  the 
survey  into  townships  brouglit  Barrington  as  number  six  in  the  first 
range ;  from  wliich  it  may  be  inferred  that  the  eastern  boundary  of  the 
town  was  the  pre-emption  line,  and  that  between  its  south  boundary 
and  tlie  Pennsylvania  north  line  were  five  other  townships,  each  being 
approximately  six  miles  in  north  and  south  measurement.  The  origi- 
nal survey  of  Barrington,  under  the  Phelps  and  Gorham  ownership, 
brought  three  of  its  lots,  Nos.  73,  74  and  75,  to  the  westward  of  Lake 
Keuka;  and  these  were  annexed  for  convenience  to  Jerusalem.  There- 
fore the  township  of  Barrington,  exclusive  of  the  part  of  the  lake  within 
its  survey  and  the  three  lots  west  of  the  lake,  includes  considerably  less 
than  thirty-six  square  miles. 

The  town  of  Barrington  was  one  of  the  parcels  conveyed  by  Phelps 
and  Gorham  to  the  New  York  Genesee  Land  Company,  or  to  its  repre- 
sentatives, in  compromission  of  the  pretended  claim  of  the  company  to 
right  of  possession  under  the  long  lease  made  with  the  Six  Nations ; 
and  like  most  of  the  other  towns,  Barrington  was  lotted  and  drafted  by 
and  among  the  persons  interested  in  the  company.  The  lot  drawn  by 
each  represented  an  interest  in  the  company  of  a  shareholder.  This 
process  was  maintained  by  the  company  through  all,  or  nearly  all,  of 
the  towns  deeded  to  it  by  Phelps  and  Gorham.  But  it  appears  that  a 
portion  of  the  lands  of  this  tow^n  in  some  manner  passed  into  the  own- 
ership of  the  Pultney  estate,  represented^by  Agent  Charles  Williamson, 
while  still  another  part  passed  to  the  Hornby  estates,  and  that  but  few 
of  the  lots  originally  drawn  for  by  shareholders  in  the  lessee  company 
were  sold^by  them  directly  to  settlers  within  the  town,  but  the  titles  in 
some  way  passed  to  the  Pultney  and  Hornby  estate,  and  the  lands  were 
subsequently  acquired  by  actual  settlers  from  the  agents  of  the  estates 
or  associations. 


444  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

Barrington  was  not  an  original  town  of  Yates  County.  On  the  iSth 
of  March,  1796,  Steuben  County  was  erected,  and  included  within  its 
boundaries  all  that  is  now  called  Barrington,  and  Starkey  as  well. 
Upon  the  organization  of  Steuben,  and  the  formation  of  its  territory 
into  townships,  all  that  is  now  Barrington,  together  with  what  is  now 
called  Starkey  and  Tyrone,  Wayne  and  Reading,  comprised  the  origi- 
nal town  of  Frederickton,  so  named  after  Frederick  Bartels,  or  Bartles, 
a  Dutchman  employed  by  Charles  Williamson,  and  who  built  a  mill 
on  the  outlet  of  Mud  Lake,  in  1793.  The  town  of  Reading  was  after- 
ward set  off,  and  Wayne  organized,  including  Barrington.  In  1822 
Barrington  was  organized,  its  first  tovvn'meeting  being  held  in  1823,  on 
the  24th  of  February,  when  officers  were  for  the  first  time  elected. 

Still  the  town  remained  a  part  of  Steuben  County  until  January  i, 
1826.  On  the  5th  of  April,  1824,  the  Legislature  passed  an  act,  pro- 
viding "that  from  and  after  January  i,  1826,  all  that  part  of  Steuben 
County  including  Barrington,"  etc.,  shall  be  annexed  to  Yates  County. 

The  town  of  Barrington  has  its  entire  western  boundary  on  Lake 
Keuka,  a  most  desirable  possession,  for  here  is  the  very  garden  of  the 
grape  and  fruit  growing  industry.  Once  an  agricultural  town  of  some 
prominence  in  the  county,  but  now  its  tillable  lands  are  turned  into 
vineyards,  and  its  meadows  into  orchards.  In  agriculture  the  town  was 
rich,  but  in  fruit  growing  it  is  still  more  productive.  In  this  respect 
the  town  is  second  to  none  in  the  county.  Still  the  town  has  its  farm- 
ers, and  thrifty,  progressive  and  forehanded  "they  are,  too. 

The  surface  of  the  land  in  the  town  is  peculiarly  adapted  to  the  use 
to  which  it  is  put.  Lying  on  the  east  side  of  the  lake,  the  hillsides  find 
ample  protection  from  the  severe  western  winds  in  the  moderating  in- 
fluences of  the  lake  waters.  The  ascent  back  from  the  shore  is  nearly  a 
mile  long,  sometimes  greater  than  that,  while  the  elevation  attained  va- 
ries according  to  locality  from  300  to  800  feet.  The  greatest  altitude 
attained  is  at  Barrington  Summit,  where  the  elevation  is  880  feet  above 
the  waters  of  the  lake.  Crystal  Springs,  a  resort  of  great  fame,  is  315 
feet  higher  than  the  lake. 

The  center  of  population  and  improvement  in  what  we  maj'  call  Yates 
County  proper,  during  the  first  fifteen  or  twenty  years  of  its  history, 
was   in    the  vicinity  of  Seneca    Lake,   the  place  pitched    upon    b}'   the 


TOWN  OF  BARRINGTON.  445 

Friends.  Here  was  the  central  point  of  settlement  in  this  region,  and 
from  thence  it  spread  throughout  tlie  surrounding  country,  following 
the  courses  and  occupying  the  lands  which  the  pioneers  considered  best 
for  personal  interests.  But  Harrington  appears  not  to  have  been 
touched  or  settled  to  any  extent  until  the  closing  years  of  the  first  dec- 
ade of  this  century.  In  fact,  the  pioneers  of  the  region,  in  searcliing 
out  the  most  desirable  lands  for  their  homes,  appear  to  have  given  no 
thought  of  the  elevated  lands  of  this  town  as  valuable  for  agriculture, 
but  they  turned  toward  Jerusalem,  and  Milo,  Benton,  northern  Torrey, 
Starkey,  and  even  Potter  to  a  limited  extent,  as  preferable  to  the  ridge 
and  gulleys,  and  dense  woodlands  of  Barrington.  True  it  is  that  the 
lands  of  Barrington  offered  no  special  inducements,  no  inviting  future 
prospects  to  the  pioneer,  but  the  belief  that  the  lands  were  poor  or  un- 
productive was  an  error,  for  there  were  and  are  as  highly  productive 
farms  in  this  town  as  can  be  found  in  the  county. 

The  pioneer  of  the  town,  according  to  common  understanding  and 
consent,  was  Jacob  Teeples,  better  known  as  Colonel  Teeples,  who  lo- 
cated in  the  town  during  the  year  1800,  and  on  what  was  known  as 
Charles  Williamson's  road,  leading  from  Bath  to  Geneva.  Jacob  Tee- 
ples was  a  pioneer,  and  a  good  and  worthj' citizen.  He  turned  his  hab- 
itation into  a  hotel,  and  kept  public  house  for  some  years.  Neighbors 
he  had  none  for  some  time,  but  his  house  was  an  important  point  on 
the  old  stage  road.  Colonel  Teeples  was  himself  a  worthy  man,  for  he 
served  two  terms  in  the  Assembly,  representing  Steuben  County,  and 
was  also  sheriff  of  the  count)'  one  term.  He  was  succeeded  in  the  own- 
ership of  the  hotel  by  Daniel  Rapalee,  after  which  he  left  the  town.  The 
latter  continued  for  many  years  as  landlord,  as  the  first  town  meeting 
was  held  at  his  place  in  1823. 

From  the  time  of  his  settlement  in  1800  to  1S06,  Colonel  Teeples  was 
practically  alone  in  the  town,  but  the  year  last  named  witnessed  the  ar- 
rival of  a  number  of  families,  among  them  being  those  of  William  Oven- 
shire,  Oliver  Parker,  Thomas  Bronson,  Joseph  Finton,  William  Cool- 
baugh,  James  Finley,  James  and  Nehemiah  Higby,  John  Carr,  and 
possibly  others  whose  names  are  not  recalled.  William  Ovenshire  came 
to  Barrington  in  1806,  a  young  man  with  his  wife,  both  determined 
upon  making  a  home  in  the  unoccupied  township.    He  did  this  and  more, 


446  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

he  became  an  influential  man  in  the  region  ;  was  for  many  j'ears  con- 
stable and  justice  of  the  peace,  and  likewise  a  prominent  church  mem- 
ber. He  was  twice  married  and  left  a  numerous  family  of  children, 
who  with  their  descendants  are  worthy  residents  of  the  town  to-day. 

Joseph  Finton,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  1806  in  Barrington,  was  an  old 
Revolutionary  soldier.  He  made  his  settlement  in  the  northeast  sec- 
tion of  the  town,  on  the  so-called  "poor  lands,"  but  he  succeeded  in 
building  up  a  fine  farm.  Like  William  Ovenshire,  Mr.  Finton  raised  a 
large  family  of  children,  ten  in  all,  viz.:  Mary,  Phebe,  Eleanor,  Stephen, 
Charity,  Isaac  R.,  Joseph,  Catharine,  Susan  and  Amelia.  The  surname 
Finton  is  not  now  numerous  in  the  town,  but  such  as  are  here  are 
among  the  respected  and  enterprising  families  of  their  locality. 

Matthew  Knapp,  also  a  pioneer,  was  one  of  three  brothers,  the  otliers 
being  John  and  Charles,  who  cleared  farms  and  established  homes  in 
Barrington.  Matthew  came  to  this  locality  from  Orange  County.  To 
Jiimself  and  his  wife,  Mary  Knapp,  were  born  several  children  :  Hannah, 
Sally,  Christiana,  Eliza,  William,  Levi  and  Jesse.  The  family  name  is 
still  worthily  represented  in  the  town. 

David  Sunderlin  was  the  head  of  a  family  of  ten  children  who 
became  residents  of  Barrington.  The  first  visit  to  the  town  by  the 
pioneer  was  made  in  1813,  and  in  the  next  year  settlement  was  made 
by  him  and  followed  by  his  family.  He  located  in  the  part  of  the  town 
that  has  ever  since  been  known  as  Sunderlin  Hollow,  and  so  called  in 
honor  of  the  pioneer.  David  Sunderlin  vvas  from  Putnam  County,  and 
his  settlement  in  this  town  was  directlj'  instrumental  in  bringing  to  the 
Hollow  and  its  locality  a  number  of  other  families  from  the  same  place. 
The  children  of  David  were  Dennis,  Joseph,  Daniel,  Tippett,  Ira,  Eli, 
Anna,  Lydia,  Elizabeth,  and  Polly  or  Mary.  The  late  Deiazon  J.  Sun- 
derlin was  the  son  of  Dennis  Sunderlin,  by  his  marriage  with  Nancy 
Finch.  Deiazon  became  one  of  the  most  influential  men  that  Barring- 
ton ever  produced.  He  was  a  lawyer  of  ability,  and  at  one  time  dis- 
trict attorney  for  the  county,  in  1851-52.  His  wife  was  Louisa  Swart- 
hout,  by  whom  these  children  were  born  :  Ursula,  Emila  A.,  Martin  J., 
Edward  D.,  John  L.  and  Nancy  E.  Tippett  Sunderlin  built  the  first 
saw-mill  on  Big  Stream  ;   Dennis  built  the  second. 

John  Wright  came  to  the  town  from   old  Putnam  in    1S12  or   there- 


TOWN  OF  HARRINGTON.  447 

abouts.  He  married  Lj-dia  Siinderlin,  who  bore  him  these  children  : 
Maria,  Martha,  Lydia,  Erasmus  and  Alzada. 

Lodowick  Disbrow  was  one  of  the  Putnam  County  contingent  tiiat 
settled  I^arrington.  He  came  in  1813.  His  wife  was  I'^lizabeth,  daugh- 
ter of  David  Sunderlin,  by  whom  he  had  seven  children  :  Dennis,  Wat- 
son, Ira,  Daniel,  Anna,  Maria  and  Mary  Ann. 

John  Boyce  married  the  widow  of  Justus  Bassett,  and  came  to  make 
their  future  home  in  this  town  in  1812.  Polly,  Julia  and  Allen  Bassett, 
children  of  Justus  Bassett,  came  with  them.  Their  settlement  was  made 
on  lot  16,  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  town.  John  Boyce  and  Beulah 
(Bassett)  Boyce   had  three  children  :    Clorinda,  Chauncej^  and    Harriet. 

That  locality  of  the  town  commonly  known  as  East  Hill  was  settled 
about  1814  by  Orange  Hollister.  Subsequent  settlers  in  the  vicinity 
were  Daniel  Winters,  Julius  Stanton,  Benjamin  Osborn,  Isaac  H. 
Maples,  Jonathan  H.  Taylor  and  others,  perhaps,  whose  names  are  for- 
gotten. 

The  surname  Crosby  stands  not  onl)-  for  thrift  and  enterprise  in  Bar- 
rington,  but  as  well  for  pioneership.  Nathan  Crosby  came  from  Put- 
nam County  in  1812,  and  settled  in  Sunderlin  Hollow,  near  what  after- 
ward became  known  as  Crystal  Spring.  After  two  years  he  went  to 
Delaware  County,  but  only  to  return  again  to  Barrington  some  years 
later.  His  children  were  Selah,  Mariam,  Esther,  Sarah,  Abigail,  Peter 
H.  and  Cyrus.  Peter  H.  Crosby  married  Catharine  Finton.  Their 
children  were  Emelia.  Alanson,  Joseph,  Selah,  Druzilla  and  Isaac.  On 
Lake  Keuka  is  a  little  hamlet  called  Crosby's,  deriving  its  name  from 
the  industries  built  up  by  the  sons  of  Peter  H.  Crosby.  A  succeeding 
portion  of  this  chapter  will  furnish  a  more  extended  account  of  this 
locality. 

Besides  those  already  mentioned  as  being  pioneer  families  of  Barring- 
ton,  there  are  perhaps  others  equally  deserving  of  notice  in  this  chap- 
ter. In  the  town  to-day  there  are  natives  and  descendants  of  early 
families,  among  whom  may  be  recalled  such  names  as  Andrews,  Baley, 
Bain,  Bellis,  Bullock,  Chapman,  Chase,  Clark,  Coons,  Cornell,  Edwards, 
Eggleston,  Ellis,  Fish,  Florence,  Freeman,  Fry,  Gardner,  Gasper, 
Gibbs,  Guthrie,  Harpending,  Horton,  Houck,  Jones,  Kenyon,  Lazear, 
Lee,   Lewis,   Lockwood,   McDowell,    Mclntyre,  Merrit,   Millard,  Miller, 


448  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

Mosher,  Morse,  Nangle,  Rapalee,  Robinson,  Shannon,  Shaw,  Sherwood, 
Smith,  Snook,  Sornberger,  Stanton,  Steadwell,  Stoughtenburg,  Struble, 
Swarthout,  Swarts,  Taylor,  Thayer,  Townsend,  Tupper,  Tuttle,  Van- 
gorder,  Wahon,  Watson,  Warren,  Welker,  Wheeler,  Winters,  Wixson, 
Wortman  and  Wright,  each  of  whom  has  in  some  manner  by  his  or 
their  acts  contributed  toward  the  building  up  and  establishing  the  con- 
dition of  prosperity  which  the  people  of  the  town  at  this  time  enjoy. 
But  to  take  from  the  above  list  each  individual  and  family  and  furnish 
separate  genealogical  records  for  them  would  involve  the  writer  of  town 
history  in  a  maze  of  difficulty  and  perplexity  ;  in  fact,  it  would  be  a 
task  well  nigh  impossible  of  accomplishment,  and  would  extend  the 
volume  of  this  chapter  beyond  all  reasonable  proportion. 

The  civil  and  social  history  of  Barrington  has  been  made  in  the  every 
day  life  of  its  people;  in  the  establishment  of  its  churches  and  schools, 
and  in  the  passing  away  of  those  who  have  finished  their  course.  The 
present  generation  of  dwellers  in  the  town  is  engaged  in  the  pursuits 
of  agriculture  and  fruit-growing,  to  which  occupations  reference  is  made 
on  succeeding  pages.  The  town  has  its  hamlets  and  settlements,  but 
none  of  these  has  population  to  warrant  incorporation  or  the  adoption 
of  any  form  of  municipal  government. 

The  first  town  meeting  of  the  freemen  of  Barrington  was  held  in  1823 
on  the  24th  of  February,  at  the  house  of  pioneer  Daniel  Rapalee ;  at 
which  time  officers  were  elected  as  follows  ;  Supervisor,  Richard  Eddy; 
town  clerk,  Daniel  Rapalee  ;  collector,  Joseph  McCain  ;  commissioners 
of  highways,  James  A.  Swarthout,  Jeremiah  Shaw  and  Lodowick  Dis- 
brow  ;  commissioners  of  schools,  Ephraim  Bennett,  Matthew  McDowell 
and  Robert  Armstrong;  assessors,  Tippett  Sunderlin,  Ira  Church  and 
Matthew  Knapp ;  overseers  of  the  poor,  Victor  Putnam  and  Ezekiel 
Blue  ;  constables,  Elijah  Baker,  Joseph  McCain  and  Peter  Putnam,  jr.  ; 
inspectors  of  schools,  Dennis  Sunderlin,  Ira  Sunderlin,  Richard  Eddy; 
poundmaster,  Daniel  Rapalee. 

It  seems  to  be  conceded  that  the  chief  officer  in  each  town  is  the  su- 
pervisor ;  and  it  has  become  an  established  custom  to  furnish  a  succes- 
sion of  the  incumbents  of  this  office  from  the  organization  of  the  town 
to  the  date  of  compilation.  Conforming  to  this  rule,  the  appended 
record  gives  the  succession  of  supervisors  of  the  town  of  Barrington,  as 


TOWN  OF  BARRINGTON.  449 

follows:  Richard  Eddy,  1823;  Alexander  Patten,  1824-27;  Epliraim 
Bennett,  1828;  Asher  Spicer,  1829;  James  A.  Swarthout,  1830-31; 
Stephen  Robinson,  1832-33;  Ezekiel  Blue,  1S34-35  ;  John  Spicer, 
1836-37  ;  Levi  Knox,  1838-39  ;  Lodowick  Disbrow,  1840-42  ;  George 
W.  Wolcott,  1843-44;  Martin  Holmes,  1845;  John  Wright,  1846-47; 
Archibald  Campbell,  1848-49;  Chauncey  Boyce,  1850;  Daniel  Dis- 
brow, 1851-52;  William  Kinne,  1853;  Martin  Holmes,  1854;  Sam- 
uel V.  Miller,  1855;  Daniel  Disbrow,  1856;  Joseph  F.  Crosby,  1857 
Samuel  Williams,  1858;  George  N.  Wilson,  1859;  Abel  Ward,  i860 
Peter  IT.  Crosby,  1861  ;  Jonathan  Taylor,  1862  ;  Asa  P.  Fish,  1863-64 
Delazon  J.  Sunderlin,  1865-66;  Benson  Smith,  1S67;  Jesse  C.  Knapp, 
1868;  Sackett  B.  Wixson,  1869;  William  McDowell,  1870  ;  George 
Hel?,  1871  ;  Isaac  Crosby,  1872  ;  William  S.  Ellis,  1873  ;  Benjamin  F. 
Freeman,  1874;  Robert  Robson,  1875-76;  Asa  P.  Fish,  1877;  Isaac 
Crosby,  1878;  George  Hels,  1879;  Gilbert  Hopkins,  1880;  Julius 
Stanton,  1881;  Cyrus  A.  Lawrence,  1882;  Henry  Bullock,  1883; 
William  Winters,  1884-86;  Albert  Ovenshire,  1887-88;  Cyrus  A. 
Lawrence,  1889;  Jesse  C.  Knapp,  1890;  John  A.  Gibbs,  1891. 

Crystal  Springs. — In  the  spring  of  1865,  when  the  country  was  crazy 
with  oil  speculations,  a  deer-lick  on  lot  50  in  Barrington  affording  rich 
appearances  of  this  sort,  a  company  was  formed  in  the  vicinity  to  bore 
for  oil.  At  a  depth  of  forty-three  feet  the  water  came  up  so  abundantly 
it  was  difficult  to  go  farther.  This  was  soon  found  to  have  medicinal 
virtues  for  which  it  has  acquired  a  great  fame.  Erasmus  Wright  and 
Benson  Smith,  becoming  proprietors  of  the  location,  erected  in  1867  a 
house  of  four  stories,  lOO  feet  long  and  42  wide,  with  a  two  story  wing 
70  by  32  feet.  The  place  has  become  a  very  popular  resort  and  very 
many  people  who  have  tested  the  virtues  of  the  water  have  believed 
themselves  much  benefited  by  its  use.  The  flow  of  water  is  sufficient 
to  fill  a  two-inch  tube  constantly.  A  house  was  opened  at  the  spring 
by  Sylvester  Bowers  in  1866,  before  the  larger  structure  was  built. 
Shortly  after  this  mammoth  hotel  had  become  popular  it  was  completely 
destroyed  by  fire,  but  the  waters  of  this  immense  spring  had  become  so 
popular,  building  lots  had  been  laid  out  and  some  of  them  had  been 
built  upon.  A  post-office  had  been  located,  a  mail  route  established, 
a  store  built  and  in  operation  ;  real  estate  began  to  boom,  consequently 

57 


450  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

the  liotel  was  rebuilt,  but  it  had  scarcely  been  finished  before  it  met  a 
similar  fate  and  was  completely  destroyed.  Although  this  looked 
gloomy  and  discouraging,  the  spring  had  built  up  quite  a  little  village, 
and  the  call  was  for  another  hotel,  which,  in  the  course  of  a  year,  Mr. 
Smith  had  well  nigh  built.  A  noted  M.D.  Deborah  built  a  large  sani- 
tarium with  all  modern  improvements,  hot  and  cold  baths,  steam  baths, 
etc.,  which  was  attached  to  the  springs.  This  called  a  number  from 
abroad  for  treatment.  A  park  was  laid  out  and  wealthy  men  from  a 
distance  built  cottages  for  summer  resorts.  Here  the  genial  Fred  Fur- 
nace held  forth  with  his  private  grounds,  cottage  and  curiosities.  A 
pavilion  was  built  and  things  looked  booming,  when  for  a  third  time  the 
hotel  was  destroyed  by  fire.  This  finished  up  the  old  proprietor,  and 
the  property  went  into  the  hands  of  a  Mr.  Rathbun,  of  Elmira,  who  en- 
larged the  sanitarium,  remodeled  it,  converted  it  into  a  hotel,  and  it  was 
thrown  open  again  to  the  public  under  the  supervision  of  Colonel  Baker 
for  two  seasons;  this  last  season  of  1891  it  flourished  under  the  man- 
agement of  E.  Gulick,  of  Starkey. 

In  the  summer  of  1891  a  church  building  was  erected  at  the  Springs 
and  dedicated  in  September  of  the  same  year,  said  church  to  be  a  union 
church  for  the  use  of  those  of  all  or  of  no  denomination  that  chose  to 
repair  there  for  worship  Sunday  afternoon.  The  trustees  were  elected 
from  different  denominations,  the  pulpit  to  be  supplied  from  the  Baptist, 
Presb)'terian  and  Methodist  Churches  of  Dundee. 

Ckurch  History  of  Barrington. — The  .only  Methodist  Church  ever  or- 
ganized in  Barrington,  was  organized  in  1810.  The  Rev.  B.  G.  Pad- 
dock gave  them  the  first  preaching.  Among  those  admitted  to  church 
fellowship  were  William  Ovenshire  and  Mary  his  wife,  Joseph  Gibbs 
and  Mary  his  wife,  Joseph  Kanaan  anil  wife,  Peter  Putnam  and  wife, 
Mrs  Mary  Norris,  Mrs.  Dean,  Mrs.  Shoutts,  Mrs.  Barnes,  and  James 
Taylor  and  wife.  Among  the  early  preachers  were  George  Harman, 
Palmer  Roberts,  P.  Bennett,  R.  P'arley,  L.  Grant,  J.  Gilmore,  William 
Snow,  W.  Kent,  F.  Draper,  R.  Parker,  John  Beggarly,  and  others;  of 
a  later  period,  Asa  Story,  J.  Chamberlin,  Ira  Fairbanks,  A.  Steele, 
J.  Dodge.  The  preaching  was  at  Mr.  Ovenshire's  house  for  about  fif- 
teen years;  afterwards  at  a  near  school-house  until  1842,  when  the 
present  church  was  erected,  but  a  short  distance  from   his  own   house. 


TO  VVN  OF  DA  RRING  TON.  4  5 1 

W.  Ovensliirc  was  the  class-leader  about  thirty  years;  he  was  then  fol- 
lowed by  his  son  Samuel.  The  church  has  had  150  members  at  one 
time.  Some  of  the  preachers  still  later  were  Rev.  Mr.  Graham,  Rev. 
Mr.  Hall,  Rev.  Mr.  Lamon,  also  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Walgermoth,  Land- 
reth,  Edgar,  J.  Jarman,  Dutcher,  Weaver.  At  this  time  the  Methodist 
people  centered  at  a  small  village  called  Warsaw,  near  the  middle  of 
the  town,  and  it  was  quite  desirable  that  the  house  of  worship  should 
be  as  convenient  as  possible,  and  after  some  consultation  it  was  decided 
to  move  it.  Cousequently  in  the  summer  of  1878  it  was  moved  about 
one  mile  west  to  Warsaw,  where  it  still  flourishes.  Since  this  time  its 
pastors  have  been  Rev.  George  Mo.xey,  Revs.  Brown,  Chubbuck,  Hin- 
man,  Ward,  and  Jeroloman.  The  present  pastor  is  N.  A.  Depew  ;  the 
class-leader,  Benjamin  Freeman,  who  succeeded  S.  Ovenshire.  Crans- 
ton Hewitt,  John  Ovenshire,  R.  Plasted,  B.  Freeman,  Morris  Ovenshire, 
A.  J.  Sargent,  M.  Bellows,  E.  Sprague,  A.  Bane,  S.  Lamont,  and  others 
have  served  as  trustees  in  later  years.  L  Ovenshire,  Morris  Ovenshire, 
and  John  Ovenshire  have  served  as  clerk.  The  latter  is  still  clerk.  The 
present  number  of  church  members,  about  seventy- five  ;  congregation 
from  fifty  to  150.      Valuation  of  church  property  $1,200. 

In  1819  there  was  a  Free  Will  Baptist  Church  organized  by  Elders 
Zebulon  Dean  and  John  Mugg.  In  consisted  of  eleven  persons — Mat- 
thew Knapp,  J.  B.  Retan,  Mary  Knapp,  J.  West,  J.  Swain,  Margaret 
Swain,  Hannah  Knapp,  Sarah  Knapp,  Christiana  Knapp,  Electa  West, 
and  Catharine  Sales.  John  West  was  chosen  clerk  ;  Matthew  Knapp 
elected  deacon.  The  records  previous  to  1827  were  destroyed  by 
fire.  At  that  time  Elder  John  Stewart  was  their  preacher.  In  1828 
Cyrus  B.  Feagles  was  expelled  for  drunkeness  and  profanity.  In 
1829  Zebulon  Dean  was  their  pastor  and  a  John  Pratt  and  Miss  Ben- 
ton became  members.  In  1830  H.  Wisner  and  wife,  T.  Tuttle  and  wife, 
E.  Feagles,  and  others  also  became  members.  The  church  continued 
to  prosper  until  in  1833.  They  erected  a  meeting-house  in  1834.  The 
church  voted  that  Matthew  Knapp  have  license  to  preach.  In  1835  the 
society  voted  that  J.  Pratt  have  license  to  preach  ;  this  same  year  Elder 
J.  Bignal  baptized  several  members.  In  1837  Elder  E.  Crane  preached 
and  baptized  several  persons.  In  1841  Elder  Beebe  was  the  preacher. 
Regular  meeting  was  kept  up  until  1847  ;  soon  after,  the  church  was 
totally  disbanded,  and  the  building  turned  to  other  uses. 


452  HISTORY  Oh    YATES  COUNTY. 

A  council  was  called  to  organize  a  second  Baptist  Church  of  Wayne 
on  March  20,  1 8 19,  and  met  at  Frederick  Townsend's.  There  were 
present  delegates  from  other  churches,  as  follows:  Wayne,  Elder  E. 
Sanford,  G.  Bennett,  Asa  Yeoman  ;  Pultney,  Peter  Powers,  S.  Drew  ; 
Second  Milo,  Elder  Sutherland,  John  R.  Powell,  T.  Bennett,  Isaac 
Hedges,  S.  Sherman  and  others.  Elder  Powers  was  chosen  moderator. 
Elder  Bigelow,  clerk.  The  following  names  are  those  of  the  consti- 
tuted members  of  this  church  when  organized  :  Janna  Osgood,  Ephraim 
Wright,  Joseph  Sunderlin,  Eli  Northrup,  Deborah  Baker,  Anna  Baker, 
Susan  Sunderlin,  Catherine  Sutton,  Esther  House,  Clarissa  Brown, 
Martha  Kirkham,  Hannah  Townsend,  Lydia  Sunderlin,  Lydia  Wright, 
Olla  Roblyer,  Bethia  Burr,  Parthena  Walker,  Jana  Osgood,  Meriam 
Bennett,  Sally  Demond,  Betsey  Booth,  Elizabeth  Disbrow.  On  the 
27th  of  March,  1819,  the  first  regular  church  meeting  was  held.  At 
this  meeting  Janna  Osgood  was  moderator,  J.  Sunderlin,  standing  clerk. 
They  voted  to  hold  the  church  meeting  on  the  first  Saturday  of  each 
month  at  John  Wright's.  Elder  Sutherland  supj^lied  the  church  with 
preaching  on  Wednesday,  April  6,  1819.  The  following  were  baptized: 
W.  Wortman,  John  Wright,  C.  Knapp,  S.  Crosby,  Eunice  Knapp, 
Lydia  Chase,  Elizabeth 'Rarick,  Fanny  Wortman.  Wednesday,  March 
12,  1819,  James  A.  Swarthout  and  Miss  Jacoby  were  baptized.  Sun- 
day, August  I,  1819,  Elder  Sutherland  baptized  Daniel  Sunderlin  and 
his  sons,  Dennis  and  Daniel  W.,  Tippet,"Ira  and  Eli  Sunderlin,  and  three 
of  their  wives,  Nancy  S.,  Hannah  and  Fanny  Sunderlin,  Azariah  Finch 
and  wife,  Nanah  Silsbee,  Polly  Dakin,  Nancy  Long  and  Polly  Burr. 
September  5,  18 19,  Stephen  Robinson  and  wife,  and  Almeda  Sunderlin 
were  baptized.  Jonathan  Ketchum  joined  the  church  by  letter  April 
8,  1820,  and  in  October,  1821,  the  "Church  voted  that  Brother 
Ketchum  have  the  privilege  of  preaching  in  the  bounds  of  the  church." 
They  erected  their  meeting-house  in  1821  in  Sunderlin  Hollow,  on  the 
north  side  of  the  east  and  west  road.  The  first  meeting  was  held  in 
this  meeting-house  April  6,  1822.  In  February,  1822,  they  chose 
Ephraim  Wright  and  Charles  Knapp  deacons.  When  the  town  of 
Wayne  was  divided  the  greater  part  of  the  church  society  fell  in  Bar- 
rington,  hence  the  name  was  changed  to  the  Barrington  Baptist  Church, 
which  name  it  now  bears.     The  meeting-house  is  completely  torn  down, 


TOWN  OF  BARRINGTON.  453 

and  nothing  remains  to  mark  its  former  location  but  the  tombstones  of 
its  silent  dead.  They  now  have  their  house  of  worship  in  the  village 
of  Wayne.  This  Baptist  Church  had  adopted  resolutions  that  no  mem- 
ber of  the  Baptist  Church  should  belong  to  a  secret  society.  At  about 
this  time  a  number  of  their  leading  members  joined  some  Masonic 
order  and  the  clnirch  promptly  expelled  them,  which  created  no  little 
commotion  in  this  and  other  Baptist  Churches  in  the  association  and 
community.  The  second  minister  that  served  this  church  was  Daniel 
Sherwood,  and  he  was  followed  by  Jonathan  Ketchum,  who  preached 
for  them  over  twenty  years.  Jonathan  Ferris  was  also  a  preacher  for 
them  at  an  early  period.  A  daughter  of  Elder  Ketchum  is  the  wife  of 
Sacket  B.  Wixson,  of  this  town. 

Warsaiv  Baptist  Church. — This  church  was  organized  at  a  meeting 
held  at  the  house  of  John  Moore,  March  20,  1838,  the  following  per- 
sons, mostly  from  the  Barrington  and  Second  Milo  Churches,  consti- 
tuting the  original  membership  :  Tippett  Sunderlin,  Peter  H.  Crosby, 
Abraham  Hopkins,  Elam  W.  Hopkins,  Thomas  Hopkins,  Samuel  B. 
Seymour,  John  Moore,  William  Freeman,  Robert  E  Baker,  Stephen 
Robinson,  John  Smith,  jr.,  Janna  Osgood,  Joseph  Finton,  James  Baker, 
Stephen  Smith,  Larance  Chubb,  Susan  Smith,  Lucretia  Kenyon,  Re- 
becca Smith,  Eliza  Osgood,  Thankful  F"inton,  Almeda  Sunderlin,  Grace 
A.  Beach,  Naomi  Hopkins,  Racliel  M.  Hopkins,  Rebecca  Miles,  Mary 
Oakley,  Sabra  Moore,  Lucj-  Freeman,  Alina  Robinson,  Sally  Miles, 
Deborah  Baker,  Julia  Baker,  Mary  S.  Moore,  Charity  Baxter,  Mahala 
Kinne.  A  meeting-house  was  built  in  1838,  at  a  cost  of  $1,200.  The 
church  was  supplied  by  Simon  Sutherland  the  first  six  months  until 
the  house  was  erected.  Reuben  P.  Lamb  was  the  first  pastor,  and  he 
served  three  years.  The  ne.\t  was  Horace  Spencer,  and  after  him  Da- 
vid B  OIney  preached  for  this  church  twelve  years,  then  J.  S.  Webber, 
one  year;  Reuben  P.  Lamb,  three  and  a  half  years;  A.  J.  Buel, 
one  year;  George  Baptist,  nine  months  ;  Lewis  Brasted  followed.  The 
first  deacons  were  Stephen  Robinson  and  Abraham  Hopkins,  and  subse- 
quently Tippett  Sunderlin,  Peter  H.  Crosby,  John  Wilkins,  Richard 
Lawrence  and  Sacket  B.  Wixson  and  others  have  filled  that  office. 
John  Moore  was  clerk  three  and  one  half  years,  Peter  H.  Crosby 
twenty-one  years,  and  Sacket   B.  Wixson   seven   years.     The  trustees 


454  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

have  been:  Tippett  Sunderlin,  eight  years;  Philo  Chubb,  twenty- three 
years;  W.  Kinne,  ten  years;  P.  H.  Crosby,  fifteen  years;  N.  Kinne, 
three  years;  Samuel  Williams,  twelve  years;  R.  E.  Baker,  one  j'ear; 
Joiin  Gibbs,  two  years  ;  Darwin  Sunderlin,  three  years  ;  Jesse  C.  Knapp, 
eight  years  ;  Martin  Wixson,  five  years  ;  Daniel  Tuttle,  three  years. 
The  present  house  of  worship  was  erected  in  1867  and  dedicated  April 
17,  1868.  Its  cost,  with  lot  and  furnishing,  was  $5,000.  This  church 
has  had  several  important  revivals  during  the  fifty- three  years  of  its 
history.  In  January,  1872,  James  Parker  began  preaching  for  the 
church  ;  he  preached  eight  years,  and  was  still  their  beloved  pastor 
when  he  was  called  away  by  death.  Rev.  C.  Wardner  preached  from 
the  spring  of  1880,  to  the  spring  of  18S3  ;  Rev.  A.  D.  Clark,  from  the 
spring  of  1883  to  October  i,  1887;  Rev.  James  Nobbs,  from  January 
I,  1888,  to  August,  1891.  The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  Mr.  Walker.  In 
1886  and  1887  the  church  built  a  new  parsonage,  valued  at  about 
$1,200.  The  church  at  present  is  in  a  healthy  condition,  the  mem- 
bership being  107,  after  dismissing  by  letter  thirty-si.\  to  help  consti- 
tute a  cluiich  at  Crosby.  The  present  deacons  are  Joseph  Fenton, 
R.  A.  Lawrence,  Frank  McDowell,  Ed.  Crosby  ;  present  trustees,  Mich- 
ael Powleson,  J.  S.  Bailey,  William  Crosby  ;  present  church  clerk, 
Joseph  Gibbs.  S.  B.  Wixson  had  served  as  clerk,  preceding  J.  Gibbs, 
for  over  twenty- five  years. 

A  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized  at  Warsaw  September  21, 1830. 
It  had  fifteen  members  in  1832,  twenty-nine  in  1837,  ^'^d  ceased  to  ex- 
ist in  1840.  The  clergymen  of  that  faith  who  labored  with  them  were 
Benjamin  B.  Smith,  J.  S.  Reasoner,  Samuel  T.  Babbitt,  and  George  T. 
Everest.  The  American  Home  Missionary  Society  aided  in  their 
support. 

The  Baptist  Church  at  Crosby. — The  Lake  Keuka  Baptist  Church 
was  organized  May  15,  1888,  at  Crosby.  At  tiiis  time  there  was  a 
number  of  Baptists  living  in  the  vicinity  of  Crosby  who  were  too  far  from 
any  place  of  worship  to  be  any  ways  convenient.  They  organized  a 
Sabbath-school  at  the  Crosby  school- house,  where  they  also  had  preach- 
ing for  a  time  in  the  afternoon  on  Sabbath,  by  the  pastor  from  the 
Warsaw  Baptist  Church.  There  became  quite  an  awakening  under  the 
preaching  of  Rev.  Mr.  Clark;   also  a  desire  to  have  a  house  of  worship 


TO  WN  OF  BA  RRIXG  TON.  45  5 

in  their  midst.  Consequently,  this  Uttle  band  of  worshipers  organized. 
The  Rev.  James  Nobbs  was  chosen  moderator,  and  C.  Guile,  clerk. 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Sherer,  of  Penn  Yan,  and  Rev.  C.  M.  Bruce,  from  Milo, 
assisted  in  the  organization.  The  following  are  the  names  of  the  con- 
stituent members  :  Isaac  Crosby  and  wife,  Henry  Bullock  and  wife, 
Hermon  l^ullock  and  wife,  Fred  Crosby  and  wife,  Mrs.  B.  M.  Crosby, 
R.  VV.  Weltch,  his  wife  and  two  daughters,  Frank  and  Ida,  William  I. 
Can-  and  wife,  A.  P.  Wortman  and  wife,  Susan  Baily,  Libby  Baily,  Mrs. 
C.  Knapp,  Mrs.  C.  Swarthout,  Sarah  M.  Edwards,  George  W. 
Edwards  and  wife,  E.  Edwards,  C.  E.  Guile  and  wife,  Mrs.  G.  W. 
Fenton,  Eliza  Hewitt,  Mrs  L.  B.  Gipson,  Minnie  Gipson,  Mrs.  L. 
Janes,  Timothy  Janes  and  daughter  Alice,  also  his  two  sisters  Lydia 
and  Mary,  Mrs.  K.  Blasted,  Will  Burt  and  wife.  Mrs.  Albert  Amadou, 
L.  J.  Bellows,  Hattie  Lee,  James  Grace,  Mrs.  B  Gardner.  Thirty  six 
members  came  from  the  Warsaw  Baptist  Church,  six  from  the  Second 
Milo  Church,  and  two  from  Penn  Yan.  Isaac  Crosby  and  Henry  Bull- 
ock were  chosen  deacons,  Isaac  Hewett,  Herman  Bullock,  and  Amos 
Swarthout,  trustees,  Leroy  J.  Bellows,  church  clerk.  They  proceeded 
at  once  to  erect  them  a  house,  and  now  they  have  as  neat  a  house  of 
worship  as  they  could  desire  ;  church  property  valued  at  about  $3,000. 
A  goodly  number  have  also  been  added  by  baptism,  and  some  by  let- 
ter until  the  present  membership  is  eighty  seven.  Pastor  James  Hobbs 
has  preached  for  them  from  the  organization  of  the  church  until  the 
sprmg  of  1891.     The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  Mr.  Walker. 

Post-offices,  Manufactures, etc — There  are  three  post-offices  in  this  town. 
Harrington  post-office,  situated  at  Warsaw ;  Crystal  Springs  at  the 
springs,  and  Crosby  at  Crosby  Lauding,  on  the  shore  of  Keuka  Lake. 
Crosby  village  is  situated  on  the  east  shore  of  Keuka  Lake,  in  Barring- 
ton.  It  has  its  store,  church,  post  office  and  school-house,  two  casket 
factories,  and  last  but  not  least,  a  cluster  of  splendid  houses,  backed  on 
the  east  by  the  beautiful  vine-clad  hills,  and  faced  on  the  west  by  the 
silvery  waters  of  Lake  Keuka, — the  dream-land  of  the  soul  through 
the  heated  season  of  the  summer.  It  is  in  the  midst  of  the  grape- grow- 
ing region,  and  at  this  landing  hundreds  of  tons  of  giapes  are  shipped 
annually.  Some  of  the  principal  grape  growers  in  the  town  are  Joseph 
Crosby,  J.  Eagleston,  I.  Crosby,  C    Plasted,  estate  G.  Bullock,  H.  Bull- 


456  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

ock,  E.  Edwards,  A.  Amadon,  S.  Lamont,  George  Fenton,  and  hun- 
dreds of  others.  Tlie  basket  factories  deserve  more  than  a  passing 
notice.  The  proprietor  of  one  is  Hermon  Bullock,  that  of  the  other 
George  Fenton.  Ten  years  ago  the  baskets  were  bunched  up  in  doz- 
ens and  sold  by  the  dozen — a  small  pony  business.  But  the  demand 
has  grown  so  rapidly  that  the  mills  have  been  furnished  with  all  modern 
machinery  for  manufacturing  baskets,  and  the  largest  logs  are  sawed 
and  sliced  out  and  turned  until  ready  for  the  baskets  ;  and  this  year  the 
output  of  baskets  from  both  factories  is  1,500,000,  giving  employment 
to  twenty- five  or  thirty  .men  and  to  fifty  or  sixty  girls.  The  Bullock 
mills  do  the  sawing  and  cutting  for  the  McMath  and  Morgan  factories 
at  Penn  Yan.  The  Fenton  mills  furnish  the  Niagara  Grape  Company 
with  100,000  baskets  annually.  Peaches,  currants,  and  raspberries  are 
raised  to  quite  an  extent,  and  other  small  fruit,  so  that  evaporators  may 
be  counted  by  the  dozen  all  over  the  town.  Among  the  largest  rasp- 
berry growers  of  the  town  at  present  are  Delmer  Knapp  and  D.  B.  Cor- 
nell. The  largest  apple  orchard  is  owned  by  D.  B.  Cornell,  consisting 
of  fifteen  acres  and  twenty  varieties.  There  are  six  steamboat  landings 
in  Barrington  :  Fenton,  North  and  South  Crosby,  J.  Eagleston,  Hawk, 
and  S.  Eagleston. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

HISTORY   OF  THE   TOWN    OF    POTTER. 

AMONG  the  several  divisions  of  Yates  County,  the  town  of  Potter 
occupies  a  position  on  the  northern  boundary,  abutting  Ontario 
County.  Its  western  boundary  is  Middlesex,  its  parent  township ;  on 
the  south  is  Jerusalem,  and  on  the  east  Benton.  According  to  the  orig- 
inal survey,  the  greater  part  of  the  territory  now  of  Potter  was  included 
by  township  eight,  second  range,  but  this  was  before  the  town  had  ac- 
quired either  name  or  organization. 

In  the  organization  of  the  towns  of  old  Ontario  County,  the  territory 
now  of  Potter,  together  witii  Middlesex  and  other  territory,  was  organ- 


TOWN  OF  POTTER.  457 

ized  into  the  jurisdictional  district  of  Augusta,  but  the  name  was  after- 
ward changed  to  Middlesex,  and  so  continued  until  Potter  was  organ- 
ized within  its  substantially  present  boundaries,  and  given  a  name  as 
one  of  the  towns  of  Yates  County.  This  was  done  April  26,  1832.  But 
instead  of  including  the  exact  area  of  township  eight,  second  range,  in 
the  town  of  Potter,  for  the  convenience  of  inhabitants  residing  on  the 
west  part  of  number  eight,  a  strip  of  land  half  a  mile  in  width,  and  ex- 
tending along  the  west  boundary  of  the  township,  remained  a  part  of 
Middlesex.  In  1856,  again  for  the  convenience  of  inhabitants,  one  and 
one  half  square  miles  of  land  in  the  southeast  corner  of  Middlesex  was 
taken  from  the  last-named  town  and  annexed  to  Potter.  Therefore  Pot- 
ter as  now  constituted  embraces  about  thirty- four  and  one- half  square 
miles  of  territory,  or  its  equivalent  in  acres  about  22,000. 

The  principal  water  course  of  the  town  of  Potter  is  Flint  Creek,  a 
stream  of  some  magnitude,  which  crosses  the  town  from  southwest  to 
northeast;  but  the  land  through  which  the  water  flows  is  so  exceedingly 
low  and  level  that  the  whole  region  on  both  sides  of  the  stream  is  fre- 
quently submerged,  and  is  generally  of  a  marshy  character,  therefore 
unfit  for  cultivation.  Across  the  southeast  corner  of  the  town  flows  the 
waters  of  the  inlet  of  the  west  branch  of  Lake  Keuka,  while  in  the  north- 
east quarter  of  the  town  are  the  waters  of  West  River  and  its  tribu- 
taries. The  marsh  lands  of  the  township  are  rather  more  extensive 
than  is  desirable,  and  the  fact  that  they  extend  through  the  central  por- 
tions of  the  town  detracts  much  from  the  general  value  of  the  region 
that  is  generally  looked  to  for  the  best  agricultural  results.  But,  not- 
withstanding all  this.  Potter  is  by  no  means  an  unimportant  subdivision 
of  Yates  County,  and  within  its  limits  are  found  many  farms  as  rich  and 
productive  as  can  be  found  in  the  county.  Moreover,  the  town  is  well 
peopled  and  improved,  and  those  who  are  dwellers  therein  are  earnest 
in  their  endeavors,  honest  in  their  dealings,  and  generous  and  public- 
spirited  in  their  contributions  for  local  and  general  improvements.  The 
town,  too,  has  furnished  its  full  share  of  public  officers,  as  a  reference  to 
the  civil  lists  of  the  county  will  disclose  to  the  investigator. 

Pioneers  and  Early  Settlers. — In  1790  the  first  Federal  census  enu- 
meration was  made.  The  returns  then  made  showed  that  there  dwelt 
in  township  eight,  second  range,  seven  families,  the  respective  heads  of 

58 


458  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

which  were  Benjamin  Tibbitts,  Michael  Pierce,  Francis  Briggs,  Henry 
Lovell,  William  Hall,  Arnold  Potter  and  John  Walford.  These,  there- 
fore, were  the  pioneers  of  the  town,  upon  whom  fell  the  burden  and  the 
hardships  of  clearing  the  lands  and  making  the  first  improvements  in  a 
new  and  comparatively  uninviting  territory.  They  were  soon  afterward 
followed  by  other  settlers,  upon  whom  the  burden  fell  none  the  less 
heavily,  and  to  whom  perhaps  is  due  as  much  of  honor  and  credit  as  to 
the  first  comers  but  generally  there  is  accorded  to  the  first  half  dozen  or 
so  of  pioneers  all  the  glory  of  pioneership  in  a  new  county. 

Arnold  Potter,  as  he  has  ever  been  commonly  known,  or,  more  cor- 
rectly, Benedict  Arnold  Potter,  was  not  only  the  pioneer  of  the  town 
that  was  named  in  his  honor,  but  he  was  one  of  the  most  prominent  and 
influential  men  in  the  whole  region.  He  was  at  one  time  the  owner  of 
more  than  35,000  acres  of  land  in  the  old  town  of  Augusta  (which  in- 
cluded Potter).  He  was  born  in  1761,  and  was  the  son  of  W^illiam  Potter, 
the  F"riend's  faithful  follower  and  for  some  years  most  trusted  counsel- 
or;  but  he  fell  away  from  the  faith  and  eventually  became  her  enemy, 
but  not  bitter  nor  revengeful.  The  last  years  of  the  life  of  William 
Potter  were  spent  with  Arnold  Potter,  at  his  home  in  this  town.  Like 
his  father,  Arnold  Potter  was  once  a  F"riend,  but  he  too  became  alien- 
ated from  the  society,  but  his  wife  remained  true  to  the  faith.  She  was 
Sarah,  daughter  of  Benjamin  Brown,  sr.  Their  children  were  William, 
Arnold  and  Penelope  Potter.  Arnold  Potter,  the  pioneer,  died  at  Har- 
risburgh,  Pa.,  in  1810,  while  on  his  way  to  Philadelphia  with  a  drove  of 
cattle.  In  a  printed  circular  issued  by  him  in  1 800,  Judge  Potter  ad- 
vertised for  sale  his  land,  in  parcels ;  and  he  stated  that  on  his  tract  of 
16,000  acres  there  were  two  saw-mills  and  a  grist  mill.  The  region  at 
that  time  was  called  Potterstown.  Thomas  Hazard  Potter,  brother  of 
Arnold,  married  Patience  Wilkinson,  sister  of  the  Friend,  and  in  1790 
settled  in  this  town.  He  died  in  1807,  and  his  wife  in  1819.  Their 
children  were  Susan,  Eliza  and  John. 

Benjamin  Brown,  jr.,  married  Penelope,  the  daughter  of  William  Pot- 
ter, at  the  house  of  Arnold  Potter  in  1790.  One  child,  Penelope,  was 
born  of  this  union.  The  second  wife  of  Mr.  Brown  was  Mary  Lamb. 
Benjamin  Brown  was  a  Friend,  likewise  a  prominent  man  in  the  town. 
He  was  interested  in  the  saw  and  grist-mills  built  in  Potter  Hollow 
in  1793. 


TOWN  OF  POTTER.  459 

Jesse  and  Joshua  Brown,  twin  brothers,  sons  of  James  Brown,  were 
pioneers  in  the  town,  making  their  settlement  on  lot  2,  on  land  bought 
from  Arnokl  Potter.  Jesse  sold  out  his  interest  to  his  brother,  and 
moved  to  Benton.  Joshua  died  in  the  town  in  1832.  His  first  wife  was 
Clarissa  Miner;  his  second  Fanny  Brown,  and  his  third,  a  Widow  Spen- 
cer. One  child,  Fanny,  who  married  Ephraim  Wheeler,  was  born  of  his 
second  marriage. 

Francis  Briggs,  the  son  of  Peleg  Briggs,  a  prominent  Friend,  was  a 
pioneer  on  lot  6  in  Potter,  and  there  he  lived  nearly  sixty  years,  and 
died  in  1850.  His  first  wife  was  Isabelle  Albro ;  his  second  Ohve  Bell. 
The  children  of  the  first  marriage  were  Mercy,  Jacob,  Joshua,  P'rancis, 
Lydia,  Margaret,  Vaughn,  Sally,  William  and  Peleg.  Isabelle  and 
George  Briggs  were  children  of  his  second  marriage. 

Abel,  Job  and  Caleb  Briggs,  brothers,  were  early  settlers  in  the  town, 
on  land  adjoining  the  Potter  farm.  Abel  married  Martha  Dickinson, 
and  had  ten  children:  Harry,  Gardner,  Hiram,  Eliza,  Waity,  Mercy, 
Warren,  Lj'dia,  Mary  and  Israel.  Job  married  Susan  Potter  and  had 
six  children  :  William,  John,  Maria,  Joel,  Russell  and  Lucinda.  Caleb 
married  Mary  Jones,  and  settled  on  the  top  of  Potter  Hill  in  18 17. 
They  had  eleven  children :  Marbra,  Phineas,  Mary,  Betsey,  Waity,  Re- 
becca, Caleb,  Pamelia  and  Samuel  (twins),  Joseph  and  Sarah. 

George  Bates  married  the  daughter  of  Peleg  Briggs,  sr. ,  and  settled 
on  lot  9  in  Potter  in  1789.  Their  children  were  Mercy,  George,  Peleg, 
David,  Mary,  Luc)'  and  Anna.      George,  the  pioneer,  died  in  1826. 

In  1 80S.  William  and  Priscilla  (Raymond)  Hall  settled  in  Potter. 
Their  children  were  William,  Priscilla,  Seth,  Phebe,  John  and  Lydia. 
Rows  Perry,  formerly  a  Quaker  preacher  of  some  note,  became  a  resi- 
dent of  Potter  in  1791,  when  he  worked  by  the  month  for  Arnold  and 
William  Potter,  receiving  pay  in  land  at  fifty  cents  per  acre.  In  1794  he 
married  Desiah  Brown,  sister  to  Arnold  Potter's  wife.  Their  chiklre'n 
were  Susan,  Edmund,  Rowland  B,,  Fann\-,  Edward  and  Sally  (twins), 
Benjamin,  Ann,  Robert  and  Marictte.  Rows  Perry  died  in  1853,  and 
his  wife  in  1854. 

In  1 791  Jabez  French  visited  this  town  and  spent  the  greater  part  of 
that  summer  in  surveying.  In  the  fall  he  returned  home,  in  Massachu- 
setts, for  liis  wife,  but  was  dela)-eil  in  again  coming  back  to  the  locality 


46o  HISTORY  Oh    YATES  COUNTY. 

until  1794.  The  family  settled  near  Rushville.  They  had  eight  chil- 
dren :  Samuel,  Ebenezer,  Benjamin,  Sarah,  Jesse,  Sophronia,  Susan  and 
Eunice. 

William  Bassett  came  to  old  Augusta  in  1794,  settling  near  Rushville. 
In  1796  he  married  Ann  Blair,  and  reared  a  family  of  twelve  children, 
ten  of  whom  reached  adult  age.  They  were  Nathaniel,  Polly,  Sally, 
Emily,  Alexander,  Samuel,  Calista,  Betsey,  Thomas  and  Anna. 

On  the  northwest  corner  lot  in  Potter,  on  the  site  of  the  present  vil- 
lage called  Rushville,  in  1791  Elias  Gilbert  settled  and  built  a  house  of 
poplar  poles.  His  farm  comprised  320  acres,  which  eventually  be- 
came valuable  land.  The  children  of  Elias  Gilbert  were  Louisa,  Jesse, 
Simon,  Samuel,  David,  Solomon,  Ephraim,  Lydia  and  Richard. 

Nathan  Loomis  and  family  came  to  Augusta  in  1793  ;  therefore  he 
was  a  pioneer.  His  children  were  Chester,  Lucy,  James,  Sally,  Elisha, 
Amanda,  Minerva  and  Benjamin. 

Abial  Thomas,  wife  and  family  settled  on  lot  9,  third  range,  in  Potter 
in  1801.  Their  children  were  Ashley,  Vertie,  Ambrose,  Jeffrey,  Lucy, 
Peleg,  Eleanor,  Mary,  Lois  and  Janette. 

In  1802  Dr.  Jared  Dyer  became  a  settler  in  Potter,  locating  on  lot 
3,  range  three,  where  he  practiced  medicine  until  his  death  in  18 13.  His 
wife  was  Susanna  Newell,  by  whom  these  children  were  born  :  Calista, 
Julia,  Pierpont,  Susan  and  Eliza. 

Consider  Bordwell  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  but  he  died  a  resi- 
dent of  Potter,  in  1850.  His  wife,  whom  he  married  in  1809,  was  Calista 
Dyer.  Their  children  were  Jared  D.,  William  H.,  Susan  H.,  Charles 
L.,  Robert  P.,  William  W.,  James  R.   and  Herbert. 

In  1796  Jonas  Wyman  and  family  settled  on  lot  2,  second  farm  range. 
His  children  were  Polly,  Betsey,  John  and  Samuel. 

George  Green  and  his  family  settled  on  lot  4,  third  range  in  Potter 
in  1804.  He  died  in  1851.  He  was  a  former  soldier  in  the  Re\olu- 
tion  ;  in  the  town  he  was  many  years  justice  of  the  peace. 

In  1796  Nathan  Warner  .settled  in  the  town.  In  1798  he  married 
Martha  Card  and  located  near  George  Green.  Their  children  were 
Benjamin,  Samuel  W.,  James  S.,  Martha,  Hannah,  Tamar,  Sarah, 
Rachel  R.,  William  E.  and  Lydia  J. 

Job  Card  came  into  the  town  from  Rhode   Island  in  1795.      His  wife 


\ 

TO  tVJV  OF  PO  TTER.  461 

was  Martha  Potter.  Of  their  children,  Potter  G.  married  Betsey  Hen- 
dricks of  Potter  ;  Jabez  T.  married  Eleanor  Wheeler,  and  Hannah  mar- 
ried Joshua  Payne.  Benoni  Moon  and  Hannah,  his  wife,  and  their  fam- 
ily moved  into  Potter  in  1800.  Theirs  was  one  of  the  most  numerous 
families  in  the  town.  Their  locality  was  called  Moontown,  on  Flint 
Creek.  The  family  of  George  Howard  settled  on  lot  9,  fourth  farm 
range,  in  1802.  His  children  were,  by  his  first  marriage,  James, 
George,  David,  John,  Justus  and  Amos.  Benoni  Howard  was  a  son  of 
George  b\'  a  second  marriage.  Carey  Clark  w^as  an  early  settler  on  lot 
II,  range  five.  He  succeeded  pioneer  Gaffle,  and  left  a  good  family  of 
descendants  in  the  town. 

In  1812  Alexander  Parkman  and  family  settled  and  lived  about  a  mile 
and  a  half  east  of  Rushville.  The  children  were  Itrastus  L.,  Sopiiia, 
Delanson  E.  and  Cynthia  D.  Dr.  Bufifum  Harkness  came  to  the  town  in 
1805,  and  practiced  medicine  until  his  death.  His  children  were  Allo- 
nia  and  Forrest;  the  latter  also  a  doctor  in  the  town.  Nathan  Webb, 
from  Connecticut,  settled  in  1798  on  lot  il,  range  six,  and  died  there  in 
1807.  His  wife  was  Polly  Pratt,  who  died  at  the  home  of  her  son.  Dr. 
Nathan  Webb,  in  1858.  John  F.,  Dorcas,  Ruby,  Amelia,  Mary  and  Na- 
than Webb,  jr.,  were  children  of  Nathan  and  Polly  Webb.  Nicholas 
Van  Zandt,  the  progenitor  of  a  large  family  of  children,  settled  in  the 
town  on  lot  8,  range  four,  in  1815.  These  children  were  Garrett,  Lu- 
cretia,  Anna,  Maria,  Margaret,  Jecheliah,  Lydia  Jane,  Amy,  Garnetta, 
Isam  and  Samuel.  Joseph  H.  Williams  was  an  early  settler  near  Rows 
Perry.  Among  his  ciiildrcn  wore  Abigail,  Iluldah,  Sarah,  Rachel, 
Laura,  Joseph,  Poll)-,  John  1".,  Ira  C,  and  Margaret.  Jeremiah  Barber 
married  Anna  Van  Zandt,  and  came  with  her  father's  family  to  the  town. 
Their  children  were  Culver  S.,  Ira,  Lydia,  Maria,  Jonathan  S.  and  Ma- 
hala.  John  Tucker  and  his  son  in-law,  Llndsley  Warfield,  became  set- 
tlers in  Potter  in  1798  Abraham  Florence,  and  his  step- son,  Peter 
Lawrence,  came  in  1807,  and  settled  on  lot  8,  fifth  farm  range.  Mr. 
Florence  married  I'hebe  A.  Reynolds.  Their  children  were  Martha  J., 
Andrew  T.,  Phebe  A.,  Sarah  E.,  Peter  R.,  Elizabeth  and  Charles  F. 
Henry  Van  Wormer  was  an  early  settler  on  lot  9,  fifth  range.  His  wife 
was  IClizabeth  Horton,  by  whom  these  children  were  born:  David,  Will- 
iam, Hester,  Eli.sha,  John,  Charity,  Peter,  Daniel  and  Abraham  P.    The 


462  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

Savage  family  settled  in  the  town  in  1797.  Dr.  Frederick  Dutch  was 
the  founder  of  the  Dutcli  settlement  in  Potter,  and  continued  to  live  in 
the  town  until  his  death,  about  1840.  Philip  and  Elizabeth  (Kishler) 
Dinturfif,  with  their  family  located  in  this  town  on  lot  12,  second  range, 
in  1800.  Their  children  were  Jacob  and  I'hilip.  Jacob  Shuman  was 
another  of  the  Dutch  settlers  in  the  town,  having  come  here  in  1794, 
and  purchasing  134  acres  of  land  for  $168.  Samuel  H.  Torrey  was  not 
a  pioneer,  but  nevertheless  a  worthy  settler.  He  resided  near  Rushville. 
His  children  were  Nancy,  Samuel,  Larned,  Henry,  Augustus,  Hiram, 
and  Lucy. 

Soon  after  the  year  1800,  Luke  Conley,  an  Irishman,  with  his  small 
family,  came  to  Potter  to  live.  The  children  in  this  family  were  Jane, 
John,  Luke,  William,  Bartholomew,  David  R,  Mary,  James  and  Mi- 
cliael  B.  Dr.  James  Hermans  was  not  a  pioneer  of  Potter,  but  was  for 
many  years  one  of  its  leading  citizens.  He  came  from  Dutchess  County 
and  practiced  medicine  in  the  locality  and  a  part  of  the  time  at  the 
county  seat.  His  wife  was  Eliza  Hartt,  by  whom  he  had  these  children: 
Cornelia  M.,  Emma  S  ,  Edwin  J.,  Charles  E.,  Henry  C,  Catharine  E., 
William  H.  and  Mary  E.  Deacon  David  Sutherland  is  remembered  as 
having  been  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Potter,  his  settlement  having  been 
made  on  lot  8,  of  the  second  range,  in  the  year  1792.  His  wife  was  Lucre- 
tia  Smith.  Their  children  were  Joseph,  Andrew,  Sarah,  Elizabeth,  Alex- 
ander, Susanna,  James  and  Patrick.  David  Sutherland  was  four  terms 
in  the  Assembly  from  Ontario  County.  In  1796  John  Voak  and  Ra- 
chel, his  wife,  came  to  Potter,  locating  on  lot  9,  first  range.  Their  chil- 
dren were  Lydia,  James,  Abraham,  Isaac,  Sarah,  Samuel,  Joseph,  Mary, 
John  and  Josiah,  Deacon  William  Holton  and  family  came  from  York 
County,  Pa.,  in  1796,  and  settled  on  lot  11,  second  range.  His  wife  was 
Mary  Lieper,  by  whom  were  born  these  children  :  Francis,  Janette, 
James,  Samuel  and  Mary.  In  1795  Abraham  and  Rachel  Lane  came 
from  their  former  home  in  Mile  and  located  west  of  the  Potter  place,  on 
lot  3,  of  the  second  range.  Eight  children  were  in  their  family:  John, 
Joseph,  Mary,  Jacob,  Hannah,  Isaac,  Abraham  and  Rachel. 

Beza  VVhitman  was  the  pioneer  landlord  at  Rushville,  at  which  place 
he  opened  public  house  about  1800.  His  wife  was  Alice  Green,  who 
bore  him  five  children  :   Augustus,  Marcus,  Henry  G.,  Samuel  and  Al- 


S\ 


2n(y4^p-^)-t^c\__ 


TOWN  OF  POTTER.  463 

ice.  Aaron  Putney  came«to  what  is  now  Potter  in  1814,  locating  on 
lot  6,  seventh  range,  where  he  and  his  wife  died.  Their  children  were 
Nancy,  Julia,  Jedediah,  Aurelia,  Foskett  M.,  Needham  M.,  Martha,  Ol- 
ive, Aaron  M.  and  Milo.  In  1809  Lewis  M.  Bostvvick  and  his  then  re- 
cently married  wife  settled  on  the  York  Tract.  Their  children  born  in 
the  town  were  Mary,  Nathan,  William  S.,  Daniel,  Denton,  Catharine  and 
Hannah.  Sanford  Strobridge,  tiie  wheelwright,  .settled  north  of  Potter 
Center,  in  1826.  He  and  his  wife  had  a  numerous  family,  all  but  one  of 
whom  grew  to  maturity.  They  were  Maria,  Susan,  Sanford  D.,  Ly- 
man H.,  Samuel  G.,  Orville  F.,  Jane  E.,  George  W.,  Charles  H.,  James 
M.  and  William  M.  John  S.  Underwood,  wife  and  family,  part  of  his 
children  being  by  a  first  marriage,  located  on  the  Potter  farm  in  1820, 
but  afterward  moved  to  Jerusalem.  The  children  by  his  first  marriage 
were  Samuel  C,  Lydia,  George,  John,  Susan  and  Mary;  by  the  second 
marriage:  William  H.,  Oliver,  Henry,  Clarissa,  Weeden,  George  and 
Benjamin.  Ezekiel  Gardner  succeeded  the  Underwoods  on  the  Potter 
farm  in  1826.  His  children  were  Peleg,  John,  Elizabeth  N.,  Ezekiel  W. 
and  Mary  E.  Daniel  G.  Weare,  an  older  resident  of  Ontario  County, 
came  to  Potter  in  1819.  He  died  at  the  Center  in  1863,  his  wife  sur- 
viving him  several  years.  Their  children  were  Samuel  C,  Mary  H., 
Sarah,  Caroline,  Daniel  G.,  Orrin  R.  and  Delight.  Calvin  Loomis  and 
Nathan  Loomis  came  to  the  region  about  the  early  j'ears  of  the  present 
century;  thence  Calvin  came  to  Potter  and  occupied  the  Dr.  Harkness 
place.  By  his  first  marriage  his  children  were  Stephen,  Laura,  Nor- 
man and  Maria ;  by  the  second  marriage,  Erastus,  Orrin  G.  and  Luther. 
George  and  Harriet  (Ross)  Hunt,  settled  on  lot  i,  range  three,  in  1820, 
but  soon  moved  to  Jerusalem.  Samuel  Andrews  settled  on  lot  i,  range 
three,  in  18 17.  He  married  Emily  Waity  Briggs,  who  bore  lijm  these 
children:  Amy,  Eunice,  Mercy,  Polly,  Sally,  Eliza  A.,  Asa,  Peleg, 
Abby,  Thomas  Jefferson  and  Ruth. 

Capt.  Reuben  Carr  and  his  family,  accompanied  by  Gilbert  Sherer, 
the  latter  a  child,  located  north  ol  Potter  Center  in  1815.  When  grown 
up,  Gilbert  Sherer  married,  first  I-"anny  Bordwell ;  second  Minerva  Bord- 
well ;  and  third,  Louisa  De  Voe.  In  i860  Mr.  Sherer  was  elected  to  the 
Assembly;  in  1861  was  appointed  postmaster  at  Penn  Yan.  He  was 
colonel  of  the  103d  N.  Y.  S.  Vol.  Infantrj'  regiment.      Captaii!  Carr,  and 


464  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

his  father,  Caleb  Cair,  were  both  early  residents  of  Potter.     The  latter 
was  the  father  of  twenty- two  children.      He  had  three  wives. 

In  1797  Rev.  William  Hobart  with  his  wife  and  six  children  came  to 
Potter,  where  the  head  of  the  family  died  in  1801.  His  wife  survived 
him  fifty  years  and  died  in  1851.  The  descendants  of  this  famil)' are 
now  scattered  throughout  the  county.  John  and  David  Stebbins  came 
to  Potter  in  1814,  and  although  each  had  a  family,  the  present  repre- 
sentatives of  the  surname  in  the  town  are  quite  few.  Jacob  B.  Van- 
Osdol  is  remembered  as  having  been  a  tailor  in  Rushville  at  an  early 
day;  also  he  is  known  to  have  been  elected  to  the  Assembly  in  1855. 
Two  years  later  he  died.  His  wife  was  Hannah  Wilder,  by  whom  he 
had  two  daughters,  Augusta  and  Maria. 

The  Village  of  Rushville. — Among  the  hamlets  or  small  villages  of 
the  town  of  Potter,  that  called  Rushville  is  of  the  greater  importance, 
both  in  point  of  population  and  commercial  advantage.  The  village 
lies  partly  in  this  town,  while  another  and  possibly  a  greater  part  is  in 
the  county  of  Ontario.  On  the  site  now  occupied  by  Rushville,  south 
of  the  line,  Ellas  Gilbert,  mentioned  on  a  preceding  page,  was  the  first 
settler,  followed  soon  afterward  by  the  Loomis  family.  Beza  Whitman, 
whose  descendants  still  live  in  the  town,  was  the  keeper  of  the  first  hotel, 
while  Mrs.  Seldon  Williams  figured  as  the  pioneer  school-teacher.  Will- 
iam and  Cornelius  Bassett  were  the  first  male  teachers.  Philander  P. 
Woodworth  was  the  first  merchant  of  the  settlement,  his  place  of  busi- 
ness being  in  the  afterward- called  Dr.  Bryant  House.  Mr.  Woodworth 
afterward  kept  store  and  hotel  on  the  site  yet  occupied  for  the  latter 
use.  Chester  Loomis  succeeded  Woodworth  in  1815.  On  the  west 
side  of  the  river  a  tavern  was  also  early  started,  and  near  by  was  the 
first  school,  in  which,  also,  were  held  the  first  Congregational  Church 
services.  Among  the  early  merchants  and  business  men  of  the  village, 
there  can  be  recalled  the  names  of  Raymond  &  Sprague,  Stillman  & 
Gilbert,  John  Wisewell,  Thomas  J.  Dudley,  Grant  Barney,  John  Clark, 
Charles  W.  Henry,  Wisewell  &  Henry,  Whitman  &  Green,  Randall 
Whitman,  Dudley  &  Colt,  Dudley  &  Bailey,  Hamlin  &  Hazen  (a  branch 
of  the  large  store  at  Penn  Yan),  Judson  Jones,  Flinn  &  Dwelle,  L.  C. 
Wisewell  &  Co.,  Hunt  &  Armsburger,  Mortimer  Case,  J.  H.  Beerman, 
William  T.  Bassett,  George  Howell  &  Son,  A.  &  J.  Thomas,  and  others. 


TO  WN  OF  PO  TTEK.  465 

perhaps,  whose  names  have  become  forgotten.  The  large  and  attrac- 
tive union  school  building  was  erected  in  1868,  at  a  cost  of  $i6,000. 
An  important  adjunct  to  the  business  interests  of  the  village  ami  vicin- 
ity was  the  large  steam  and  water  power  grist-mill. 

The  Congregational  Churcli  of  Riishvillc  was  organized  as  early  as 
the  year  1802,  by  Rev.  Jedediah  Chapman,  a  Presbyterian  missionary. 
The  first  members  were  John  and  Elizabeth  Rlair,  William  and  Mary 
Holton,  Nathan  and  Dorcas  Loomis,  Jabez  and  Sarah  French,  Henry 
Green,  Lydia  Black,  Mrs.  Huldah  Williams,  Sarah  Lukore,  Sarah  Bas- 
sett,  Miss  Huldah  Williams,  and  Anna  Sawyer.  From  1803  to  1813 
this  church  was  connected  with  the  Ontario  Congregational  Association, 
but  in  1814  connected  with  the  Geneva  Presbytery,  and  so  continued 
until  1855.  The  early  meetings  of  the  society  were  held  in  the  old 
school-house,  and  occasionally  in  other  places,  and  in  1818  the  brick 
church  edifice  was  erected.  A  plain,  substantial  building  it  was  and 
answered  the  requirements  of  the  congregation  for  many  years  without 
material  repair.  It  was  substantially  remodeled,  however,  during  the 
pastorate  of  Rev.  S  S.  Hughson.  The  early  ministers  or  pastors  of 
the  Rushville  church  were  Jedediah  Chapman,  Abijah  Warren,  Reuben 
Parmalee,  Joseph  Merrill,  David  Page,  Joseph  Brackett,  Henry  P. 
Strong,  Maltby  Geltson,  S.  S.  Hughson,  W.  A.  Smith,  Orrin  Place,  W. 
Kincaid,  and  others.  The  present  church  membership  numbers  about 
175  persons. 

Rushville  Methodist  Church. — Although  Methodist  missionary  ser- 
vices and  preaching  were  held  in  and  near  Rushville  about  as  early  as 
elsewhere  in  the  north  part  of  the  county,  it  was  not  until  the  year 
1824  that  a  society  of  this  denomination  was  in  fact  formed.  The  res- 
idence of  pioneer  Michael  Pierce  appears  to  have  been  the  home  of 
Metiiodism  in  the  town,  and  here  the  first  meetings  were  generally  held. 
Gideon  Lanning  and  Robert  Parker  were  the  first  preachers  in  the 
locality,  while  E.  Streeter  was  the  first  class  leader.  Later  meetings 
were  held  in  the  old  school- house  and  at  the  home  of  J.  A.  Peabody, 
one  of  the  original  members.  In  1830  the  first  church  edifice  was  built, 
but  enlarged  a  few  years  later.  It  was  dedicated  January  25,  1832,  by 
Rev.  John  Copeland.  Prominent  among  the  early  members  and  found- 
ers of  the  church  were  Mr.  Streeter,  Samuel  Whitman,  John  A.  Pea- 
59 


466  HIS  TOR  V  OF   YA  TES  CO  UN  T  Y. 

body,  Philo  E.  Brown,  Jesse  C.  Boardman  and  family,  Ira  Fairbanks, 
Dr.  Bufiam  Harkness,  Job  Pierce,  John  Sanders,  Nathaniel  Looniis,  and 
G  W.  Cole.  In  1835  the  circuit  took  the  name  of  Rushville  and  Bethel, 
and  Ira  Fairbanks,  John  Easter,  and  R.  Harrington  were  the  preach- 
ers. Following  them  came  in  succession,  Gideon  Lanning,  Z.  J.  Buck, 
J.  C.  Kingsley,  Abner  Chase,  Orrin  Trowbridge,  Samuel  Parker,  Joseph 
Chapman,  Calvin  Coates,  Philo  Brown,  David  Nutten,  Manly  Tooker, 
Robert  Parker,  J.  W.  Wilson,  M.  Wheeler,  J.  Landreth.  E.  Wood,  A.  L. 
Fillmore,  N.  N.  Beers  and  others.  In  February,  1868,  the  beautiful 
new  church  edifice  was  dedicated  by  Bishop  Simpson.  It  was  com- 
menced in  1866,  and  completed  during  the  next  year,  costing  $23,000. 
The  present  church  membership  numbers  nearly  250. 

Among  the  early  settlers  in  Potter  were  several  families  who  favored 
Universalism.  Edward  Perry  was  a  leader  among  them.  Between 
1830  and  1840  a  society  was  formed  and  built  a  church  at  Rushville, 
but  after  about  fifteen  years  of  unfruitful  efi'ort  the  society  was  dis- 
banded. 

Potter  Center,  which,  as  the  name  indicates,  is  near  the  center  of  the 
town,  westward  of  Flint  Creek,  is  not  more  than  a  hamlet,  or  conven- 
ient trading  point  for  residents  in  the  surrounding  country.  Its  busi- 
ness industries  have  been  but  few,  there  not  having  been  more  than 
one  or  two  stores  in  operation  at  an)'  one  time,  while  a  single  hotel  af- 
fords ample  accommodation  to  the  wayfarer.  The  dwellings  in  the 
hamlet  proper  number  not  to  exceed  twentj'.  But  the  Center  has  two 
prosperous  church  societies. 

The  Second  Methodist  Church  of  Potter  ultimately  became  the  first 
Methodist  Church  of  Potter  Center,  being  a  removal  of  the  Nettle  Val- 
ley society  to  this  point  as  a  place  of  worship,  in  1865.  The  Nettle 
Valley  class  was  formed  in  18 15,  numbering  among  its  members,  Will- 
iam Gurnsey  and  wife,  Samuel  Wyman  and  wife,  Israel  Hobart  and 
wife,  Ephraim  Kinney  and  wife,  James  Hardy  and  wife,  Joseph  L.  Ho- 
bart and  wife.  Potter  and  Jabez  Card,  Sarah  Hull,  Eleanor  Parsons,  and 
Thomas,  Pardon,  Martha  and  Sophronia  Wilson.  A  legal  organization 
of  the  society  was  perfected  in  April,  1827. 

The  first  meeting-house  of  the  society  was  built  of  logs,  but  in  1S38 
this  gave  way  to  a  neat  frame  church,  costing  $1,400.      Also  in    1838  a 


TOWN  OF  POTTER.  467 

part  of  the  society's  grounds  were  set  apart  for  burial  purposes.  In 
1855  the  society  purchased  the  old  Baptist  meeting-house  at  the  Center, 
repaired  and  remodeled  it,  and  occupied  it  in  future.  The  old  church 
in  the  Valley  was  then  sold. 

There  have  been  two  Free  Baptist  Societies  in  the  town  of  Potter, 
the  one  known  as  the  North  Free  Baptist  Church,  which  merged  into 
the  Free  Baptist  Church  of  Potter,  the  surviving  organization.  Free 
Baptist  preaching  began  in  the  town  in  December,  1824,  and  the  results 
of  subsequent  frequent  revivals  brought  into  the  membership  of  the 
society  nearly  400  persons,  making  it  one  of  the  strongest  denominations 
of  the  township.  The  North  Church  united  with  the  First  Church  in 
i860.  The  first  church  was  built  in  1840.  The  Sunday  school  of  this 
society  was  formed  in  1825. 

The  Yatesville  Methodist  Church  of  Potter  had  its  origin  in  the  early 
meetings  held  in  the  locality  as  early  as  1817,  resulting  in  the  forming 
of  a  class,  but  it  was  not  until  October  29,  1832,  that  the  society  was 
organized  according  to  law  and  duly  named  Yatesville  Society  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Among  the  early  prominent  members  of 
the  society  can  be  recalled  the  names  of  Asa  Brunson  and  wife,  Abel 
Trask  and  wife,  James  Harley  and  wife,  Daniel  HarJey  and  wife,  Achil- 
les Comstock,  EInathan  Botsford  and  wife,  Israel  Arnold  and  wife,  Bax- 
ter Hobart  and  wife,  Ephraim  Wheeler  and  wife,  Webster  Winn  and 
wife,  Joshua  Stoddard  and  wife,  Stephen  Wyman  and  wife,  and  others. 
The  early  meetings  were  held  in  a  store  and  shop  until  the  school- 
house  was  completed.  In  1837  the  church  edifice  was  built  for  the  so- 
ciety. In  1865  the  Yatesville  Cemetery  Association  was  organized,  and 
thereafter  purchased  a  tract  of  land  just  west  of  the  church.  Israel 
Comstock  was  the  first  person  to  be  buried  in  this  cemetery. 

In  the  town  of  Potter  and  in  the  towns  adjoining  have  settled  a  num- 
ber of  Catholic  families.  To  supply  their  spiritual  wants  a  parish  has 
been  organized  embracing  the  region,  and  the  Catholic  Church  is  also 
to  be  numbered  among  the  institutions  of  the  township. 

Civil  History. — Among  the  pioneers  and  early  settlers  in  the  town 
prior  to  its  erection  as  Potter,  there  may  be  recalled  the  names  of  a 
number  of  persons  who  were  appointed  or  elected  to  office.  Nathan 
Loomis  was  justice  as  early  as  1797,  followed  soon  afterward  by  George 


468  HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUNTY. 

Green.  Abiel  Thomas  held  the  same  office  in  1803,  and  thereafter  at 
various  times  until  1820.  Arnold  Potter  was  likewise  justice,  and  also 
associate  justice  of  the  Ontario  County  Courts,  the  latter  as  early  as 
1795.  John  Griffin  was  justice  in  1808,  and  again  in  181 1.  He  also 
was  judge.     Jabez  French  was  justice  in  1814  and  1816. 

At  the  first  town  meeting  in  Potter  these  officers  were  chosen  :  Su- 
pervisor, William  L.  Hobart ;  town  clerk,  Ambrose  S.  Thomas  ;  jus- 
tices, Jeremiah  Barber,  John  H.  Gleason  and  Isaac  Secor ;  assessor, 
James  P.  Robinson  ;  commissioners  of  highways,  Alexander  Suther- 
land, David  J.  McMaster  and  Orrin  Stebbins  ;  overseers  of  the  poor, 
Mark  Weare  and  Abraham  Reddout;  commissioners  of  schools,  Au- 
gustus Torrey,  James  P.  Robinson,  Jesse  D.  Casey ;  inspectors  of 
schools,  Noah  Robinson,  Titus  Gilbert,  Alexander  McDonald  ;  collector, 
Hiram  Torrey  ;  constables,  Richard  Green,  John  Ansley,  Joseph  A. 
Lee  ;  sealer  of  weights  and  measures,  John  Wisewell. 

Supervisors  of  Potter. — William  L.  Hobart,  1832-35  ;  Henry  Hus- 
ted,  1836-37;  James  Hermans,  1838-41  ;  Ambrose  S.  Thomas,  1842- 
43  ;  Gilbert  Sherer,  1844-45  I  Jo'm  VVisewell,  1846-47  ;  Ira  D.  Bryant, 
1848-49;  Henry  Torrey,  i850-5[;  Elnathan  R.  Hunt,  1852;  Isaac 
Lane,  1853-54;  Ambrose  S.  Thomas,  1855,  i860;  George  G.  Wyman, 
1856-57;  Ephraim  C.  Mower,  1858-59;  John  Halsted,  1S61-62;  Hi- 
ram Keeney,  1863-64;  Whitford  B.  Wyman,  1865;  Jareb  Bordwell, 
1866-67;  Charles  Olmsted,  1868-69;.  Peter  L.  Dinturff,  1870-71  ; 
John  Sutherland,  1872;  George  T.  Wyman,  1873-74;  Timothy  M. 
Blodgett,  1875;  James  R.  Bordwell,  1876-7S;  John  J.  Best,  1879; 
William  A.  Carson,  1880-81  ;  David  M.  McMaster,  1882-83  ;  Jabez  F. 
Hobart,  1884-86;  Miner  Loomis,  1887-88;  John  R.  Gardner,  1889- 
90;   George  S.  Goodrich,  1891. 

Justices  of  the  Peace. — Jeremiah  Barber  (elected),  1833,  '16;  John 
H.  Gleason,  1833,  'n,  '43,  '45;  Isaac  Secor,  1833,  '39,  '43,  '47;  Au- 
gustus Torrey,  1834,  '38,  '42;  Isaac  Lane,  1835,  '53,  '55  ;  John  J. 
Schenck,  1840,  '44;  Baxter  Hobart,  1841  ;  Jacob  R.  VanOsdol,  1846; 
Andrew  W.  Rector,  1848;  Oliver  Underwood,  1849;  John  Sayer,  1850, 
'54,  '58,  '66,  '70;  John  Sutherland,  1851,  '69;  Jareb  D.  Bordwell,  1852, 
'56,  '60;  James  Conley,  1853, '57,  '61,  '6t,  Horace  Underwood,  1859 ; 
James  O.  Fanning,  1862;  John   W.  Payne,    1863  ;   Chauncey  O.  Hoyt, 


TOWN  OF  MIDDLESEX.  469 

1S64;  James  C.  Briggs,  1865;  Milton  Shutts,  1867,  '68;  Sanford  D. 
Strobridge,  1871  ;  F.  C.  Hobart,  1872  ;  John  Voak,  1873  (full  term)  ; 
Milton  Shutts  (vacancy);  Nathaniel  Green,  1874;  John  Sutherland, 
1875;  Milton  Shutts,  1876;  James  C.  Briggs,  1877;  N.  H.  Green, 
1878,  '82;  John  Voak,  1879  (full  term)  ;  James  Conley  (vacancy);  F.  C. 
Hobart,  1880, '84, '88;  L.  W.  Lane,  1881  ;  James  Conley,  1883,  '87; 
Lewis  M.  Rugar,  1885;  Frank  Fairchild,  1886;  George  R.  Ingram, 
1889;   William  S.  Hine,  1890 ;  John  Voak,  1891. 


CHAPTER  XXVn. 

HISTORY    OK   THE   TOWN    OF   MIDDLESEX. 

THE  town  of  Middlesex  as  at  present  constituted  occupies  a  position 
in  the  extreme  northwest  corner  of  Yates  County,  and  is  therefore 
more  remqte  from  the  county  seat  than  any  other  of  the  county's  sub- 
divisions. Originally  this  town  was  a  part  of  the  district  of  Augusta, 
and  as  such  embraced  a  much  greater  area  of  territory  then  was  com- 
prehended by  Middlesex  proper.  The  district  was  known  as  Augusta 
from  1797  until  1808,  and  than  changed  to  Middlesex  ;  but  prior  to  the 
formation  of  Augusta  the  region  was  a  part  of  the  still  older  district  of 
Canandaigua.  This  latter  creation  followed  soon  after  the  erection  of 
Ontario  County. 

In  1789,  by  a  deed  executed  Jul)-  15,  Thomas  Maxwell  sold  to  Ar- 
nold Potter  all  of  township  eight  of  the  second  range  (Potter),  and  all 
that  part  of  township  eight  of  the  third  range  which  lay  east  of  Can- 
andaigua Lake.  The  area  of  territorj'  embraced  in  this  sale  was  esti- 
mated at  35,040  acres,  but  in  fact  was  42,230  acres.  The  consideration 
paid  Maxwell  was  ^991,  nine  shillings,  three  pence,  l^ut  there  appears 
to  have  been  some  question  regarding  the  validity  of  Arnold  Potter's 
title  from  Maxwell,  to  settle  and  perfect  which  Oliver  Phelps,  in  1798, 
quit-claimed  to  Potter  the  same  lands  at  the  express  consideration  of 
$10,000;  but  whicii  consideration  as  a  matter  of  fact  is  understood  as 
not  having  been  actually  paid. 


470  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

From  the  time  of  the  purchase  by  Arnold  Potter  down  to  the  year 
1832,  this  region  was  almost  exclusively  called  by  the  name  of  "  Pot- 
terstown,"  in  honor  of  its  proprietor.  In  1832  the  territory  was  divided, 
and  all  of  township  eight  of  the  second  range,  except  one  tier  of  lots  on  its 
west  side,  one  half  mile  in  width,  was  erected  into  a  new  town  by  the 
name  of  Potter.  There  was  annexed  to  Potter  from  Middlesex,  in  1856, 
six  lots  in  the  southeast  corner  of  the  latter.  This  was  done  for  the 
accommodation  of  the  residents  in  the  locality  so  annexed,  they  finding 
it  preferable  to  transact  town  and  other  business  in  the  town  of  Potter. 

While  Middlesex  is  perhaps  the  most  remote  from  the  county  seat  of 
any  of  the  towns  of  Yates,  it  by  no  means  follows  that  it  is  a  town  of 
small  importance.  In  common  with  some  of  the  larger  and  wealthier 
towns,  Middlesex  enjoys  the  benefits  of  having  its  entire  western  bound- 
ary on  the  waters  of  Canandaigua  Lake,  in  which  respect  it  stands  alone 
among  the  towns  of  the  county.  A  somewhat  facetious  remark  con- 
cerning the  general  character  and  quality  of  the  land  in  Middlesex  was 
to  the  effect  that  nothing  but  "  eagles  and  angels  "  could  subsist  there, 
but  the  changes  and  improvements  of  a  half  century  and  less  have  dem- 
onstrated the  fact  that  this  town  possesses  natural  and  acquired  re- 
sources far  superior  to  some  of  the  more  fortunately  situated  towns  of 
the  county.  Vine  Valley,  so  called,  is  a  veritable  Eden,  prolific  in  its 
grape  product  to  a  remarkable  degree,  while  along  the  entire  lake  front 
in  the  town  both  the  fruit  of  the  vine  and  the  abundant  yield  of  the  farm 
mark  this  as  a  town  of  worth  and  wealth. 

The  principal  elevations  of  Middlesex  are  Bare  Hill  and  South  Hill, 
both  commanding  heights,  the  former  reaching  nearly  1,000  feet  above 
the  lake,  and  the  latter  some  200  feet  higher  than  its  companion.  Be- 
tween these  marked  elevations  courses  the  little  stream  known  as  Boat 
Brook,  and  in  the  valley  of  the  brook  is  located  the  rich  vineyard  lands 
above  referred  to.  The  name  Boat  Brook  is  said  to  have  been  giveft 
this  creek  by  the  early  surveyors  of  the  town  lands,  who  were  in  the 
habit  of  stationing  their  boats  in  its  waters  near  its  mouth.  The  name 
Bare  Hill  was  given  the  north  elevation  by  the  pioneers  from  the  fact 
that  its  summit  was  nearly  or  quite  destitute  of  forest  growth,  while 
large  stones,  boulders  and  rocks  were  plentiful  on  every,  side.  But  there 
was  a  reason  for  this  unusual  condition  of  things,  which  reason  rests  in 


TOWN  OF  MIDDLESEX.  471 

a  very  pretty  and  interesting,  and  possibly  thrilling  tradition,  Jianded 
down  from  old  Senec;is  to  their  children,  and  by  tlie  latter  related  to 
the  white  pioneer  settlers.  But  the  chief  beauty  and  charm  of  the  tra- 
dition to  intelligent  persons  rests  altogether  in  the  absolute  unreason- 
ableness of  the  story.  The  myth  has  often  been  related  and  frequently 
published,  but  a  history  of  Middlesex  without  the  famous  legend  of  Bare 
Hill  would  be  faulty  indeed.      It  runs  somewhat  as  follows  : 

The  Seneca  tribe  of  Indians  sprang  out  of  the  ground  at  Nundawao, 
the  site  of  their  oldest  village  near  the  head  of  Canandaigua  Lake  and 
on  a  high  hill.  In  the  course  of  time  a  mighty  double-headed  snake  or 
serpent  made  its  appearance  and  extended  its  body  entirely  around  the 
hill,  threatening  the  Indians  witli  total  destruction.  All  were  killed  but 
two,  an  Indian  warrior  and  his  sister.  At  length  the  warrior  had  a 
dream,  and  he  was  told  that  if  he  would  fledge  his  arrow  with  hair  from 
his  sister's  head  the  charm  would  be  secure  and  would  prevail ;  and  that 
he  should  shoot  the  arrow  from  his  bow  directly  at  the  heart  of  tlie 
serpent,  and  have  no  fear  from  the  two  heads  and  their  hissing  tongues. 
He  did  as  he  was  told,  the  arrow  struck  the  heart,  and  the  monster, 
uttering  fearful  hissing  noises,  rolled  down  the  hill  and  into  the  lake. 
Here  it  vomited  up  all  the  Indians  it  had  swallowed,  and  then  disap- 
peared beneath  the  water's  surface  never  to  return.  Thereafter  the 
Indian  village  was  abandoned  and  its  people  betook  themselves  to  Kan- 
andesaga  (Geneva).  The  tradition  also  has  it  that  the  trees  of  the  hill 
were  likewise  destroyed  by  the  snake,  and  that  the  multitude  of  stones 
were  but  the  heads  of  the  dead  Indians.  The  Senecas  in  this  e.Ktinct 
village  called  themselves  Nundawao,  Nundawagas — People  of  the  Hill. 
However  doubtful  may  be  the  truth  of  the  story,  the  fact  admits  of  no 
question  of  an  Indian  occupancy  in  this  region  or  on  Bare  Hill.  There 
are  yet  discernible  straggling  evidences  of  an  ancient  fortification  on  the 
hill,  while  in  the  valleys  below,  and  along  the  shores  of  the  lake  have 
been  found  abundant  proof  of  the  Indian  presence;  and  it  is  asserted 
by  well-informed  minds  that  in  this  town  have  been  discovered  evi- 
dences of  pre- historic  occupation,  by  a  race  of  people  of  characteristics 
different  from  the  Indian's,  and  of  a  higher  order  of  intellect  and  handi- 
craft. But  this  is  a  subject  that  cannot  be  discussed  here,  for  the  evi- 
dences produced  during  the  last  half  century  throw  no  light  upon  the 
discoveries  of  earlier  investigators. 


4  72  HIS  TORY  OF  YA  TES  CO  UN  T  Y. 

The  principal  water  course  of  Middlesex  is  West  River,  and  in  fact 
this  is  the  only  stream  of  importance  within  the  town.  It  has  its  source 
in  Ontario  County,  and  enters  Middlesex  at  its  northeast  corner  ;  thence 
flows  a  general!)'  southwesterly  course  across  the  town  and  into  Italy, 
where  it  turns  abruptly  north  and  discharges  into  Canandaigua  Lake. 
The  village  of  Middlesex  Center  lies  on  West  River,  and  near  the  geo- 
graphical center  of  the  township. 

Arnold  Potter  made  his  purchase  of  the  lands  that  now  comprise 
Middlesex  in  1789;  and  during  the  same  year  the  territory  was  sur- 
veyed into  ranges  and  farm  lots  by  Perley  Howe.  The  ranges  run 
north  and  south,  and  the  farm  lots  east  and  west.  However,  on  two 
after  occasions  the  lands  of  the  town  were  re-surveyed  and  re-lotted. 
More  than  this,  large  tracts  passed  into  different  ownerships,  and  were 
surveyed  and  lotted  according  to  their  situation  or  as  best  pleased  the 
fancy  of  their  proprietors. 

The  early  settlement  of  the  town  of  Middlesex  was  not  unlike  that  of 
other  towns  of  the  region.  The  coming  of  the  Potter  family  to  the  vast 
purchase,  and  the  offering  of  the  lands  for  sale  at  exceeding  low  prices, 
had  the  effect  of  rapidly  bringing  settlers  to  the  town  even  before  the 
beginning  of  the  present  century  ;  and  although  distant  as  it  may  have 
been  from  the  first  settled  community  occupied  by  the  Friends,  this  lo- 
cality was  taken  and  improved  generally  earlier  than  the  more  accessi- 
ble towns  now  called  Harrington,  Starkey,  Western  Milo  and  Jerusalem. 
Prominent  among  the  pioneers  of  Middlesex  were  the  families  of  John 
Walford,  Benjamin  Tibbetts,  Michael  Pierce. 

John  Walford  was  a  Rhode  Islander,  and  came  to  the  Potter  tract  in 
1789,  and  a  few  years  later  made  his  permanent  home  where  now  is  the 
hamlet  of  Middlesex  Center.  His  wife  died  in  1791,  and  was  the  first 
white  person  buried  in  the  town.  John  Walford  died  in  1813.  John,  jr., 
and  James  Walford  were  the  only  children  in  this  pioneer  family. 
,  Michael  Pierce  and  his  family  also  came  from  Rhode  Island.  He 
bought  400  acres  from  Arnold  Potter,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  died  in 
the  town,  far  advanced  in  years.  Their  children  were  Job,  Thomas, 
Samuel,  John,  Sally  and  Lucina.  Michael  Pierce  helped  to  survey  the 
town. 

Warham  Williams,  a  native  of  Connecticut,  was  one  of  the  pioneers 


TOWN  OF  MIDDLESEX.  473 

of  the  town,  settling  first  on  lot  10,  farm  range  four,  but  afterward 
moving  to  the  Walford  locality  on  the  river.  His  first  wife  was  Sarah 
Carr,  who  bore  him  three  children  :  Huldah,  Betsey  and  Anna.  His 
second  wife  was  Patty  Cone,  by  whom  he  had  seven  children  :  John  W  , 
Oliver  S.,  Lucy,  Melinda,  Eunice,  Valona  and  Caroline. 

The  family  of  John  Blair  settled  on  Surveyor  Perley  Howe's  lot,  in 
the  seventh  range,  in  1794.  His  wife  died  in  1805,  and  he  in  1814. 
Their  children  were  John,  James,  Nathan,  Warren,  Amy  and  Sally. 
John,  James  and  Warren  Blair  served  during  the  War  of   18 12-15. 

In  1806  William  Foster  and  family  located  on  lot  7,  range  seven,  and 
there  lived  to  the  end  of  his  life.  He  had  thirteen  children,  seven  of 
whom  grew  to  maturity,  viz.:  Alanson,  William,  Julia,  John,  Ira,  Mar- 
tin and  Susan.  Also  in  1806  came  to  the  town  Daniel  Hawley  and 
family,  and  located  on  lot  8,  range  si.\,  succeeding  a  still  earlier  settler, 
Henry  Farout.  They  had  one  son,  Daniel,  jr.,  who  married  Sarah  Tay- 
lor. Of  this  marriage  five  children  were  born,  viz.:  Charlotte,  Daniel, 
Abigail,  Josiah  and  Thomas  H.  In  the  same  year,  1806,  came  from 
Vermont  the  family  of  Asahel  Adams  and  settled  on  West  River.  In 
this  family  were  ten  children:  Betsey,  Chauncey,  John,  Alta,  Cyrus, 
Polly,  Sally,  Asa  P.,  Lovell  and  Cynthia. 

Several  of  the  children  of  Samuel  and  Rachel  Lindsley  were  among 
the  early  settlers  in  the  town,  and  were  afterward  followed  by  their 
parents.  The  mother  died  in  18 16,  and  the  father  in  1819.  The  chil- 
dren were  Daniel,  Samuel,  Elizabeth  and  Benjamin,  each  of  whom  had 
a  family  in  the  town.  Anson  C.  Lindsley,  the  descendant  of  tliis  pio- 
neer family,  has  been  known  as  one  of  the  most  progressive  farmers  of 
the  county.  Cornelius  Sawyer  and  his  family  settled  on  lot  10,  range 
seven,  in  1802,  and  there  he  lived  and  died.  His  children  were  Sybil, 
Betsey,  Nancy,  Olive,  Thomas,  Cornelius  and  Prescott.  Andrew  Chris- 
tie cameto  the  town  in  181 2,  and  occupied  lands  on  which  Rufus  Galehad 
made  a  prior  improvement.  His  children,  by  a  second  marriage,  were 
Gilbert,  Abigail  and  James.  Thomas  Reynolds  and  family  came  to  the 
town  in  18 18,  settling  on  the  farm  opened  first  by  Nathaniel  Weston. 
In  the  Reynolds  family  were  ten  children  :  Phebe,  Eleanor,  Joseph, 
William,  Andrew  and  Angeline  (twins),  Sarah,  Hannah,  Daniel  and 
Thomas.      Gideon  and   Elizabeth   (Shields)   Salisbury  were  among  the 

GO 


474  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

early  settlers  of  the  town,  and  in  their  famil)-  were  ten  children.  James, 
Harrington  and  family  came  from  Bennington  Count)',  Vt.,  in  1818, 
and  located  on  lot  9,  farm  range  eight.  There  were  eleven  children  in 
the  family,  five  of  whom  only,  James,  Arvin,  Patience,  Oliver  and 
Olive,  came  to  this  town  with  their  parents. 

The  locality  commonly  called  Vine  Valley,  in  the  town  of  Middlesex, 
is  not  only  one  of  the  most  interesting  areas  of  the  town,  but  it  is  one 
of  the  most  fertile  and  productive  districts,  especially  in  the  staples, 
fruit  and  grapes,  in  the  whole  Genesee  countr}'.  By  reference  to  the 
chapter  in  this  work  which  relates  to  the  vine}'ards  and  their  products, 
the  reader  will  learn  something  of  the  peculiar  value  of  this  valley  as 
a  grape  producing  region.  Among  the  earliest  settlers  in  the  valley 
was  Hiram  Collins,  whose  location  was  near  the  place  afterward  owned 
by  Major  Hi.xson.  Another  pioneer  in  the  same  locality,  perhaps  the 
first  settler,  was  John  McNair,  whose  farm  was  on  the  lake  shore,  after- 
ward known  as  the  Peters  farm.  Henry  Fuller  came  into  the  valley  in 
1 8 16,  from  Saratoga.  The  children  in  his  family  were  Orrin,  Mary 
Ann,  Amanda,  Harriet,  Jane  O.  and  Sarah.  David  Spike  came  in  early 
and  settled  near  the  Fullers,  but  later  moved  from  the  town.  Samuel 
Fisk  was  also  an  early  resident  in  the  same  locality.  In  the  same  rela- 
tion may  also  be  mentioned  David  Farout.  John  Smith,  better  known 
as  "  Captain  "  Smith,  took  up  an  early  abode  on  Bare  Hill,  a  location 
best  suited  to  his  peculiar  character.  He  was  a  conspicuous  figure  in 
all  sports  in  the  community,  and  was  not  unknown  in  some  discreditable 
performances,  but  crime  was  not  charged  against  him.  He  was  a  rough, 
uncouth,  boisterous  fellow,  but  possessed  a  good  heart  and  a  warm 
friendship  for  all  who  treated  him  fairly. 

In  connection  with  the  early  and  pioneer  histor}'  of  every  town  there 
must  always  be  recorded  the  customary  "  first  events."  For  those  in 
Middlesex  perhaps  no  more  accurate  account  can  be  furnished  than  is 
found  in  the  report  of  Edward  Low  to  the  County  Historical  Society, 
to  which  the  writer  is  indebted  for  what  follows,  although  it  may  be 
said  that  new  names  will  appear  in  addition  to  those  already  mentioned 
in  this  chapter. 

The  report  discloses  that  Michael  Pierce  settled  in  the  town  in  1791, 
followed   soon   afterward  b}'  John    Blair,   Chester  Adams,  Thomas  and 


TOWN  OF  MIDDLESEX.  475 

Joshua  Allen  and  their  two  sisters,  all  blind  persons,  James  Westbrook, 
Solomon  Lewis,  John  McNair,  John  C.  Knowles,  Benjamin  Loomis, 
Cornelius  Sawyer,  Daniel  Lindsley,  N.  Weston,  John  VValford,  Nathan 
Smith,  and  others  whose  names  have  already  been  mentioned. 

The  first  justice  of  the  peace,  also  postmaster,  was  pioneer  Michael 
Pierce.  William  Bassett  kept  the  first  school  in  1798.  William  Colbert 
was  tile  first  Methodist  Episcopal  preacher,  conducting  services  at 
'Squire  Pierce's  house  as  early  as  1797,  and  continuing  until  a  church 
was  built.  Daniel  Lindsley  erected  the  first  frame  house,  while  Ches- 
ter Adams  built  the  first  frame  barn.  Elias  Gilbert  started  the  first 
saw- mill  and  a  Mr.  Fisk  the  first  grist-mill,  having  horse- power.  War- 
ham  Williams  was  the  pioneer  landlord,  and  Davis  Williams  the  first 
blacksmith.  John  C.  Knowles  was  the  first  shoemaker.  Seth  Low 
married  Lois  Williams  in  1803,  the  first  event  of  its  kind  in  the  town, 
while  to  .Samuel  Pierce  and  wife  was  born  the  first  white  child,  in  1792. 
Crab-apple  cider  was  made  in  1805  at  Mathew  Smith's  primitive  mill. 
Eli  Foote  was  the  first  merchant.  Daniel  B.  Lind.sley  built  the  first 
brick  house.  Finally,  to  bring  as  prominently  as  possible  to  the  atten- 
tion of  the  reader  the  names  of  the  early  settlers  of  this  region,  there 
is  appended  hereto  a  list  of  the  persons  resident  in  old  Augusta  town- 
ship in  1798,  who  were  enrolled  as  qualified  to  serve  as  jurors  at  that 
time.  The  list  is  as  follows:  J.  Lane,  A.  Vought,  J.  Latham,  William 
Bassett,  N.  Weston,  J.  Craft,  Joshua  Brown,  William  Hobart,  J.  Tucker, 
M.  Holton,  Moses  Parsons,  Abraham  Lane,  J.  Sherman,  G.  Bates,  P. 
Briggs,  jr.,  Francis  Briggs,  Jabez  French,  J.  Walford',  V..  Cross,  David 
Southerland,  Jesse  Brown,  Jonas  Wyman,  Warham  Williams,  Job  Card, 
James  Lewis,  jr.,  H.  Van  Wormer,  Rows  Perry,  John  Sheffield,  Chester 
Adams,  Michael  Pierce,  John  Blair,  sr.,  Elias  Gilbert,  Benjamin  Loomis, 
E.  Craft,  jr.,  Benoni  Moon.  But  in  explanation  of  the  foregoing  list  it 
may  be  stated  that  Augusta,  or  even  the  original  Middlesex  township, 
represented  a  much  larger  area  of  territory  than  the  present  Middlesex  ; 
wherefore  it  is  not  to  be  assumed  that  all  the  persons  just  named  were 
residents  of  the  town  within  its  present  limits. 

Middlesex  has  been  since  its  earliest  settlement  a  peculiarly  agricul- 
tural township,  and  in  the  pursuit  of  husbandry  has  the  success  of  the 
town  become   established.      Half  a  century  ago   legitimate  agriculture 


476  HISTORY  UF   YATES  COUNTY. 

was  the  only  occupation  of  the  people,  but  within  the  last  quarter  of  a 
century  the  farmer's  mind  and  calling  has  been  diverted  somewhat  into 
other  channels  of  trade  and  following,  in  that  the  region  bordering  par- 
ticularly on  the  lake  has  been  turned  from  farms  into  extensive  vine- 
yards. For  years  the  production  of  grapes  and  fruits  has  been  far  more 
pleasant  and  agreeable  to  the  land  owner,  and,  what  is  still  better,  more 
profitable.  But  this  subject  is  made  one  of  special  and  individual  men- 
tion in  one  of  the  earlier  chapters  of  this  work,  and  therefore  need  not 
be  pursued  further  in  this  connection. 

The  only  settled  locality  in  the  town  of  any  particular  importance  is 
that  commonly  called  Middlesex  Center;  which,  as  its  name  indicates, 
is  located  in  the  geographical  center  of  the  town.  But  even  the  Center 
has  never  acquired  a  sufficient  population  to  entitle  it  to  a  corporate 
municipal  organization  independent  from  the  township  at  large.  The 
Center  has  a  population  of  perhaps  200  souls,  and  its  business  enter- 
prises are  confined  to  the  neighboring  saw  and  gristmills,  the  few  mer- 
cantile stores,  and  other  necessary  appendages  of  the  settlement,  the 
blacksmith,  harness,  wagon,  shoe  and  joiners'  shops.  But  the  Center 
has  its  well-ordered  and  well- governed  school,  and  has  had  three  or- 
ganized church  societies,  the  Methodist  Episcopal,  the  Baptist  and  the 
Free  Will  Baptist. 

The  Methodists  appear  to  have  gained  the  first  permanent  foothold 
of  any  of  the  denominations  in  the  town,  their  class  having  been  formed 
as  early  as  1820,  although  preaching  of  this  faith  was  conducted  as 
early  as  1797.  The  first  meeting-house  of  this  society  was  built  at 
Overacker's  Corners  in  1836,  and  at  a  cost  of  about  $  i  ,000.  The  leading 
members  at  that  time  were  Samuel  Fisk,  Harvey  French,  Nathaniel 
Emory,  Nehemiah  Beer.s,  Mr.  Webb,  Ezra  Fuller,  Jonathan  Hawley, 
Jesse  Kilpatrick,  Cyrus  Adams  and  others.  This  society  gradually  de- 
clined, and  finally  merged  into  others  of  more  strength.  The  class  at 
the  Center  was  formed  in  1820,  with  Nathaniel  Emory  and  Durfee 
Allen  among  the  first  class-leaders.  The  earlier  members  were  Robert 
McNair  and  wife,  Chauncey  Adams  and  wife,  the  daughters  of  Warham 
Williams,  and  a  few  others  The  brick  church  was  built  in  1841,  cost- 
ing $3,000,  but  the  organization  of  the  society  was  eiTected  in  1839,  by 
Abner  Chase.     The   first   trustees   were    David    G.  Underwood,  R.  E. 


TO  IVN  OF  MIDDLESEX.  477 

Aldricli,  Thomas  Seamans,  M.  B.  Van  Osdol,  D.  B.  Lindslcj-,  John  E. 
Wager,  and  Jabez  Metcalf.  The  Middlesex  circuit  was  formed  in 
1840. 

The  Baptist  Church  and  society  at  Middlesex  Center  had  their  organ- 
ization at  about  the  same  time  as  the  society  in  Potter,  and  was  in  a 
measure  an  offshoot  therefrom.  The  church  at  the  Center  was  erected 
in  1840.  The  church  and  property  of  the  society  represent  a  value  of 
about  $6,000. 

The  house  of  worship  of  the  Free  Will  Baptist  Church  at  the  Center 
was  erected  in  1840.  It  stands  in  the  west  part  of  the  village.  In  the 
membersliip  of  this  society  are  numbered  some  of  the  strongest  and 
most  influential  men  of  the  town. 

Civil  History. — As  has  already  been  mentioned  in  the  early  part  of 
this  chapter,  the  town  now  called  Middlesex  originally  formed  a  part  of 
the  provisional  district  of  Canandaigua,  and  as  such  formed  an  inte- 
gral part  of  the  original  count)'  of  Ontario.  At  a  little  later  period  the 
territory  of  Canandaigua  was  re- districted,  and  to  the  part  to  which  this 
township  belonged  was  given  the  name  of  Augusta.  There  being  an- 
other town  in  this  State  at  that  time  called  Augusta,  it  was  deemed 
advisable  to  change  the  title  of  the  new  creation,  and  this  district  was 
in  1 808   called  iNTiddlesex,  but  from  its  earliest  settlement  down  to  the 

• 

formation  of  Potter,  the  district  was  commonly  known  as  Potterstown. 
In  1823  the  county  of  Yates  was  organized,  principally  from  Ontario, 
and  Middlesex,  then  including  what  became  Potter,  became  a  part  of 
the  new  creation.  Potter,  as  has  been  stated,  was  set  off  in  1832,  since 
which  time,  except  for  the  six  lots  of  this  town  which  was  set  off  to 
Potter  in  1856,  there  has  been  no  change  in  the  jurisdiction  or  territory 
of  Middlesex. 

The  first  town  meeting  in  Augusta  was  held  April  4,  1797,  Arnold 
Potter  presiding.  These  officers  were  elected:  Supervisor,  David  South- 
erland ;  town  clerk,  Nathan  Loomis ;  assessors,  Benjamin  Loomis, 
Joshua  Brown  and  John  Blair  ;  commissioners  of  highways,  Arnold 
Potter,  Joshua  Brown,  Jabez  French  ;  constables  and  collectors,  Jona- 
than Moore,  Jesse  Brown  ;  overseers  of  the  poor,  Chester  Adams,  Abra- 
ham Lane.  From  this  first  town  meeting  to  the  present  time  the 
supervisors  of  Augusta,  succeeded  b)-  Middlesex,  have  been  as  follows  : 


478  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

David  Southerland,  1798-1801  ;  Arnold  Potter,  1802,  '04,  '07;  David 
Southerland,  1805,  '06,  1808-14,  1816,  1818-20;  Richard  M.Williams, 
1815,  '17;  Seidell  Williams,  i82i,'22,  1824-27;  James  Christie,  1828- 
30;  James  Hermans,  i83i,'32;  Forest  Harkness,  1833;  Adams  Un- 
derwood, 1834,  '35  ;  Daniel  B.  Lindsley,  1836,  '37,  '43,  '44  ;  Alex- 
ander Bassett,  1839,  '40,  '45,  '49;  Henry  Adams,  1841,  '42  ;  Ephraim 
Lord,  1846;  David  G.  Underwood,  1847,  '48,  '53  ;  t)avid  Christie, 
1850;  John  Mather,  i85i,'S2;  Oliver  S.  Williams,  1854;  Norman 
Collins,  1855  ;  Richard  H.  Williams,  1856, '57  ;  Oren  G.  Loomis,  1858, 
'59  ;  Alexander  Bassett,  i860,  '61  ;  Daniel  Bostwick,  1862,  '63  ;  Thomas 
Underwood,  i864,'65,'7i  ;  James  Stebbins,  1867,  '68  ;  John  L.  Dinturfif, 
1869,  '70;  Nehemiah  Foster,  1872;  Asahel  H.  Green,  1873-76;  Mar- 
vin G.  Washburn,  1877,  '78;  Sterlin  N.  Blair,  1879, '80;  Adams  Dine- 
hart,  1881-83;  Woodworth  N.  Perry,  1884;  Lewis  C.  Williams,  1885, 
'86;  Alden  A.  Adams,  1887,  '88;  Allen  Loomis,  1889,  '90;  Lemuel 
T.  Darling,  1891. 

Of  the  justices  of  the  peace  prior  to  the  time  when  the  office  became 
elective,  but  little  appears  among  the  fragmentary  records  of  the  town. 
In  fact  the  records  between  18 10  and  1830  are  missing.  However,  it 
is  known  that  Michael  Pierce  was  one  of  the  early  justices,  as  was  also 
hi^  son  Job,  the  latter  in  1821,  and  in  1833;  Adams  Underwood  was 
justice  in  1833  and  1838;  Harvey  French  elected  in  1833;  Michael 
Van  Osdol,  1834,  '39  and  '45  ;  Ephra-im  Lord,  1836,  '40,  '52,  '56,  '60 
and  64;  Thomas  Seamans,  1836  and  '53;  Oliver  Harrington,  1838; 
James  Christie,  1840;  Lorenzo  Hoyt,  1842;  Eli  Foote,  1842,  '46,  '53, 
'56,  '61,  '64  and  '68;  David  Christie,  1844  and  '48  ;  Daniel  Bostwick, 
1846;  William  S.  Bostwick,  1847;  Henry  Adams,  1847;  John  J.  John- 
son, 1848,  '50,  '55,  '56,  '58  and '62  ;  Francis  Crakes,  1849;  John  Cole 
1851  ;  Rufus  J.  Adams,  1852;  Edward  Low,  1862;  Sterling  N.  Blair 
1865  and  '69;  E.  B.  Lindsley,  1866;  A.  C.  Younglove,  1866  and  '6"] 
Levi  B.  Morey,  by  app't,  1869,  elected  1870;  David  L  Hobart,  1869 
Woodworth  N.  Perry,  1870,  '71,  '75  ;  S.  T.  Sturtevant,  1871,  '72,  '78 
Sterling  N.  Blair,  1873  ;.  Wesley  Wagar,  1873  ;  Samuel  Foster,  1874 
William  C.  Williams,  1875, '80,  '84;  William  R.Marks,  1876;  William 
Savage,  1877,  '81,  '85,  '89;  Bradford  Clawson,  1877,  '79;  Damon 
Johnson,  1880;  Harvey  W.  Tyler,  1882,  '86,  '90;  E.  S.  Gates,  1883; 
Myron  F.  Hawley,  1887,  '91  ;   Bernard  Walter,  1888. 


TOWN  OF  ITALY.  479 

CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

HISTORY    OY   THE   TOWN    OF   ITALY. 

THE  town  of  Italy  comprises  a  location  in  tiie  extreme  western 
part  of  Yates  County,  and  while  no  more  remote  from  the  county 
seat  tlian  the  adjoining  town  of  Middlesex,  the  distance  between  these 
points  is  less  easily  traveled  from  Italy  on  account  of  the  exceedingly 
rough,  rugged  and  mountainous  character  of  the  land  surface  in  the 
town  of  which  we  write.  .  But  with  all  of  its  great  elevations,  Italy  has 
agricultural  lands  of  fine  quality,  and  these  are  found  alike  in  its  valleys 
and  on  its  heights. 

The  town  has  two  principal  water  courses,  and  each  of  these  has  its 
smaller  tributaries.  West  River  is  perhaps  the  greater  of  the  large 
streams,  but  its  course  in  the  town  is  confined  to  the  northwestern  lo- 
cality, whence  it  comes  from  Middlesex,  and  eventually  discharges  into 
the  head  of  Canandaigua  Lake.  Tiiis  last  named  body  of  water  hardly 
more  than  touches  the  lands  of  this  town,  and  the  advantages  derived 
from  it  are  necessarily  small.  This  town,  with  Potter,  are  the  only  two 
of  Yates  County  that  are  only  indirectly  benefited  by  the  lakes  of  the 
region,  but  Potter  still  less  so  than  Italy.  The  other  chief  water  course 
of  Italy  is  the  ancient  Ali-ta-gtvehda  ga  of  the  Senecas,  but  from  time 
out  of  mind  known  to  the  white  settlers  and  residents  as  Flint  Creek. 
This  stream  has  its  source  in  the  southeast  part  of  the  town,  wlience  it 
runs  west  into  tlie  valle)-,  and  then  takes  a  northeasterly  general  course 
and  passes  from  the  town  near  its  northeast  corner.  This  creek,  al- 
though second  in  magnitude  and  volume  of  water  to  the  West  River, 
has  ever  been  of  more  importance  to  the  dwellers  of  Italy,  for  along  its 
banks  the  saw- mills  have  been  numbered  by  dozens,  while  grist  and 
flour- mills  have  likewise  been  maintained  thereon  to  supply  domestic 
demands.  And  it  is  a  safe  assertion  to  make  that  there  are  but  few 
farms  in  the  central,  eastern  and  southwest  portions  of  Italy,  the  build- 
ings upon  which  have  not  been  erected  with  lumber  manufactured  at 
some  of  the  mills  along  Flint  Creek.     The  stream  itself  is  not  large,  but 


48o  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

its  water  power  has  been  abundant.  It  follows  the  course  of  a  valley 
through  the  town,  and  so  continues  in  the  town  into  which  it  passes  or* 
the  north. 

Italy  Summit  is  the  most  elevated  height  of  land  in  the  county,  ris- 
ing above  Keuka  Lake  1,324  feet,  according  to  the  estimate  of  the  late 
Israel  H.  Arnold.  It  is  also  higher  than  Canandaigua  Lake  1,374  feet, 
and  above  Seneca  Lake  1,595  feet.  It  is  also  more  elevated  than  the 
extreme  height  of  Bluff  Point,  in  Jerusalem,  613  feet,  and  above  Har- 
rington Summit  by  404  feet. 

Italy  Hollow,  the  only  settled  hamlet  of  the  town,  is  the  opposite  of 
the  Summit,  being  in  the  valley  of  Flint  Creek  ;  but  this  particular  lo- 
cality is  not  more  depressed  than  its  surrounding  localities  in  the  same 
vale,  nor  is  it  so  much  lower  than  the  summit  by  fifty  feet  as  is  the  local- 
ity of  the  lake  in  the  town. 

If  the  town  of  Italy  can  be  said  to  possess  any  historic  localit)-,  the 
spot  occupied  by  the  famous  "big  elm  tree"  must  necessarily  take  prec- 
edence over  all  others.  This  tree  is  by  far  the  largest  in  the  county,  if 
not  in  the  region.  Its  height  reaches  beyond  125  feet,  while  in  circum- 
fernce  it  is  almost  thirty  feet,  two  feet  above  ground.  It  is  claimed  that 
this  was  a  council  tree,  and  as  such  greatly  revered  by  the  Indians;  but 
as  the  Senecas  had  no  village  in  this  locality,  it  is  quite  doubtful  if  the 
claim  has  much  foundation  in  truth.  As  a  somewhat  jocose  wight  of 
the  town  recently  remarked:  "What  on  earth  did  the  Indians  know 
about  Italy  Hollow?  and  if  they  knew  of  it,  what  could  induce  them  to 
come  there  to  hold  a  council  ?" 

Italy  was  one  of  the  townships  that  formed  a  part  of  the  vast  Phelps 
and  Gorham  purchase,  and  in  the  survey  made  under  that  ownership  was 
number  seven  in  the  third  range.  It  appears  that  during  the  proprie- 
torship of  Phelps  and  Gorham  no  settlers  came  forward  and  expressed  a 
desire  to  purchase  the  town  or  locate  on  any  of  its  lands.  When  the  pro- 
prietary sold  to  Robert  Morris,  and  the  latter  to  the  English  syndicate, 
Italy  was  one  of  the  towns  transferred  in  the  deeds  then  executed.  It 
thereafter  became  a  part  of  the  Pultney  and  Hornby  estates,  each  tak- 
ing alternate  lots.  The  town  was  surveyed  afterwards,  and  in  an  irregu- 
lar and  somewhat  unaccountable  manner.  The  first  was  known  as  Slot's 
survey,  made  in  1793,  and  covered  thirteen  lots  east  of,  except  two,  and 


TO  WN  OF  I TAL  Y.  481 

lying  near  Flint  Creek,  or  Potter's  Creek,  as  it  was  then  called.  The 
so-called  south  survey  was  made  in  1795,  and  included  about  10,000 
acres.  This  tract  was  again  surveyed  in  1826.  The  northeast  portion 
of  the  town  was  also  surveyed  in  1795,  designated  the  northeast  sec- 
tion, and  containing  forty- eight  lots  of  160  acres  each.  The  "Broth- 
ers Tract"  survey  covered  the  middle  of  the  town.  The  northwest  sec- 
tion has  ever  been  known  as  the  unsurveyed  tract. 

Early  Settleineitt  of  Italy. — The  pioneer  settlement  of  Italy  was  not 
unlike  that  of  other  towns  in  the  same  general  region  and  similarly  con- 
ditioned ;  but  here  where  the  physical  characteristics  of  the  land  were 
such  as  to  repel  rather  than  invite  settlement,  it  was  hardly  to  be  ex- 
pected that  settlement  should  commence  so  early  and  progress  so. rap- 
idly as  in  the  more  desirable  townships.  The  honor  of  being  called 
"first  settler"  in  Italy  appears  to  have  fallen  upon  John  Mower,  one  of 
an  old  surveying  party,  and  acting  in  the  capacity  of  chain  bearer.  At 
the  time  of  his  first  coming  to  Italy,  in  1790,  it  is  said  that  Mower  was 
but  nineteen  years  old,  and  had  no  family.  It  is  also  asserted,  or  at  least 
strongl}'  intimated,  that  Mower's  settlement  at  that  time  was  not  per- 
manent, and  that  he  made  no  actual  .settlement  earlier  than  1795.  His 
lands  embraced  292  acres,  lots  6  and  7  of  the  Slot  survey. 

William  Clark  also  is  said  to  have  come  to  the  town  in  1790,  locating 
near  Mower,  on  lot  8.  He,  too,  was  a  pioneer,  and  one  who  had  a  large 
family  of  children.  William  Dunton  settled  on  lot  30  of  the  Brothers 
Tract  in  1793.  and  died  there  in  1806.  In  1796  Edward  Low  settled 
on  l')t  I,  Slot  Tract.  Fisher  Whitney  located  on  lot  4  of  the  same  tract 
in  1800.  Fi.sher  Metcalf  came  to  the  ursurveyed  district  in  1805,  and 
ten  years  later  was  drowned  in  Canandaigua  Lake. 

Jabez  Metcalf  located  on  lot  5  of  the  Sloat  Tract  in  1807.  He  was 
one  of  the  founders  of  Methodism  in  the  town,  and  diid  here  in  1859. 
Jason  Watkins  came  from  Massachusetts  and  settled  oji  lot  2  of  Slot's 
Tract  in  1807.  He  died  in  1S44.  The  Parish  family,  Samuel  Parish, 
his  wife,  and  sons  Levi  and  Reuben,  came  in  February,  1791,  and  settled 
at  the  head  of  the  lake.  Edwin  R.  Parish,  a  descendant  of  Samuel,  be- 
came one  of  the  best  and  wealthiest  farmers  of  the  town.  Josiah  Brad- 
ish  located  on  the  Sloat  Tract  in  1793,  but  moved  from  the  town  in 
1806.      In  1793    Seth   Sprague  located  on   lot   2  of  Slot's  Tract.      His 


48  2  HIS  TORY  OF  YA  TES  CO  UN  T  Y. 

daughter  Olive  was  the  first  white  child   born  in  tliis  town.      Elias  Lee 
settled  on  lot  3,  same  tract,  in  1800. 

The  pioneer  of  Italy  Hollow  is  said  to  have  been  a  man  named  Flint, 
and  after  him  the  creek  was  named.  Archibald  Armstrong  settled 
here  in  1794.  He  was  called  "Old  Algerine."  Alexander  Porter  set- 
tled on  the  North  Survey,  on  lot  15,  in  1794  ;  John  Armstrong,  on  lot  3, 
in  1795;  Stephen  and  Isaiah  Post  in  1796;  Sylvanus  Hastings  and  John 
Morris  in  the  same  vicinity  in  1798  ;  John  C.  Knowles  in  1798  ;  and  Ja- 
cob Virgil  in  the  same  year  on  lot  7.  Andrew  Robson,  an  Englishman, 
came  to  lot  38,  North  Tract,  in  1806;  Nathan  Scott  to  lot  30  in  1809. 
John  Crouch,  prominent  in  Baptist  church  history  in  the  town,  settled 
herein  1813;  Robert  Straughan  in  1808,  on  lot  34  North  Tract;  Joshua 
Stearns  on  lot  11,  in  1806;  John  Brown  in  1800,  on  lot  19;  John  Hood 
on  lot  23,  in  1800 

On    the  South  Survey  John   Graham,  jr.,  settled  in  1812,  on   lot  39  ; 
Benjamin  Bartlett  on  lot  30,  in  181 1  ;   George  Murphy  on  lot  30  also  in 
1812;   Isaac   Barker  on    lot    39,  in    1810;   Amos    Arnold   on   lot  38,  in 
1812;    James   Fox  on   lot  30,  in    1813;   Josiah   Barker  on  the  same  lot 
in  1813  also;  Elisha  Barker  on   lot  63,  in   1814;   Daniel   Ensign  on  lot 
44.  in  181 2  ;  James  Slaughter  on  lot  11,  1812;   Rufus  Edson.jr.,  on  lot 
16,  in  1809;   James  Tourtelotte  on   lot  29,  in  1818;   William    Douglass 
on  lot  17,  in  1816  ;   Henderson  Cole  located  on  lot  8,  northeast  section, 
in  I  8  10;   John  Craft  in  18  12,  on  lot  36;   William  Gieen  settled  on  lot  7, 
North  Survey,  in  1815  ;  John  Green  located  on  lot  28,  Brothers  Survey, 
in  1825.      Again   on   North  Survey,  Charles   Hutchins  settled  on  lot  3, 
in  1815;  Thaddeus   Parsons  on  lot   II,  in    1809;   Charles  Mumford  on 
lot  18,  in  1819;  Joel  Cooper  on  lot  26,  in   1818;   Charles  Clark  on  lot 
26,  in  1818;  Jeduthan  Wingon  the  south  half  of  lot  26,  in  1817  ;   Sam- 
uel H.  Torrey  on  the  south  half  of  lot  15,  in  1812;  Samuel  Dean,  sr., 
in  1820  on   lot  34;   Charles  Graves  on  the  east  half  of  lot  45,  in  1813 
Eli  Graves  on  the  same  lot  in  1814  ;   Truman  Curtis  on  lot  31,  in  1810 
Rufus  Razee  on  lot  42,  in  18 14;   William  E.  Smith  on   lot  29,  in  1813 
Truman  Reed  on  lot  3,  in  1815  ;  Josiah  Reed  on  lot  4,  in  18 14;   Will 
iam  Griswold  on  lot  9,   in    1815;   Erastus  Griswold  on  lot  9,  in    1815 
James  Kennedy  on   lot  32,  in    1845  !  John  Hooper  on  lot  50,  in  1820 
George  Nutten  on  lot  11,  in  1823  ;   Hiram  Doubleday  on  lot  9,  in  1S30 


TO  WN  OF  ITAL  V.  483 

Daniel  Swift  on  lot  9,  in  1830;  Thomas  Treat  on  lot  6,  in  1817  ;  Dan- 
iel Baldwin  on  lot  44,  in  1813  ;  John  B.  Young  on  lot  47,  in  1823; 
Heman  Squire  on  lot  10,  in  1810;  Sherman  Stanton  on  lot  2,  in  1821; 
James  Shepherd  on  lot  17,  in  1835  ;  Lucien  Anable  in  1830  on  lot  i  ; 
George  VV.  Horton  on  lot  18,  in  1835  ;  Ira  Bassett  on  lot  33,  in  1835  ; 
Theodorus  Northrup  on  lot  29,  in  1830;  Jacob  Thomas  on  lot  39.  in 
1830;  Thomas  W.  Teall  on  lot  25,  in  1840  ;  William  C.  Keech  on  lot 
36,  in  1823. 

On  the  South  Survey,  James  Scofield  settled  on  lot  3,  in  181  2;  Will- 
iam Smith  on  lot  29,  in  18 14;  Daniel  Smith  on  the  same  lot;  Chester 
Smith  on  lot  30;  Elishi  Pierce  on  lot  3,  in  18 16;  Holden  Stone  on  lot 
4,  in  18(6;  Asahel  Stone  on  lot  39,  in  1815  ;  David  Burke  on  lot  9,  in 
1820;  Philip  Cool,  jr.,  on  lot  3,  in  1820;  James  Packard  on  lot  39,  in 
18 19;  Jesse  McAllister  on  lot  39,  in  1821  ;  David  Fisher  on  lot  50,  in 
1820;  Felix  Fisher  on  lot  55,  in  r82i ;  Jeremiah  Fisher  on  lot  44,  in  1823  ; 
James  F'isher,  in  1820;  William  Fisher  on  lot  48,  in  1821  ;  Dr.  Elisha 
Doubleday  on  lot  2,  in  1820;  Christopher  Corey  on  lot  18,  in  1S20; 
Randall  Hewitt  on  lot  5,  in  1818  ;  Solomon  Hewitt  on  lot  19,  in  1820; 
Alexander  V.  Dean  on   lot    13,  in    1825  ;   David    Elliott  on    lot  22,  in 

1 82 1  ;   Peter  Elliott   on   lot  23,  in    1821  ;  Joseph   Squier   on   lot  28,  in 

1822  ;  Samuel  Barker  on  lot  63,  in  1817  ;  Orlando  Barker  on  lot  56,  in 
1830;  Enoch  Barker  on  lot  43,  in  1820;  Reuben  Wheaton  on  lot  18, 
in  1821  ;  Avery  Herrick  on  lot  49,  in  1819;  Garrett  Van  Ripper  on  lot 
49,  in  1830;  Levi  Wolvin  on  lot  17,  in  1830  ;  Henry  Kirk  on  lot  25,  in 
1822;  Stephen  Marsh  on  lot  2$,  in  1817  ;  Ebenezer  Arnold  on  lot  22, 
in  1820;  Adolphus  Howard  on  lot  22,  in  1820;  Jabez  Gillett  on  lot  46, 
in  1832;  Charles  G.  Maxfield  on  lot  41,  in  1834;  Moses  W.  Harden  on 
lot  36,  in  1840;   Anson  Clark  on  lot  51,  in  1835. 

Among  the  other  early  settlers  in  the  town,  whose  names  have  not 
been  already  mentioned,  were  William  J.  Kinney  on  lot  34,  in  1815  ; 
Russell  A.  Mann  in  1824;  Henry  Henneberg  in  1820;  Stephen  John- 
son on  lot  II,  Chipman's  Survey,  in  18 19;  Stephen  Hendricks  on  lot 
12,  of  the  same  ;  Hugh  Burns;  Henry  Roff,  jr.  ;  Worcester  Burke  in 
1817;  Alanson  Packard,  the  cloth  dresser;  Edward  Markham,  who 
bought  the  first  Joshua  Stearns  farm  ;  John  Chase,  the  mason  and  shoe- 
maker, in    1830;  Smith  McLoud,  formerly  of  Starkey  ;   Nehemiah  and 


484  HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUNTY. 

Leonard  White,  in  1820;  Michael  Maxfield,  the  tailor,  in  18 19;  Abra- 
ham Maxfield,  the  merchant  and  miller,  in  1821  ;  Ichabod  Randall, 
clothier  ;  Reuben  Durkee,  clothier  ;  Asa  Butler,  harness  and  saddle- 
maker ;  Bradley  Woodworth,  tailor;  Amos  Peabody,  tailor;  Weldon, 
Gallup,  settler  on  lot  60,  northeast  tract,  in  1822  ;  Simon  P.  Cooking- 
ham  on  lot  31,  North  Survey,  in  1830;  Joseph  De  Wick  on  lot  16,  same 
tract;  Benjamin  Dunibolton,  in  Italy  Hollow  in  1823;  Alfred  Pelton, 
who  lived  with  Adolphtis  Howard;  Cornelius  Bassett  on  lot  i,  of  the 
Brotliers  Survey,  in  1835;  Martin  Flowers  on  lot  12,  in  1838;  Henry 
Crank  on  lot  9,  in  1836;  William  Bassett  on  lot  4;  Abram  I.  Van 
Ordstrand  on  lot  5,  in  1832;  Russell  Burnett  on  lot  4,  in  1832  ;  James 
G.  Williamson  on  lot  3  ;   Luther  B.  Blood,  settler  on  Italy  Hill  in  1832. 

These  who  have  been  named  on  foregoing  pages  were  the  pioneers  of 
the  town  of  Italy,  and  upon  them  fell  the  burden  of  clearing  the  vast 
forest  growths  and  making  the  land  fit  for  cultivation.  That  they  were 
a  determined,  sturdy  set  of  men  is  evinced  by  their  works.  Italy 
offered  no  inducements  as  a  place  of  settlement  and  abode,  or  even  of 
speculation,  but  the  labors  of  the  pioneer  brought  good  results  in  the 
the  course  of  time,  and  the  town  soon  ranked  favorably  with  others  of 
the  region  in  agricutural  products.  In  1 800  the  town  had  a  population 
of  259,  or  about  forty  or  fift)'  families.  Forty- five  years  later  the  cen- 
sus enumeration  showed  the  ma.xinuim  population  of  1,698.  From  that 
until  the  present  time  there  has  been  a  general  decrease,  so  that  at  this 
time  the  number  of  inhabitants  cannot  much  exceed  1,300. 

Early  History. — Originally,  the  lands  and  territory  of  Italy  were  in- 
cluded within  the  town  of  Middlesex,  as  one  of  the  divisions  of  On- 
tario County,  and  so  organized  in  1789.  The  name  was  changed  to 
Naples  in  1808,  and  so  remained  until  1815,  when  the  district  was  di- 
vided and  Italy  set  off  as  a  separate  town.  The  name  is  plain,  but  why 
applied  to  the  town  is  a  matter  on  which  there  appears  to  be  no  reliable 
authority  extant.  The  town  was  taken  into  Yates  County  upon  the 
extension  and  organization  of  the  latter  in  1823.  The  succession  of 
supervisors  who  have  represented  Italy  in  the  county  legislature  has 
been  as  follows:  Asahel  Stone,  jr.,  1815,  '16;  Jabez  Metcalf,  1817-20, 
'24,  '27;  Randall  Graves,  1821-23  ;  Elisha  Doubleday,  1825,  '28,  '42; 
Harvey  Roff,    1826;     Abraham    Maxfield,    1829,  '30;     Elisha    Barker, 


TO IV A  OF  ITALY.  485 

'831.  '32.  '35.  '40;  David  Burk,  1833,  '34.  '36,  '37.  '46 ;  Nathaniel 
Squire,  1838,  '39,  '50,  '51  ;  Spencer  Claris,  1841  ;  Lewis  B.  Graham, 
1843,  1853-55;  Stephen  Mumford,  1844, '45;  Henry  Hutchinson,  1847, 
'48;  David  Smith,  1852, '56;  William  Scott,  1857, '58;  Alden  D.  Fox. 
1859-62,  1864-67  ;  William  S.Green,  1863  ;  Bradford  S  Wixsom,  1868 
-70;  Joel  M.  Clark,  1871-74  ;  Francis  M.  Kennedy,  1875-77;  Ithamar 
Clark,  1878,  '79;  Absalom  C.  Law,  1880,  '81  ;  David  Kennedy,  1882. 
'84;  Joseph  \V.  Robson,  1883;  A.  F  Robson,  1885,  '86;  James  S. 
Paddock,  1887,  '88;   Harvey  M.Clark,  1889, '90;   Alden  D.  Fox,  1891. 

Justices  of  the  Peace. — Prior  to  the  election  of  justices  of  the  peace 
that  office  in  the  town  was  held  by  appointment  by  Jabez  Metcalf, 
Asahel  Stone,  jr.,  Henderson  Cole,  Henry  Rofif,  jr.,  and  James  Fox. 
Subsequent  elections  have  been  as  follows:  James  Fox,  1830,  '31,  '35, 
and '39;  Orison  Graham,  1830;  Elisha  Doubleday,  1S31  and  consecu- 
tively forth  to  the  time  of  his  death,  in  1863  ;  Jabez  Metcalf,  1830; 
Valentine  Graham,  1834;  Edward  Low,  1834,  '38,  '42  ;  Holden  T. 
Wing,  1838,  '42;  Henry  A.  Metcalf,  1843;  Lewis  B  Graham,  1844, 
'48;  Martin  N.  Flowers,  1846;  George  W.  Barker,  1848;  William 
Scott,  1849,  '53,  '60,  '64,  '69;  Philip  Paddock.  1851;  Edward  H. 
Beals,  1852;  Israel  Chissom,  1852;  Gilbert  Graham,  1855;  Erastus  G. 
Clark,  1855,  '59,  '(>Z\  Charles  G.  Maxfield,  1857;  Lucien  Annable, 
185S.  '62,  '66,  '72;  Guy  L.  Doubleday,  1864,  '68;  John  W.  Mower, 
1864;  Joel  M.  Clark,  1868;  William  C.  Williams,  1868  ;  William  Scott, 
1871,  '78;  Ezra  Squires,  1871,  '"J-J  \  Frank  II.  Smith,  1873;  Joel  M. 
Clark,  1874, '82,  '86;  Chester  Stoddard,  1874,  'tj;  Bradford  S  Wix- 
som, 1875,  '79,  '83,  '87,  '91  ;  Elnathan  Mead,  1876;  Guy  D.  Wixsom, 
1879;  David  Wolvin,  1880,  "84,  '88  ;  James  Shaw,  1881,  '85.  '89  ; 
James  S.  Paddo  k,  1890. 

Ecclesiastical. — As  has  been  said  of  many  other  towns  in  Western 
New  York,  may  also  be  said  of  Italy,  that  the  first  denomination  to 
obtain  a  prominent  foothold  therein  was  the  Methodist.  In  this  town, 
conceded  to  be  one  of  the  latest  in  settlement  in  the  county,  a  class  was 
formed  in  Italy  Hollow  as  early  as  181 3.  Robert  Graham,  Caleb 
Crouch,  Henry  Roff,  sen.,  Philena  Edson,  Bazaleel  Edson,  Amos  Arnold, 
Adolphus  Eaton,  Orison  Graham,  Worcester  Burk,  Benjamin  Bartlett, 
James  Scofield,  nearly  all  of  them  heads  of  families,  together  with  mem- 


486  HISTORY  UF   YATES  COUNTY. 

bers  of  tlieir  families,  and  others  as  well,  were  prominently  associated 
with  the  class  at  that  time  and  in  years  following,  prior  to  1823.  The 
church  edifice  was  erected  in  1856,  and  in  its  steeple  was  placed  the 
bell  of  the  older  church  at  the  county  seat. 

The  Italy  Hill  Methodist  class  was  formed  and  organized  at  Jerusa- 
lem in  1828,  and  in  1842  was  moved  to  the  Hill.  Three  years  later, 
and  at  an  e.Kpenseof  more  than  $2,000,  the  church  was  built.  The  first 
trustees  of  the  Hill  society  were  Joel  Ansley,  James  Haire,  Stephen 
Mumford,  Albert  R.  Cowing,  Dr.  I'>lisha  Doubleday,  Benjamin  Stodard, 
Rowland  Champlin,  jr.,  Bazaleel  Kdson,  and  Nathan  Benedict. 

In  1816,  under  the  ministrations  of  Elder  Jehial  Wisner,  the  Baptist 
Church  of  Italy  Hollow  was  organized.  The  early  meetings  were  held 
in  school -houses,  but  about  the  year  1825  a  church  home  was  provided. 
In  May,  1841,  a  Baptist  society,  a  branch  or  offshoot  of  the  organiza- 
tion last  named,  was  formed  by  the  Baptist  brethren  on  Italy  Hill. 
Early  in  1842  steps  were  taken  toward  the  erection  of  a  house  of  wor- 
ship, the  trustees  to  accomplish  that  work  being  Hiram  T.  Stanton,  Levi 
Wolvin,  Edward  Squi'er,  Joseph  Sturtevnnt,  Asa  B.  Miner,  Abel  Gur- 
ney,  Christopher  Corey,  Thomas  B.  Smith,  and  Luther  B,  Blood.  In 
1844  the  church  was  built,  and  dedicated  during  the  fall  of  that  year. 

A  Free  Will  Baptist  society  was  formed  in  the  town  in  1826,  by 
Elder  Samuel  Weare.  Among  its  more  prominent  members  were  the 
Arnolds,  the  Marshes,  the  Howards,  the  Fishers,  the  Douglasses,  th 
Crouches  and  others.  The  society  never  became  prosperous;  never 
built  a  church,  and  gradually  passed  out  of  existence  after  about  seven 
or  eight  years. 


le 


niOGgA  PHICA  L.  487 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

\\  ERRITT,  LA  FAYETTE.— John  Merritt  was  a  wortliy  man, 
/  \  and  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  in  the  wilderness  which  skirted 
Crooked  Lake.  He  came  with  his  family,  La  Fayette  then  being  less 
than  a  year  old,  in  1825,  from  Dutchess  County,  and  purchased  a  large 
tract  of  land,  which  in  a  few  years  he  converted  into  a  splendid  farm. 
Here  in  the  town  of  Jerusalem  the  child  grew  to  manhood  and  occupied 
a  part  of  the  homestead  while  he  lived.  As  a  boy  he  was  bright,  in- 
dustrious, temperate  and  trustworthy,  and  grew  to  be  a  man  of  integrity, 
sound  judgment  and  excellent 'habits.  He  had  a  relish  for  farming,  and 
consequL-ntly  became  skillful  in  handling  soils,  stock,  fruit  trees  and 
vines,  and  not  only  made  a  good  living  but  accumulated  a  comfortable 
property.  He  had  an  eye  to  beauty  as  well  as  profit  and  surroundrd 
and  decorated  his  home  with  many  attractive  features.  His  moral 
sense  early  led  him  to  enter  upon  a  Christian  life  and  to  espouse  what- 
ever reforms  engaged  public  attention.  When  only  eleven  years  of  age 
he  united  with  the  Wesleyan  Methodist  Church,  composed  of  radical 
abolitionists  and  temperance  people,  and  thenceforth  allowed  no  occasion 
to  pass  without  giving  his  testimony  against  both  slavery  and  intem- 
perance. He  remained  a  member  of  this  church  until  slavery  was 
abolished  and  the  church  was  disbanded,  when  he  united  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  Penn  Yan,  of  which  he  remained  a  con- 
sistent member  until  his  death. 

When  thirty-four  years  of  age  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Hannah  Bennett,  of  Milo,  who,  with  one  son,  survives  him,  occupying 
the  homestead  he  did  much  to  beautify,  and  enrich  with  comforts. 

Mr.  Merritt  was  instinctively  honest,  honorable  and  kind,  and  frowned 
upon  all  injustice,  oppression  and  coarseness  in  speecii,  or  conduct. 
Vulgarity  and  rudeness  he  loathed  and  sharply  rebuked.  His  word 
was  as  good  as  his  bond  and  his  honor  above  reproach.  He  had  a 
lively  taste  for  the  beautiful  and  orderly,  and   impressed   his  ideas  and 


488  H/ STORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

feelings  upon  his  farm,  vineyards  and  residence.  Whatever  promised 
good  to  society,  especially  to  the  young,  was  sure  of  his  vyarm  support. 
When  it  was  proposed  to  found  a  college  on  the  shore  of  Lake  Keuka, 
near  his  home,  where  the  youth  of  both  sexes  should  be  educated  at  a 
cost  within  the  reach  of  those  in  moderate  circumstances,  he  entered  into 
the  scheme  with  enthusiasm,  devoting  both  time  and  money  to  give  it 
success.  Every  thing  said  or  done  by  his  neighbors  to  promote  the 
enterprise  gave  him  pleasure,  and  whatever  occurred  which  tended  to 
obstruct  or  hinder  the  work  distressed  him.  Indeed  he  was  so  sensitive 
to  all  social  or  political  events  as  to  render  them  largely  personal  to 
himself  Whatever  was  calculated  to  benefit  humanity  delighted  him 
and  all  harmful  things  caused  him  pain,  down  to  the  close  of  life,  which 
came  on  the  22d  day  of  April,  1891. 


SHELDON,  ELI,  was  born  in  Suffield,  Hartford  County,  Conn.,  on 
the  6th  day  of  November,  1799.  He  was  the  son  and  eldest  of 
ten  children  born  to  Eli  and  Cynthia  Sheldon.  The  parents  v\ere  poor 
and  had  not  the  means  to  provide  for  their  children  either  a  suitable 
education  or  to  establish  them  in  any  business.  Eli,  our  subject,  was 
early  put  to  work  at  whatever  he  could  find  to  do,  and  so  passed  the 
years  prior  to  his  majority.  When  a  young  man  he  came  to  New  York 
State,  living  for  a  time  in  Cayuga  County,  but  afterward  and  in  18 19 
coming  to  the  little  village  of  Penn  Yan.  Here  he  found  employment  in 
the  store  of  William  Babcock,  then  the  leading  merchant  of  the  locality. 
Young  Eli  Sheldon  proved  himself  to  be  an  honest,  industrious  and 
capable  employee,  whose  service  was  devoted  to  his  employer's  inter- 
ests, while  he  at  the  same  time  was  learning  by  absorption  and  obser- 
vation the  rules  and  principles  which  were  the  foundation  of  his  subse- 
quent success  and  fortune.  Mr.  Babcock  had  the  greatest  faith  in  Eli's 
integrity  and  straightforward  honesty,  and  placed  him  for  a  time  in 
charge  of  a  branch  store  at  or  near  the  village  of  Bath.  On  returning 
to  Penn  Yan,  we  find  him  the  partner  of  his  former  employer,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Babcock  &  Sheldon.  By  this  time  our  subject  had  saved 
a  sum  sufficient  to  purchase  a  partnership  interest  in  the  business,  and 
during  the  continuance  of  their  relations,  while  Mr.  Babcock  was  the 
ostensible  head  of  the  firm,  liis  young  partner  was  the  active  business 


<^^ V^^!^^a-i^^C^ . 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  489 

man  of  the  house.  At  a  little  later  period  we  find  Mr.  Sheldon  the 
senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Sheldon  &  Co.,  doing  a  general  merchan- 
dise trade  at  the  northeast  corner  of  what  is  now  Main  and  Head  streets, 
and  whose  advertisement  in  the  old  Yates  Republican  informed  the 
public  at  large  that  the  stock  of  the  firm  included  a  general  assortment 
of  domestic,  English,  and  East  and  West  India  goods.  This  was  in 
1824,  and  although  Eli  Sheldon  was  then  but  twenjy-five  years  of  age, 
he  was  nevertheless  the  leading  proprietor  of  the  largest  and  best 
stocked  stores  of  the  county. 

Just  how  long  Mr.  Sheldon  remained  in  active  business  life  as  mer- 
chant is  now  quite  difficult  to  determine,  but  as  his  means  increased  he 
gradually  drifted  into  other  channels,  dealing  in  grain,  buying  lands, 
notes,  mortgages,  and  other  securities ;  in  fact,  any  investment  that 
promised  a  just  and  substantial  return  found  in  him  a  ready  operator. 
His  perceptive  faculties  were  keen  and  incisive,  and  his  juagment  accu- 
rate. Tiierefore  he  was  successful  and  built  up  for  himself  and  his  fam- 
ily a  substantial  fortune.  But  he  was  not  niggardly,  nor  did  he  ever  ex- 
act from  the  debtor  one  penny  beyond  his  just  due.  And  in  this  even 
he  was  temperate,  often  extentiing  the  time  for  payment  beyond  the 
day  in  order  to  accommodate  his  friends  and  neighbors. 

Eli  Sheldon  was  himself  a  frugal  liver,  but  he  was  also  a  generous 
provider  for  his  family  and  relations.  He  gave  his  aged  mother  a  com- 
fortable support  through  her  declining  years,  and  likewise  gave  to  his 
sisters  and  other  members  of  his  family  and  relatives  large  sums  of 
money  to  provide  for  their  maintenance  or  to  establish  them  in  busi- 
ness. He  was  a  public-spirited  man,  interested  in  every  measure  hav- 
ing for  its  end  the  welfare  of  the  village  or  county,  and  while  possibly 
not  a  leader  in  such  enterprises,  his  contributions  were  always  generous 
and  given  ungrudgingly.  He  was  not  a  church  member,  but. always 
gave  liberally  to  the  several  church  and  religious  societies  of  the  village. 
In  politics  Mr.  Sheldon  was  an  old  time  Whig,  and  afterward  became 
identified  with  the  Republican  party  upon  its  organization.  He  had 
no  political  ambition,  his  interest  being  that  of  the  citizen  and  tax  pay- 
payer  anil  not  of  the  office  seeker.  Still  he  was  presidential  elector 
in  1848. 

Eli  Sheldon  was  twice   married  ;   first  to  Sophia  H.,  the  daughter  of 

02 


49°  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

James  Smith,  of  Benton,  by  whom  he  had  one  child,  Wiiham  Babcock 
Sheldon,  now  a  resident  of  Penn  Yan.  Sophia  Smith  Sheldon  died 
March  5,  1842.  His  second  wife,  whom  he  married  September  14, 
1843,  was  Sarah  S.,  daughter  of  Morris  F.  Sheppard.  She  died  Octo- 
ber 5,  1849,  leaving  no  children.  Eli  Sheldon  died  June  3,  1865.  Will- 
iam B,  Sheldon,  the  only  child  of  Eli  and  Sophia  Sheldon,  was  born 
July  27,  1839.  On  the  20th  of  October,  1864,  he  married  Caroline  W. 
Long,  daughter  of  Nathaniel  R.  and  Caroline  S.  Long,  of  Penn  Yan, 
formerly  of  New  York,  and  by  whom  he  has  two  children  :  Ida  B.,  born 
June  3,  1870,  and  Eli,  born  August  3,  1873. 


BITLEY,  PETER  H  ,  of  Jerusaleum.  N.  Y.,  was  born  at  Moreau, 
Saratoga  County,  N.  Y.,  in  1801,  and  was  the  son  of  Henry  and 
Elizabeth  (Donaldson)  Bitley.  His  ancestors  on  the  paternal  side  were 
from  Germany,  and  on  the  maternal  they  were  of  Irish  and  Holland 
extraction.  His  parents  were  natives  of  Moreau,  N.  Y.  Mr.  Bitlej' 
came  to  Yates  County  in  1833,  being  in  the  employ  of  Paddock  & 
Nichols,  who  were  lumber  merchants  of  Yonkers,  N.  Y.  He  com- 
menced furnishing  square  timber  and  spars  by  contract  and  delivering 
same  at  his  employer's  dock  at  Yonkers.  In  1843  he  commenced  oper- 
ations for  himself,  buying  timber  in  Yates  and  Steuben  Counties  and 
other  localities  and  shipping  to  eastern  markets  by  the  way  of  the  Erie 
Canal.  His  shipments  amounted  to  as  high  as  300,000  cubic  feet  in  a 
single  year,  and  averaged,  till  1867,  when  he  retired  from  the  lumber- 
ing business,  250,000  cubic  feet.  After  1867  he  devoted  himself  largely 
to  the  management  of  his  farming  lands.  He  became  a  resident  of 
Branchport  soon  after  that  place  was  founded  and  where  he  accumulated 
a  large  fortune,  and  was  one  of  its  most  valued  and  worthy  citizens. 
Mr.  Bitley  was  a  man  of  large  and  generous  heart,  and  was  noted  for 
his  benevolence.  He  was  for  many  years  closely  identified  with  the 
interests  of  the  Universalist  denomination,  and  mainly  through  his  ef- 
forts a  church  was  erected  and  sustained  in  the  village  of  Branchport. 
He  gave  largely  of  his  means  for  general  religious  purposes,  and  was 
alvvaj's  a  steadfast  friend  to  the  poor  and  needy. 

Mr.  Bitley  married,  in  1839.  Mary  J.,  daughter   of  Benjamin   Laird. 
They  had  one  daughter,  Mary  E.,  who  married,  in  1868,  Rev.  Henry  B. 


(rii-vc  ^(>-<.^7^iio\^<x 


C^,^t.€^c(^ 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  491 

Howell.  Mrs.  Howell's  death  occurred  in  1876.  There  comes  a  time 
when  all  useful  and  well-regulated  lives  must  close  their  earthly  career. 
Mr.  Bitley  passed  away  August  12,  1888.  His  widow  still  resides  at 
Branchport,  lending  a  helping  hand  to  all  those  in  need  of  assistance, 
and  enjoying  the   love  and  respect  of  all  who  know  her. 


SOUTHERLAND,  Hon.  JOHN,  son  of  Alexander  and  Mariah 
(Van  Duser)  Southerland,  was  born  June  1 1,  18 13,  in  Potter,  N.  Y. 
He  was  educated  at  the  common  schools  and  has  been  a  dealer  in  agri- 
cultural implements  for  the  last  twenty- five  years.  In  politics  a  Demo- 
crat, Mr.  Southerland  has  always  taken  an  active  interest  in  the  affairs 
of  this  town  and  county.  He  has  held  the  office  of  assessor  two  years, 
supervisor  one  year,  justice  of  the  peace  four  terms,  and  was  elected 
member  of  the  General  Assembly  of  this  State  in  1876.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Milo  Lodge,  of  Penn  Yan,  F.  and  A.  M.  He  is  also  director  and 
stockholder  in  the  First  National  Bank  of  Penn  Yan.  He  married  first," 
Elmira,  daughter  of  Oren  Bates,  of  Potter,  February  18,  1836,  and 
they  had  three  children,  Jane,  who  married  Warner  P.  Cole;  Eliza  S., 
who  married  John  N.  Clark  ;  and  Oren  B.  (deceased).  His  wife  died 
February  27,  1850,  and  Mr.  Southerland  married  second,  Martha, 
daughter  of  Peter  Furguson  of  Seneca,  N.  Y.      She  died  in  April,  1890. 


UNDERWOOD,  OLIVER,  son  of  John  S.  and  Abigail  (Herrington) 
Underwood,  and  grandson  of  Samuel  C.  Underwood,  was  born  in 
Kingston,  R.  I.,  July  i,  1820.  In  March,  182  i,  the  family  emigrated  to 
the  town  of  Potter,  N.  Y.,  settling  on  the  tract  of  land  known  as  the 
Potter  farm,  having  previously  leased  this  of  Judge  Potter.  Witliin  a 
few  miles  of  this  place  he  spent  his  entire  life,  with  the  exception  of  a 
few  years'  residence  in  the  town  of  Jerusalem.  Being  one  of  a  family 
of  fourteen  children,  his  early  advantages  were  necessarily  limited,  and 
his  success  was  chiefly  due  to  self-acquirement,  prompted  by  an  indom- 
itable perseverance.  Strictly  temperate  in  all  his  habits,  he  possessed 
both  mental  and  physical  strength,  which  were  the  secret  of  much  of 
his  success  as  a  farmer,  which  occupation  he  followed  during  his  whole 
life.  Though  not  aspiring  to  public  office,  he  creditably  served  the  peo- 
ple as  justice  of  the  peace  and  commissioner  of  highways  for  a  number 


492  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

of  years.  He  was  an  ardent  and  active  supporter  of  the  Republican 
party.  Iking  physically  disabled  to  serve  his  country  he  demonstrated 
his  hostility  to  slavery  by  furnishing  a  substitute.  He  married  in  1852 
Emily  R.,  daughter  of  William  W.  and  Mary  (Perrine)  Hankinson,  of  this 
town,  who  died  in  1878.  He  was  never  a  member  of  any  church,  but 
having  a  common  interest  in  the  good  of  his  fellow  men,  he  gave  alike 
to  all  who  sought  his  aid.  He  died  after  an  illness  of  eleven  days,  of 
pycsfnia  in  1889,  leaving  an  only  daughter,  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Goodrich,  and 
two  grandchildren,  Emily  M.  and  Oliver  D. 


CORNWELL,  GEORGE  RATHBUN,  was  born  in  the  village 
of  Penn  Yan,  on  the  same  premises  on  which  he  now  resides, 
on  the  24th  day  of  February,  in  the  year  1836.  He  was  the  son  of 
Dr.  William  and  Sarah  (Chidse\)  Cornwell,  and  the  eighth  of  their  nine 
children.  His  father  was  born  in  Delaware  County  in  1787,  and  settled 
'in  Yates  as  early  as  1809  He  taught  school  for  a  time,  but  soon 
became  a  medical  practitioner,  and  was  in  the  service  as  "  surgeon's 
mate"  during  the  War  of  1812-15.  After  his  return  the  hardships  of 
extensive  riding  that  fell  to  the  lot  of  every  early  physician  induced 
failing  health,  and  obliged  him  to  leave  the  practice  of  his  chosen  pro- 
fession. Tliereafter  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  took  to  the  prac- 
tice of  the  law.  In  1822  Dr.  Coin  well  represented  Ontario  County  in 
the  Assembly,  and  was  one  of  the  important  factors  in  bringing  about 
the  erection  of  Yates  County  in  1823.  He  was  considered  a  man  of 
ability  and  learning,  and  was  honored  and  esteemed  by  his  fellow- men. 

Sarah  (Chidsey)  Cornwell  was  the  daughter  of  Maj.  Augustus  Chid-  . 
sey,  a  former  resident  of  Cayuga  County,  but  later  a  highly  respected 
citizen  nf  the  town  of  Milo.  Her  mother's  maiden  name  was  Anna 
Rathbun,  a  relative  of  the  late  Hon.  George  Rathbun  of  Caj'uga  county. 
She  was  a  woman  of  uncommon  endurance  and  industry;  kind  and 
considerate  in  her  intercourse  with  others,  and  faithful  to  her  family  to 
the  last  degree.  She  was  also  one  of  the  thirt)'-six  persons  who  formed 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Penn  Yan,  organized  in  1822,  and  was 
the  last  surviving  original  member  at  the  time  of  lier  death  in  1888. 

When  our  subject  was  not  quite  ten  years  old  his  father  died,  leaving 
to   the   mother  the   care   and   education   of  a  large  family  of  children. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  493 

George  aUended  the  public  schools  of  the  village,  a  part  of  the  time  at 
the  select  academic  institution  conducted  by  Professor  Murraj-.  At 
the  age  of  seventeen  George  commenced  work  as  a  clerk  in  the  book- 
store of  Burns  &  Miller,  of  Penn  Yan,  and  continued  at  that  employ- 
ment, though  through  several  changes  in  partnership,  from  1853  to  1858, 
when,  in  October  of  the  year  last  mentioned,  he  purchased  the  stock  of 
L.  &  S.  Denton,  booksellers  and  stationers  doing  business  on  Main 
street,  next  south  of  the  present  First  National  Bank. 

In  1864  Mr.  Cornwell  moved  to  his  present  location  on  the  east  side 
of  Main'  street,  where  he  has  without  intermission  conducted  business 
to  the  present  time.  In  October,  1872,  he  purchased  the  block  of  three 
stores  since  known  as  "  Cornwell's  Opera  House  Block." 

At  tlie  time  of  starting  out  to  make  his  own  way  in  business  life  Mr. 
Cornwell  had  little  or  no  capital  except  his  own  determination  and  en- 
ergy. But  what  to  him  was  of  equal  value,  he  possessed  the  confidence 
and  respect  of  the  best  men  of  the  village. 

George  R.  Cornwell  has  been  known  in  business  circles  in  Penn  Yan 
for  a  period  of  more  than  thirty  years,  and  in  that  time  he  has  made  an 
acquaintance  throughout  the  whole  of  Yates  County,  and  even  beyond 
it,  and  he  has  ever  been  known  as  a  straightforward,  reliable  and  success- 
ful business  man.  Not  only  is  he  a  man  of  undoubted  worth  and  integ- 
rity of  character,  but  as  well  a  man  of  rare  business  ability,  tact  and  judg- 
ment He  is  what  has  been  aptly  termed  a  "  detail  man,"  and  would  have 
made  a  success  in  any  business  calling,  but  his  constant  familiarity  with 
books,  coupled  with  his  naturally  studious  mind,  has  peculiarh'  fitted 
him  for  his  present  occupation,  and  as  well  stamped  him  as  a  man  of 
superjor  culture.  Naturally  enough  such  a  man,  with  so  extended  an 
acquaintance,  and  having  at  heart  every  interest  that  might  tend  to 
promote  the  welfare  of  the  county  or  of  his  village,  could  not  well  avoid 
being  drawn  somewhat  into  the  field  of  politics.  He  is  a  Republican, 
and  one  of  the  leaders  of  his  party  in  the  county  and  the  congressional 
district.  While  he  has  not  made  oratory  a  stud)',  and  lays  no  claim  to 
ability  as  a  public  speaker,  his  services  upon  the  stump  have  been  re- 
quired by  his  fellow- workers  in  every  important  campaign  during  the 
last  twenty  or  more  years.  In  presenting  the  issues  in  any  canvass  Mr. 
Cornwell  speaks  with  force  and   directly  to  the  point.      He   addresses 


494  HIS  TORY  OF   YA  TES  CO  UN  T  Y. 

himself  to  the  understanding  of  his  hearers  rather  than  appeaUng  to 
their  passions,  and  approaches  the  subject  in  hand  with  dignity,  self- 
possession,  and  in  the  light  of  reason  and  common  sense.  Since  attain- 
ing his  majority  he  has  taken  an  interest  in  politics,  but  as  a  factor 
therein  he  has  been  specially  prominent  for  the  last  score  of  years. 
Still,  however  much  he  may  have  indulged  in  this  direction,  the  end 
sought  to  be  accomplished  has  been  more  for  the  benefit  of  his  friends 
than  himself. 

In  matters  pertaining  to  education  Mr.  Cornwell  has  felt  a  deep  in- 
terest. Especially  is  this  true  respecting  the  public  schools  of  Penn 
Yan.  In  1872  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education 
for  the  village  of  Penn  Yan  Union  School  district,  a  position  he  has 
held  from  that  until  the  present  time.  On  January  I,  1891,  he  was 
elected  president  of  the  board,  and  was  re-elected  for  1892.  That  Mr. 
Cornwell  is  familiar  with  the  schools,  academies  and  other  institutions 
of  learning  in  this  county  is  fully  evidenced  in  the  fact  that  the  chap- 
ter on  education  in  this  work  is  from  his  pen. 

George  R.  Cornwell  represented  Yates  County  in  the  Assembly  dur- 
ing the  legislative  sessions  of  1887  and  1888.  He  was  there  honored 
by  positions  on  the  Ways  and  Means,  Internal  Affairs,  Claims,  Public 
Education,  and  Manufacture  of  Salt  Committees,  four  of  them  the  most 
important  committees  of  the  House.  .  In  1882,  '83  and  '84  Mr.  Cornwell 
was  chairman  of  the  Yates  County  Republican  Committee.  In  1884 
he  was  a  delegate  to  the  National  Republican  Convention  that  placed 
in  nomination  James  G.  Blaine  for  the  presidency  of  the  United  States. 
The  same  fall,  and  again  in  1888,  he  received  the  delegates  from  Yates 
for  the  nomination  of  representative  in  Congress  from  this  district. 

For  many  years  Mr.  Cornwell  has  been  a  member  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church  of  Penn  Yan,  and  for  the  last  twelve  years  has  been  one 
of  its  trustees.  For  eight  years  also  he  was  treasurer  of  the  society  ; 
was  one  of  the  building  committee,  comprising  seventeen  members,  to 
superintend  the  erection  of  the  new  church  edifice. 

On  the  iith  of  November,  1863,  George  R.  Cornwell  was  married 
to  Catharine  E.,  the  daughter  of  Dr.  James  Hermans,  then  of  Penn 
Yan,  but  formerly  of  Potter. 

The  children  of  George  R.  and  Catharine  E.  Cornwell  are  William  S., 


(riLt^  ^  oi 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  495 

Mary  E.,  James  H.  (married  Maud  E.  Whitaker),  Frances  E.,  (wife  of 
Remsen  M.  Kinne),  Catharine  E.,  George  R.,  jr.,  Sarah  H.,  Hermans 
Hart,  (who  died  in  infancy),  and  Henry  B.  All  of  these  children  who 
have  attained  their  majority  have  received  a  thorough  education.  Will- 
iam S.,  the  eldest,  is  county  clerk  of  Yates  County,  James  H.,  the  sec- 
ond son,  remaining  with  his  father  in  business. 

Mr.  Cornwell  is  still  in  the  prime  of  life — the  measure  of  success 
achieved  by  him  has  been  wrought  by  well-directed  thought  and  action. 
His  family  is  his  greatest  ornament,  and  with  that  he  is  content. 


SCHEETZ,  JOHN  C,  was  born  in  Norristown,  Montgomery  Co., 
Pa  ,  on  the  23d  of  January,  18 13,  and  was  the  eldest  of  a  family  of 
five  children.  His  parents  were  Daniel  and  Sarah  Scheetz,  who  were 
born  m  the  same  county  and  State.  His  grandparents  on  his  mother's 
side  were  natives  of  the  same  count)'  and  State,  but  his  grandparents  on 
his  father's  side  came  from  Germany.  When  a  boy  he  went  to  school 
and  received  a  common  school  education. 

His  father  owned  a  grist-mill  and  farm,  and  in  1831  young  Scheetz 
went  to  work  in  the  mill  and  continued  there  until  the  spring  of  1837, 
when  he  left  home  and  came  to  Penn  Yan,  N.  Y.  Ezekiel  Casner  and 
Aaron  Remer  then  owned  the  mill  known  as  the  Wagner  mill,  and  he 
went  to  work  for  them  and  continued  in  their  employ  until  the  death  of 
Mr.  Remer,  after  which  he  purchased  his  interest  in  the  mill  in  1843, 
and  entered  into  co-partnership  with  Mr.  Casner,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Casner  &  Scheetz,  which  co-partnership  was  continued  until  the  death 
of  Mr.  Casner  in  October,  1882. 

When  they  came  in  possession  of  the  mill  the  machinery  was  all  wood 
and  pretty  well  used  up  (having  been  built  in  1824),  so  that  very  soon 
they  were  obliged  to  make  a  complete  repair,  which  they  did  in  1846, 
substituting  iron  in  place  of  the  wood  machinerj',  and  adopting  all  the 
late  improvements  at  that  time.  The  dam  and  flume  were  all  of  wood, 
and  as  the  timber  was  beginning  to  decay  and  hardly  to  be  depended 
upon  to  hold  back  the  waters  of  the  lake,  they  decided  to  construct  a 
stone  dam  and  flume,  which  they  did  in  i860  in  connection  with  Jere- 
miah S.  Jillett,  who  then  owned  the  mill  on  the  south  side  of  the  stream. 

On  the   27th  of  October,    1841,    Mr.   Scheetz  married    Mary    Pugh, 


496  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

daughter  of  Michael  and  Jane  Pugh,  residents  of  Montgomery  Count)', 
Pa.,  and  went  to  housekeeping  in  Penn  Yan,  N.  Y.  The  fruits  of  this 
marriage  were  three  children,  two  boys  and  one  girl.  The  boys  died 
when  quite  young,  but  the  girl  grew  up  to  womanhood  and  married 
Leonard  A.  Clark,  of  East  Saginaw,  I\Iirh.  In  tiie  summer  of  1872  his 
wife  was  taken  sick,  and  on  J^ecember  22  died  at  Avon  Springs.  N.  Y., 
where  she  had  gone  for  treatment.  In  1875,  October  5,  Mr.  Scheetz 
married  Lizzie  S  Yerkes,  daughter  of  William  and  Sarah  Yerkes,  all 
residents  of  Norristown,  Pa.  No  children  by  this  marriage.  In  1883 
they  sold  the  mill  to  Messrs.  Russel,  P'"o.x  &  Co  ,  and  since  then  Mr. 
Scheetz  has  not  been  engaged  in  any  active  business. 

During  his  residence  in  Penn  Yan  he  has  held  a  number  of  town 
offices,  such  as  trustee  of  the  village,  member  of  the  Board  of  Education, 
and  was  several  times  elected  supervisor  of  the  town  of  Milo,  and  seived 
in  that  capacity  nearly  all  through  the  war,  being  most  of  the  time  chair- 
man of  board.  Mr.  Scheetz  is  a  stockholder  and  director  in  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Penn  Yan,  and  he  was  the  first  president  of  tiiat  bank. 

Mr.  Scheetz  has  been  as  is  still  one  of  the  most  substantial  men  of  this 
county,  his  word  being  as  good  as  his  bond,  and  has  the  respect  and 
esteem  of  all  who  have  the  pleasure  of  knowing  him. 


BRIGGS,  Hon.  WILLIAM  S.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born 
in  the  town  of  Milo,  on  the  30th  day  of  October,  1820,  and  has 
lived  continuously  in  the  same  town  from  his  birtii,  being  one  of  the 
best  known  and  distinguished  citizens  of  the  county.  His  parents  were 
David  and  Anna  Briggs,  old  and  respected  residents  of  the  county, 
whom  to  know  was  to  love. 

Judge  Briggs  entered  upon  school  teaching  at  the  early  age  of  seven- 
teen years,  and  continued  in  that  work  for  about  four  years,  during 
alternate  terms  of  which  period  he  attended  school  as  a  student  in  Lyons, 
in  this  State. 

In  the  spring  of  the  year  1840  he  took  up  the  study  of  the  law  in 
Penn  Yan  in  the  office  of  the  late  David  B.  Prosser,  with  whom  he  con- 
tinued until  the  year  1844,  when  he  commenced  the  active  practice  of  his 
profession  with  the  late  Hon.  Abraham  V.  Harpending,  although  he  was 
not  admitted  to  the  profession  until  January,  1845.      I"  ^'^^  f^ll  of  the  year 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  497 

1846  the  law  firm  of  Harpending  &  Biiggs  terminated  because  of  the 
faiHng  health  of  the  latter,  which  caused  him  to  engage  in  agricultural 
pursuits  for  three  years. 

In  October,  1849,  the  co-partnership  law  firm  of  Prosser  &  Briggs 
was  formed,  Judge  Briggs  having  regained  his  health  and  sold  his  farm. 
At  the  general  election  in  the  year  1855,  Judge  Briggs  was  elected 
County  Judge  and  Surrogate  of  Yates  County,  and  was  continued  in 
that  office  by  virtue  of  three  additional  elections  thereto.  In  1871,  he 
declined  a  proffered  fifth  election,  preferring  to  again  resume  his  place 
at  the  bar. 

Judge  Briggs  and  John  T.  Knox,  who  had  read  law  in  his  office, 
commenced  doing  a  general  law  business  on  the  first  day  of  January, 
1872,  under  the  firm  name  of  Briggs  &  Knox.  This  co-partnership 
continued  for  six  years,  and  proved  to  be  both  pleasant  and  profitable 
alike  to  both  members,  and  the  firm  arose  to  the  first  rank  in  the  law 
business  of  the  county. 

But  the  people  demanded  that  Judge  Briggs  should  again  be  their 
servant  in  the  office  of  County  Judge  and  Surrogate.  It,  therefore,  so 
happened  that  Judge  Briggs  was  again  nominated  to  fill  that  office  in 
the  fall  of  the  year  1877,  and  his  partner  was  at  the  same  time  placed 
in  nomination  for  District  Attorney. 

The  election  of  either  followed  almost  as  matter  of  course,  and  so 
Judge  Briggs  served  a  term  of  six  years  in  that  office,  the  official  term 
having  been  lengthened  since  he  occupied  the  office  before.  At  the 
first  of  January,  1884,  the  firm  of  Briggs  &  Baker  came  into  existence, 
the  junior  member  being  Charles  S.  Baker,  and  continued  until  Mr. 
Baker's  death,  March  27,  1891.  After  the  death  of  Mr.  Baker,  a  part- 
nership was  formed  by  Judge  Briggs  and  Judge  Martin  J.  Sunderlin, 
which  still  exists  under  the  name  of  Briggs  &  Sunderlin. 

Judge  Briggs  was  called  upon  to  fill  several  important  offices.  He 
was  clerk  of  the  village  for  several  years,  a  trustee  of  the  village,  clerk 
of  the  board  of  supervisors  of  the  county  from  1852-56,  a  member  of 
the  board  of  education  of  Penn  Yan  Union  School  District  for  many 
years,  and  vice-president  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Penn  Yan  from 
the  time  of  its  organization  in  April,  1873,  until  the  fall  of  1885. 

Judge  Briggs   has   been   three   times  married.      In    1843  he   married 

ti3 


498  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

Elizabeth  S.  Dorinan,  a  daughter  of  the  late  Joel  Dorinan.  This  estima- 
ble lady  died  in  the  month  of  May,  i  877.  By  this  marriage  four  chil- 
dren survive  :  Mrs.  Wilson  VV.  Quackenbush,  Mrs.  Charles  W.  Ross, 
Mrs.  George  R.  Wheeler,  and  William  S.  Briggs,  jr.  The  second  mar- 
riage was  in  April,  1883,  with  Adelaide  L.  Post,  widow  of  the  late  John 
Post  of  Geneva,  N.  Y.  This  lady  died  very  suddenly  on  the  19th  day  of 
May,  1888.  The  third  marriage  occurred  in  the  city  of  Chicago  in 
October,  1889,  with  Joanna  M.  Oliver,  widow  of  the  late  Gen.  John  M. 
Oliver.  The  parties  to  this  union  now  have  one  of  the  happ)'  homes  of 
Penn  Yan. 

Judge  Briggs  is  easilj'  one  of  the  first  in  the  profession  of  law  in  Yates 
or  neighboring  counties  of  the  State.  He  possesses  a  sound,  reasoning, 
judicial  mind.  The  ability  to  weigh  legal  questions  is  possessed  by  him 
in  a  pre-eminent  degree.  Well  grounded  in  the  principles  of  the  com- 
mon law,  equity  has  become  his  strong  point  in  the  practice.  His  deep 
research  and  strict  application  to  thft  duties  of  the  judicial  offices  he  has 
filled  have  tended  to  make  him  a  sound  and  safe  adviser  and  counselor. 
In  all  these  points  his  ability  and  penetrating  knowledge  have  become 
so  well  known  that  he  has  enjoyed  the  rare  distinction  of  being  a  chosen 
referee  b)'  the  members  of  his  profession  in  an  exceedingly  large  num- 
ber of  important  litigated  cases  in  Yates  and  surrounding  counties. 

As  a  neighbor  and  friend  he  has  the  admiration  of  all  his  acquaint- 
ances. Clever,  kind,  tender,  all  appreciate  and  love  him.  He  is  ever 
ready  to  aid  the  young,  while  those  of  his  years  have  his  full  confidence. 
As  was  pronounced  of  Brutus,  so  may  be  truthfully  said  of  Judge  Briggs: 
■"  His  life  was  gentle  ;  and  the  elements  so  mixed  in  him  that  nature 
might  stand  up  and  say  to  all  the  world  '  This  was  a  man  '" 


EARL,  JEPHTHAH,  .SR.,  was  from  Wilkesbarre,  Pa.,  where  he 
married,  in  1779,  Bridget  Arthur,  he  being  tv\-ent)'- 1\\  o  and  she 
being  fifteen  years  old.  They  settled  soon  after  on  two  hundred  acres, 
bought  of  Charles  Williamson,  about  two  miles  southwest  of  Geneva, 
in  the  town  of  Seneca,  N.  Y.  He  paid  four  dollars  per  acre  for  his  land. 
He  worked  for  Samuel  Latta,  sometimes  for  four  dollars  per  month,  to 
raise  money  to  make  payments.  Their  family  numbered  thirteen,  ten  of 
whom  readied  adult  age:  Jesse,  Clarry,  Zeruah,  Susan,  Fanny  and  Ste- 
phen (twins),  Jephthah,  Arthur,  Matilda,  and  Laura. 


y^, 


rrai   f^'i 


\  BIOGRAPHICAL.  499 

In  1 82 1  Jephtliah  Earl,  sr. ,  purcliased  the  mill  property  and  sixty 
acres  of  land  at  Bellona,  which  he  put  in  charge  of  his  son  Jesse.  They 
afterwards  purchased  a  farm  known  as  the  Lynn  lot,  where  they  re- 
moved and  remained  till  1S36,  when  Jesse  sold  his  interest  to  his 
brother  Jephthah. 

Jephthah,  jr.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  June  26,  1806,  in 
Seneca,  Ontario  County,  N.  Y.,  and  came  to  Bellona  when  he  was  about 
seventeen  years  of  age,  and  worked  on  the  mill  property  with  his 
brother  Jesse,  of  which  they  became  joint  owners  by  gift  of  their  father. 
In  1827  he  became  sole  owner,  by  purchase  of  his  brother.  He  re- 
mained at  Bellona  until  1830,  when  he  sold  the  property  there  and 
purchased  a  farm  on  the  west  side  of  Seneca  Lake.  These  premises 
were  but  little  improved  and  there  was  only  a  log  house  and  frame  barn. 
This  barn  was  one  of  the  oldest,  if  not  the  first,  built  in  the  town.  He 
erected  a  distillery  and  run  it  on  an  extensive  scale  for  several  years, 
and  also  built  a  storehouse  at  Kashong  Landing,  and  established  a  grain 
market,  which  proved  a  great  benefit  to  that  coninninity.  His  brother 
Arthur  was  for  several  years  associated  with  him.  They  frequently 
purchased  seventy-five  thousand  bushels  of  grain  in  one  season,  and 
they  were  regarded  as  dealers  of  probity  and  responsibility. 

In  politics  Mr.  Elarl  was  a  lifelong.  Democrat,  but  he  never  had  any 
aspiration  for  public  office.  He  married  Eliza  Hutchinson,  October  21, 
1829.  Their  children  were  seven  in  all,  of  whom  three  survive: 
George  W.,  Edwin  L.,  and  Katy  A.  Mr.  Earl  was  a  man  of  good 
judgment,  a  kind  neighbor,  and  a  man  very  much  respected  by  all  who 
knew  him.      He  died   September  30,  1 891. 


PURDY,  STEPHEN,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Fishkill, 
Dutchess  County,  N.  Y.,  September  17,  1787.  Although  a  native 
of  Dutchess  County,  yet  through  a  residence  of  more  than  forty  years 
in  the  town  of  Benton  he  had  endeared  to  himself  his  friends  and  nei'di- 

o 

borts,  and  all  with  whom  he  held  intercourse,  by  his  honest,  upright,  and 
conscientious  dealings.  Being  scrupulously  nice  that  ever)-  one  with 
whom  he  dealt  should  have  perfect  justice  done  him,  he  was  soon  re- 
garded as  one  of  the  safest  and  best  of  men  to  adjust  difficulties  and 
differences    that   arise   between    man  and   man  in  their  strife  after  the 


Soo 


HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 


things  of  the  world.  Hence  his  counsels  were  sought  and  listened  to, 
and  appreciated  for  their  justice,  impartiality,  and  conciliatory  bearings. 
Peace  and  good  neighborhood  he  always  regarded  of  far  more  value 
than  pecuniary  considerations,  whenever  his  own  interests  were  con- 
cerned. 

Susan  Haight,  his  wife,  was  born  in  Putnam  County,  N.  Y.,  Decem- 
ber 12,  1791  ;  they  were  married  December  22,  1 810.  In  1812  he 
came  to  what  is  now  Yates  County,  and  purchased  the  farm  of  Martin 
Kendig,  about  a  mile  southeast  of  Bellona,  in  this  State.  It  was  a  spot 
"beautiful  for  situation,"  overlooking  Seneca  Lake,  where  in  1813  he 
came  with  his  wife  and  commenced  farming  on  the  farm  now  owned 
and  occupied  by  his  granddaughter,  Helen  J.  B.,  wife  of  Cornelius  S  Van 
Wyck,  of  Dutchess  County,  and  where  he  was  a  successful  farmer,  and 
died  on  the  farm  he  originally  purchased,  at  the  age  of  sixty-five  years, 
leaving  to  his  children  about  300  acres  of  land.  Stephen  Purdy  died 
on  January  4,  1853,  leaving  Susan,  his  wife,  and  five  children  him  sur- 
viving. Susan,  his  wife,  died  at  the  "  old  homestead,"  March  30,  1882, 
in  the  ninety- first  year  of  her  age. 

Maria,  the  eldest,  married  Anson  C.  Loomls,  of  Phelps,  N.  Y.,  who 
died  in  1856,  leaving  Maria,  his  wife,  who  died  in  1883.  Their  children 
were  Van  Wyck,  William  H.,  and  Lafayette. 

James  H.  Purdy,  his  son,  married,  first,  Harriet  Pembroke;  she  died, 
leaving  one  child,  a  daughter,  Jane  A.,  now  the  wife  of  George  H.  Banks; 
his  second  wife  was  Mary  A.  Lewis,  who  died,  leaving  one  child,  a  son, 
Stewart  L.  Purdy  ;  he  married  Josephine  B.,  the  daughter  of  H.  Spen- 
cer Barnes,  who  now  resides  with  his  father,  James  H.  Purdy,  on  a  part 
of  the  original  homestead  of  Stephen  Purdy. 

Caroline  married  Henry  Barden,  M.D.  They  settled  in  Penn  Van, 
Yates  County,  where  he  became  greatly  respected  as  a  man,  and  in  his 
profession,  and  died  in  1871,  leaving  his  wife  Caroline,  and  two  children, 
a  daughter,  Helen  J.,  and  one  son,  W.  W.  Barden,  M.D.,  now  occupy- 
ing his  father's  place  and  profession  in  Penn  Van;  the  wife  now  residing 
with  her  daughter  at  the  original  homestead  of  Stephen  Purdy. 
■  Jane  A.  married  Charles  Van  Voorhees,  of  Dutchess  County,  and  re- 
mained on  the  homestead  until  her  death  in  1866,  leaving  no  children. 
Mary  F.,  the  youngest  child,  married  Justus  B.  Johnson,  of  Seneca 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  501 

Falls,  where  he  was  a  successful  business  man,  and  during  his  later 
years  was  a  successful  banker,  accumulating  a  fine  property.  His  death 
occurred  in  1885. 

ANDREWS,  Hon.  J.  T.  In  the  year  1812,  on  the  day  that  war 
was  declared  by  the  United  States  against  England,  Ichabod  An- 
drews purchased  of  Phelps  and  Gorham  200  acres  of  land  in  the  town 
of  Reading,  five  miles  south  of  Dundee.  In  the  spring  of  the  following 
year  the  Andrews  family,  consisting  of  the  parents,  five  sons  and  one 
daughter,  removed  from  Greene  County  to  their  new  home.  The  country 
at  that  time  was  an  almost  unbroken  wilderness.  Other  families  from  the 
same  locality,  including  a  brother  (Amherst  Andrews),  soon  settled  in 
the  same  neighborhood,  which  was  then  and  is  still  known  as  the  An- 
drews Settlement.  The  genealogy  of  the  Andrews  family  reaches  back 
to  the  early  settlement  of  the  country  and  numbers  among  its  members 
such  names  as  Aaron  Burr  and  Jonathan  Edwards.  The  family  was 
from  sturdy  English  stock.  The  mother's  family,  the  Tuttles,  was  more 
in  the  clerical  line,  and  has  among  its  members  two  bishops  and  several 
clergymen,  mostly  Episcopalians.  The  primitive  Andrews  house  was 
a  "double"  log  building,  larger  and  better  than  the  houses  of  most  of 
the  settlers.  It  was  a  pleasant  place  of  resort  for  the  neighborhood, 
and  to  it  all  were  welcome.  The  nearest  post-office  was  at  Havana, 
twelve  miles  distant.  The  only  newspaper  taken  in  the  settlement  was 
TJte  Catskill Recorder,  and  Mr.  Andrews  was  the  only  subscriber.  Every 
Saturday  John  was  dispatched  to  the  post-office  for  the  mail  ;  the  dis- 
tance traveled  going  and  returning  twenty- four  miles.  Sunday  after- 
noon the  neighbors  would  congregate  and  the  paper  would  be  read 
aloud,  beginning  at  the  title  and  ending  at  the  last  advertisement.  It 
was  during  the  time  of  the  last  war  with  England  and  people  were  eager 
for  the  news. 

John  Tuttle  Andrews  was  born  in  the  county  of  Greene,  N.  Y.,  near 
Scoharie  Creek  on  the  29th  day  of  May,  1803.  His  early  years  were 
passed  among  the  Catskill  Mountains.  His  early  education  was  obtained 
in  the  district  school.  He  was  fortunate  later  in  having  for  his  teacher 
Street  Davenport,  a  whimsical  old  bachelor,  though  a  thorough  scholar 
and  a  graduate  from  some  eastern  seminary.  Under  his  instruction  Mr. 
Andrews  studied   the  higher  branches.      In   his  early  years  he  was  en- 


502  HISTORY  UF  YATES  COUNTY. 

gaged  in  teaching  school,  and  was  cierU  in  a  country  store.  Later  he 
was  in  the  mercantile  business  with  Hiram  Chapman  as  partner,  in  Ire- 
landville  and  Watkins.  The  business  was  not  a  success,  and  in  closing 
it  up  Mr.  Andrews  was  a  heavy  loser. 

He  was  married  to  Ann  Eliza  Andrews,  April  12,  1832.  The  union 
was  a  happy  one  and  continued  for  forty-three  years.  Mrs.  Andrews 
died  in  the  year  1875  on  the  anniversary  day  of  her  marriage.  One 
ciiild  was  born  to  them,  which  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Andrews's  political  career  commenced  early  in  life.  His  first 
office  was  justice  of  the  peace,  which  office  he  held  until  his  election  to 
the  office  of  sheriff.  He  was  elected  sherifif  in  1835  ^"d  the  following 
year  Representative  to  the  XXVth  Congress.  Mr.  Andrews  was  the 
youngest  member  of  that  body,  and  is  now  the  only  one  living. 

He  lived  several  years  in  Bath,  N.  Y.,  where  he  made  many  friends, 
not  one  of  them  now  remaining.  Among  those  friends  were  John 
Magee,  ex- Lieutenant- Governor  Robert  Campbell,  Judge  Edwards, 
General  Marshall,  Judge  Rumsey,  and  many  others.  Mr.  Magee  was 
the  first  to  propose  his  candidacy  for  representative  to  Congress.  The 
proposition  was  a  surprise  to  Mr.  Andrews  and  he  reluctantly  accepted. 
There'was  some  dissatisfaction  among  the  older  members  of  the  party. 
They  thought  that  for  so  young  a  man  he  was  unduly  crowded  to  the 
front,  that  he  could  afford  to  wait  fo"r  political  honors.  After  he  had 
secured  the  Congressional  delegates  Mr.  Andrews  handed  to  the  editor 
of  the  Farmer  s  Advocate  a  note  declining  the  nomination.  After  con- 
sultation with  Mr.  Magee,  Governor  Campbell  and  others,  a  change  was 
considered  not  advisable  and  Mr.  Andrews  was  nominated  and  elected. 
He  served  the  two  regular  sessions  and  the  memorable  extra  session 
called  by  Mr.  Van  Buren.  At  that  time  John  Quincy  Adams  was 
fighting  for  the  right  of  petition  and  the  Senate  was  composed  of  such 
giants  as  Webster,  Clay,  Calhoun,  McDufTee  and  others. 

He  came  to  Dundee  somewhere  in  the  "  forties."  He  did  not  engage 
in  any  active  business  until  1866,  when  he  became  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  Martin  Vosburgh  &  Co.  In  1877  he  retired  from  the  firm,  and 
since  then  has  not  engaged  in  business,  employing  his  leisure  in  caring 
for  his  personal  estate,  and  with  his  library,  which  is  one  of  the  most 
extensive  in  the  county. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  503 

What  wonderful  changes  have  occurred  during  this  long  life,  "  look- 
ing backward  "  almost  to  a  former  century  !  The  forests  have  disap- 
peared, generation  after  generation  has  been  born,  has  lived  and  passed 
away.  State  after  State  has  been  added  to  the  Republic.  The  map  ot 
the  world  has  been  changed.  At  the  date  of  Mr.  Andrews's  birth  Ful- 
ton had  just  perfected  a  steamboat  that  would  make  the  magnificent 
record  of  four  miles  an  hour.  Ocean  navigation  by  steam  was  not  con- 
sidered possible.  Of  the  present  great  railroad  system  there  was  noth- 
ing. Not  a  railroad,  or  telegraph,  or  telephone,  or  an  express  company 
on  the  earth.  What  of  the  next  century  ?  Few  of  us  will  see  it,  but 
we  can  speculate,  and  the  speculation  is  bewildering. 


STRUBLE,  Hon.  HANFORD,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Milo,  Yates 
County,  on  May  14,  1842,  and  was  the  eldest  of  three  children 
born  to  Levi  and  Mary  (Misner)  Struble.  He  was  also  the  grandchild 
of  Adam  and  Mary  (Dean)  Struble,  pioneers  of  Milo. 

The  young  life  of  our  subject  was  spent  on  the  farm,  in  the  common 
schools  of  the  town,  and  at  the  old  Starkey  Seminary.  In  1858  he 
entered  the  sophmore  class  at  Genesee  College,  but  left  that  institution 
to  take  charge  of  the  Dundee  Academy,  as  its  principal,  where  he  was 
during  the  first  year  of  the  war  of  1861-65.  I"  Ju'y.  1862,  he  enlisted 
in  Company  B,  One  Hundred  and  Forty-eighth  Regiment,  New  York 
Volunteer  Infantry,  and  in  the  designation  of  company  officers,  was 
chosen  first  lieutenant.  After  a  few  months  Lieutenant  Struble  was 
appointed  to  a  position  on  the  staff  of  Gen.  Egbert  Viele,  with  the  rank 
of  major,  and  served  as  provost- marshal  of  the  city  of  Portsmouth,  Va. 
Later  he  served  in  the  same  capacity  at  Norfolk,  on  the  staff  succes- 
sively of  Generals  Barnes,  Potter,  Wild  and  Voge.s,  and  still  later  as 
permanent  aid  on  the  staff  of  Gen.  George  F.  Sheple)'.  In  February, 
1865,  he  was  on  duty  before  Richmond,  under  General  Weitzel,  and 
entered  that  city  with  President  Lincoln  on  the  3d  day  of  April  follow- 
ing.     Major  Struble  was  mustered  out  of  service  in  December,  1865. 

Returning  from  the  South,  our  subject  commenced  a  course  of  law 
study  in  the  office  of  James  Spicer,  of  Dundee,  where  he  continued  one 
year,  then  entering  the  Albany  Law  School,  and  from  which,  he  was 
graduated  in  the  spring  of  1868,  receiving  the  much  coveted   "sheep 


504  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

skin"  from  the  General  Term  of  the  Second  Department,  at  Albany. 
Counselor  Struble  at  once  commenced  the  practice  of  law  at  the  county 
seat  of  Yates  County,  in  partnership  with  A.  V.  Harpending,  a  leading 
lawyer  of  the  place.  In  1871  Mr.  Harpending  died,  after  which  Mr. 
Struble  continued  practice  alone  until  was  formed  the  law  partnership 
with  the  late  Charles  Baker,  followed  by  another  of  the  same  character 
with  James  Spicer,  the  latter  being  formed  in  1877,  and  continuing  until 
Mr.  Spicer  moved  to  Dundee  to  organize  the  National  Bank  at  that  place. 

In  the  fall  of  1869,  and  again  in  1872,  Mr,  Struble  was  elected  district 
attorney  for  Yates  County.  In  1874  and  1875  he  represented  the 
county  in  the  lower  house  of  the  State  Legislature.  In  the  fall  of  1883 
he  was  elected  county  judge  and  surrogate,  and  re-elected  in  1889  at 
the  expiration  of  his  first  term  of  office. 

It  will  be  observed  from  this  that  Judge  Struble  has  not  been  a 
passive  actor  in  Yates  County  politics,  and  he  himself  would  hardly  care 
to  be  known  in  that  uncertain  political  relation.  As  a  matter  of  fact 
Hanford  Struble  is  a  frank,  outspoken  and  aggressive  Republican,  and 
one  whose  voice  has  been  heard  on  the  stump  in  every  town  in  the 
county,  and  occasionally  beyond  its  borders.  On  all  the  political  ques- 
tions of  the  day  he  entertains  clear  and  well  settled  convictions,  and  is 
perfectly  free  in  the  expression  of  them  ;  yet  he  is  never  abusive  of  the 
opposite  party,  its  candidates  or  principles.  And  what  is  true  of  him  in 
the  field  of  politics,  will  also  apply  to  his  character  as  a  lawyer,  or  as  a 
judge  upon  the  bench.  In  the  latter  capacity  especially  is  Judge  Struble 
considerate  of  the  rights  of  the  contending  parties,  his  rulings  fair  and 
his  charges  clear  and  close  to  both  facts  and  law. 

Hanford  Struble  commenced  his  political  career  almost  immediately 
upon  his  admission  to  the  bar.  In  1868  and  1869  he  was  clerk  of  the 
Board  of  Supervisors.  In  the  fall  of  the  latter  year  he  was  chosen  chair- 
man of  the  Republican  County  Committee,  and  held  that  position  six 
or  eight  years.  The  same  fall  he  was  elected  public  prosecutor  for  the 
county,  serving  thereafter  two  full  terms ;  was  next  elected  to  the 
Assembly,  followed  by  his  final  elevation  to  the  County  Court  bench, 
as  has  been  narrated. 

On  June  30,  1868,  he  was  married  to  Laura  Backus,  the  daughter  of 
Clinton  C.  Backus,  of  Canandaigua.  Of  this  marriage  one  child,  Clin- 
ton Backus  Struble,  has  been  born. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  50; 

ELLSWORTH,  SAMUEL  STEWART,  was  boni  at  Pounal,  Vt., 
October  13,  1790,  and  came  to  this  county  in  tlie  year  18 19. 
His  father,  Capt.  Wanton  Ellsworth,  was  a  Rhode  Island  man,  and  his 
mother,  Sabra  Stewart,  was  a  Connecticut  woman.  He  was  first  asso- 
ciated with  the  brothers  Stewart  (Samuel  and  George)  as  clerk,  but 
very  soon  purchased  their  stock  in  trade  and  became  their  successor  in 
Penn  Yan,  they  removing  to  Bethel,  Ontario  County. 

It  was  in  January,  1820,  that  "  Samuel  S.  Ellsworth  "  became  known 
and  identified  as  a  business  man  in  the  village  of  Penn  Yan,  and  from 
that  time  until  his  death  no  man  was  more  generally  known  or  more 
widely  recognized  as  a  leading  spirit  in  all  that  related  to  the  advance- 
ment of  the  general  interests  and  prosperity  of  the  village  or  the  county 
than  he;  and  in  thus  presenting  him  it  may  be  inferred  that  there  was 
something  in  the  man  that  rendered  him  at  once  conspicuous,  fatniliarly 
associated  with  and  universally  known  to  a  very  wide  circle  of  acquaint- 
ances and  equally  as  wide  circle  of  friends. 

Briefly  he  may  be  said  to  have  possessed  the  native  elements  of  a 
gentleman  and  by  self-culture  to  have  qualified  himself  to  fill  that  sphere 
in  the  true  sense  of  the  term  ;  eschewing  all  semblance  of  both  pedantry 
and  aristocracy  he  was  equally  accessible  to  the  peasant  and  the  scholar, 
and  especially  was  he  open  to  the  approach  of  those  who  needed  the 
uplifting  hand  of  a  friend  in  time  of  need.  He  wrs  an  early  student 
and  always  an  ardent  lover  of  books,  devoting  as  much  of  his  time  to 
them  as  his  engrossed  and  busy  life  would  permit.  As  a  business  man 
he  was  active  and  ready,  judging  men  accurately  and  adapting  himself 
to  their  demands,  and  always  so  deported  himself  as  to  establish  con- 
fidence and  command  respect.  No  one  who  became  acquainted  with 
him  feared  to  trust  and  never  was  that  confidence  disappointed.  His 
kindness  and  geniality  were  proverbial,  and  although  often  led  into  im- 
prudences in  aid  of  others  by  trusting  too  hopefully,  yet  in  his  own 
business  affairs,  that  were  under  his  personal  care  and  direction,  it  sel- 
dom occurred  that  he  was  not  fully  sustained  in  the  judgment  he  had 
formed. 

In  this  department  of  life's  duties  he  often  exhibited  a  courage  and 
leadership  calculated  to  deter  the  selfish  timid,  while  it  enlisted  others 
more   cosmopolitan   in   spirit,  from   the  confitlence    his  integrity,   suc- 

61 


5o6  •    HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

cesses  and  energy  inspired,  and  his  name  was  always  found  associated 
witli  every  noteworthy  enterprise  started  for  pubh'c  benefit  or  pri\'ate 
gain  in  those  early  days  when  it  required  united  effort  to  overcome  the 
obstacles  of  the  time  ;  hence  he  was  found  connected  with  such  men  as 
the  late  John  Magee,  Joseph  Fellows  and  Constant  Cook  of  Rath, 
W.  VV.  McCay,  A.  M.  Adsit  of  Hammondsport,  and  others  of  marked 
character  for  enterprise  in  all  the  early  stage  routes  leading  from  and 
through  Penn  Yan,  the  building  and  running  the  first  steamboat  on 
the  Crooked  Lake,  known  as  the  "  Keuka,"  and  was  also  largely  inter- 
ested in  and  connected  with  the  produce  trade  and  transportation  on  the 
canal.  Associated  with  Spencer  Booth  under  the  firm  of  Ellsworth  & 
Booth,  they  were  the  originators  of  Branchport,  where  they  conducted 
a  large  mercantile  and  produce  business  connected  with  lumbering  and 
farming,  for  many  years. 

With  people  Judge  Ellsworth  was  eminently  popular,  and  was  often 
called  to  fill  places  of  public  duty  and  trust.  In  1824  and  but  a  few 
years  after  his  advent  to  the  town  he  was  elected  supervisor  of  Milo, 
and  selected  for  three  years  thereafter.  After  the  organization  of  this 
county  in  1824  (March  31,  1828)  he  was  appointed  first  judge,  a  station 
which  he  filled  for  five  years.  In  1829  he  was  demanded  by  his  party 
friends  to  stand  as  their  candidate  for  the  Assembly,  and  was  elected  by 
a  close  vote,  it  is  true,  but  this  raised  his  party  from  an  almost  hopeless 
minority  to  a  working  majority  and  for  future  successes. 

In  this  council  of  the  State  his  character  for  business  tact  and  energy, 
with  that  of  political  integrity,  had  preceded  him,  and  he  was  placed  in 
positions  of  great  responsibility  and  labor,  and  was  at  once  made  chair- 
man of  the  celebrated  committee  of  nine,  known  in  the  history  of  the 
times  as  the  "  Grinding  Committee,"  which  he  discharged  with  marked 
ability  and  fairness,  winning  credit  and  confidence  from  both  political 
parties,  where  his  less  confident  supjjorters  had  predicted  failure. 

In  1844  he  was  elected  to  represent  the  district  then  composed  of 
Tompkins,  Chemung  and  Yates  in  Congress  by  a  telling  majority  It 
was  in  this  session  of  1845-46  that  the  great  heat  of  the  Texas  Admis- 
sion question  was  at  its  height,  and  which  engrossed  the  best  minds  of 
the  statesmen  of  those  days,  as  to  the  propriety  of  extending  the  area  of 
slavery  b\'    the  acquisition   of  free   territory.      It   was  at   a  meeting   for 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  507 

consultation  of  friends  of  annexation  without  slavery  that  the  fruitful 
mind  of  Judge  Ellsworth  modestly  suggested  that  attaching  of  the  Jef- 
fersonian  ordinance  of  1784  to  the  resolution  of  acceptance  of  annexa- 
tion as  a  measure  that  would  render  it  acceptable  to  the  North,  b)-  thus 
forever  prohibiting  slavery  therein.  The  paternity  of  this  measure  has 
been  claimed  by  others,  but  the  Hon  Horace  Marin  was  the  authority 
for  this  version.  The  idea  was  at  once  entertained  as  both  forcible  and 
practical,  and  the  more  ambitious  David  Wilmot,  of  Pennsylvania,  in- 
troduced the  amendment  which  has  since  borne  the  name  of  the  "  Wil- 
mot Proviso."  It  was  with  general  satisfaction  that  Judge  Ellsworth 
discharged  his  duties  as  Member  of  Congress,  and  he  made  himself 
there  so  widely  known  and  respected  that  it  gave  to  his  opinions  and 
influence  great  weight  in  the  other  years  of  his  life  in  the  councils  of 
both  the  nation  and  the  State. 

His  political  affinities  were  always  with  the  Democracy,  yet  his  inde- 
pendence impelled  him  to  uphold  the  right  even  where  strict  party  al- 
legiance might  otherwise  lead. 

"Stewart  Ellsworth,"  although  popular  and,  as  has  been  shown,  polit- 
ically successful,  was  not  in  the  more  common  acceptation  of  the  term 
a  politician  ;  not  that  he  was  insensible  to  the  flattery  of  the  confidence 
of  the  people,  or  the  true  honor  of  position  ;  but  such  was  the  construc- 
tion of  his  mind  that  he  shrank  instinctively  from  the  bold  competition 
of  the  heartless  place  hunter  and  scorned  to  wear  honors  that  he  felt 
were  only  the  result  of  party  fealty  and  discipline  In  brief,  his  true 
sphere  was  that  of  the  business  man,  the  social  circle  and  pre  eminently 
so  within  the  domestic  circle  and  family  group;  always  eschewing  the 
hotel  as  a  home,  he  established  and  maintained  his  household  long  be- 
fore he  married,  and  the  graceful  hospitalities  of  which  were  known  and 
appreciated  throughout  a  wide  range  of  acquaintance. 

In  1834  he  married  Mrs.  Elizabeth  C.  Vosburgh,  of  Penn  Van,  who 
died  January  16,  1873,  and  was  long  a  prominent  and  valued  member 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  that  village.  Her  maiden  name  was 
Elizabeth  C.  Henry,  a  daughter  of  Dr.  Robert  R.  Henry,  a  surgeon  in 
the  army  of  the  Revolution,  and  a  citizen  of  New  Jersey.  Her  muther 
was  Mary  Hilliard,  who  died  at  Penn  Yan,  November  19,  1843,  aged 
eighty-four   years.       All   who   knew    Mrs.    Ellsworth   cheerfully  testify 


5o8  HIS  TOR  V  UF  YA  TES  CO  UA'  T  Y. 

to  her  peculiar  fitness  to  be  the  wife  of  such  a  man  as  was  her  husband. 
She  was  a  good  woman  and  widely  beloved. 

Judge  Ellsworth  died  at  his  residence  in  Penn  Van  June  4,  1863, 
aged  seventy-three  years,  full  of  years  and  works,  missed  and  mourned 
b\-  all  who  knew  him. 


ELLSWORTH,  SAMUEL  STEWART,  Ju.,  was  born  in  the  viU 
lage  of  Penn  Yan,  December  25,  1839,  and  was  the  son  of  Judge 
Samuel  Ellsworth  and  Elizabeth  Vosburgh  nee  Henry.  Stewart  Ells- 
worth, as  he  is  sometimes  called,  prepared  for  college  in  the  public  and 
select  schools  of  Penn  Yan.  He  entered  Hamilton  College  in  J^TUuary, 
1857,  and  was  graduated  with  the  class  of  '60,  receiving  the  degree  in 
course  of  Master  of  Arts  in  1863.  He  read  law  and  was  prepared  for 
examination,  but  never  entered  the  legal  profession,  as  his  attention 
about  that  time  was  directed  to  the  care  of  his  father's  estate  and  business, 
the  latter  having  died  in  1863.  In  this  and  other  recent  trusts  Mr.  Ells- 
worth established  and  confirmed  a  fine  record.  At  this  time,  too,  the  war 
was  in  progress,  and  our  subject  became  actively  engaged  in  politics. 
He  was  a  Douglass  or  War  Democrat,  and  gave  an  earnest  support  to  the 
Union  cause.  He  has  on  more  than  one  occasion  shown  himself  to  be 
a  ready,  eloquent  speaker  and  graceful  critic.  In  1S65,  '68,  '70,  and 
'74  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  Democratic  State  Convention.  Also,  in 
1872  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  National  Convention  of  the  same  party 
at  Baltimore  that  placed  Horace  Greeley  in  nomination  for  the  pres- 
idency. 

But  while  General  Ellsworth  has  been  an  active  participant  in  local. 
State  and  national  politics  for  about  twenty- five  years,  he  has  seldom 
been  the  candidate  of  his  part}-  for  political  preferment.  In  1870  he 
was  the  Democratic  candidate  for  the  Assembly,  and  made  a  remarkable 
run,  his  party  being  in  a  hopeless  minority.  His  office  holdings  have 
been  limited  to  two  terms  as  supervisor  of  the  town  of  Milo,  during  the 
years  1882  and  1883.  For  three  years  also,  1875,  'y6  and  'jj,  he  served 
as  member  of  the  Board  of  Education  (jf  Penn  Yan,  but  this  office  has 
been  considered  rather  non- political  than  otherwise.  But  his  familiarity 
with  local  and  general  politics  has  brought  General  Ellsworth  into  ac- 
quaintance  and    association    with    [public   men    and    measures,  and   has 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  509 

placed  him  hiyh  in  the  councils  of  his  party,  and  in  nianj'  desirable  po- 
sitions in  connection  with  public  corporations  and  institutions.  In  1869 
he  was  elected  president  of  the  Sodus  Point  and  Southern  Railroad 
Company.  In  1872  lie  was  likewise  chosen  president  of  the  Wilksbarre 
and  Seneca  Lake  Coal  Company.  In  1875  and  '"](>  he  served  as  Quar- 
termaster-General of  the  State  on  General  Tilden's  staff,  from  which 
position  he  acquired  the  title  of  General,  by  which  he  is  commonly 
known.  In  1870  he  was  elected  trustee  of  Hamilton  College,  a  position 
he  still  holds.  From  1868  to  1880  he  was  one  of  the  board  of  mana- 
gers of  the  Fall  Brook  Coal  Company.  In  1891  he  was  elected  pres- 
ident of  the  Lake  Keuka  Ice  Company.  In  1 890  he  was  made  a  member 
of  the  American  Institute  of  Christian  Philosophy.  He  was  the  first 
patron  of  the  famous  "  Ellsworth  Hose  Company,"  named  after  him, 
formed  October  26,  1871,  and  composed  of  the  best  young  men  in  the 
village  and  which  won  the  State  competitive  prize  at  Cortland,  August 
24,  1888.  He  is  now  one  of  the  active  trustees  of  the  John  Magee  es- 
tate (Fall  Brook  Coal  Compan\').  He  was  engaged  in  1867,  and  for 
four  years  in  a  large  grain,  malting  and  forwarding  business  with  F. 
Davis,  jr.,  at  Watkins.  The  local  firm  of  S.  S.  Ellsworth  &  Company, 
coal  dealers,  was  formed  in  1890,  but  the  General's  connection  with 
that  business  dates  back  to  1884. 

Among  his  fellow-men  and  associates,  in  his  social,  political  and  busi- 
ness relations,  Stewart  Ellsworth  is  a  popular  central  figure.  In  all 
matters  pertaining  to  the  welfare  of  his  native  village  and  localitj'  he  is 
public  spirited  and  generous;  and  it  may  truthfully  be  said  that  no 
worthy  enterprise  or  charity  ever  appealed  to  him  in  vain.  He  is  a 
member  and  strong  supporter  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  its  conserva- 
tism and  polity.  But  it  is  in  the  social  relation,  in  the  unrestricted  flow 
of  familiar  conversation,  that  the  most  jileasing  traits  of  his  character 
are  exhibited.  His  devotion  to  friends,  his  general  presence,  his 
well-trained  mind,  his  generous  literarj'  taste,  finely  cultivated, 
together  with  his  remarkable  memory,  combine  to  make  him  one  of  the 
most  interesting  of  companions 

On  the  1 2th  day  of  December,  1866,  Samuel  Stewart  Ellsworth  was 
married  to  Hebe  Parker,  only  daughter  of  the  late  Hon.  John  Magee, 
of  Watkins,  N.  Y.      Of  this  marriage  two  children  were  born:   Duncan 


5IO  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY 

Steuart  Ellsworth,  and  John  Magee  Ellsworth,  both  students  in  Yale 
University.  The  former  was  born  Februarj'  19,  1870,  and  the  latter 
May  17,  1874.  Hebe  Parker  Ellsworth  died  in  Paris,  France,  April 
16,  1880.  From  the  local  press  at  the  time  of  her  untimely  depart- 
ure we  copy  the  following  : 

"  Mrs.  Ellsworth  was  a  most  estimable  woman,  and  her  death  is  a 
sad  loss  to  her  famUy  and  her  large  circle  of  friends.  In  Penn  Yan, 
where  she  resided  for  a  number  of  years,  it  can  very  truly  be  said, '  None 
knew  her  but  to  love  her,  none  named  her  but  to  praise.'  She  was  lib- 
eral to  a  fault,  bestowing  out  of  her  abundance  to  every  worthy  and 
charitable  cause;  she  was  looked  upon  by  the  poor  as  a 'friend,  indeed.' 
We  tender  our  heartfelt  sympathies  to  the  bereaved  family,  and 
especially  to  her  husband,  to  whom  her  death  is  a  great  blow.  There 
is  a  day  when  '  parting  is  no  more,'  and  to  this  should  he  turn  for  com- 
fort and  consolation.  Mrs.  Ellsworth  was  one  of  the  loveliest  of  women, 
in  per.son  and  character,  winning  to  herself  without  effort  the  esteem 
and  friendship  of  all  with  whom  she  came  in  contact." 

Mr.  Ellsworth's  twin  brother,  Henry,  died  April  9,  1S40,  and  a  sister, 
Mary  Ehzabeth,  of  sainted  memory,  died  August  8,  1848,  at  the  age  of 
eleven  years. 

"In  the  midst  of  life  cometh  death,"  and  when  on  May  6,  1892,  it 
became  known  that  Stewart  Ellsworth  had  passed  away  at  2  o'clock  on 
the  morning  of  that  day,  a  universal  thought  went  forth  that  Penn  Yan 
had  sustained  a  loss  that  could  not  be  replaced,  that  each  and  every  one 
of  her  citizens  would  ever  afterwards  miss  the  smiling  countenance,  the 
genial  presence  of  whom  they  all  loved  and  respected. 


SPICER,  JAMES,  one  of  the  prominent  and  best  known  lawyers  of 
the  Yates  County  Bar,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Barrington,  Yates 
County,  October  23,  1827.  His  father,  the  late  John  Spicer,  was  an 
extensive  farmer,  lumber  dealer,  and  builder  of  mills.  He  was  an  active 
politition  and  had  a  strong  hold  on  the  local  Democratic  party. 

In  his  early  life  the  son  worked  with  the  laborers  on  his -father's  farm. 
His  early  educational  advantages  were  confined  to  the  winter  term  of 
the  "  District  "  school.  (Mr.  Spicer  is  eminently  a  self  made  man. 
Whatever  he  is  he  has  made  himself)     After  following  several  kinds  of 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  511 

business  he  finally  settled  down  to  the  study  of  medicine  in  the  office  of 
his  father-in-law,  the  late  Dr.  Richard  Huson.  By  the  advice  of  the  late 
Dellazon  J.  Sunderliu,  he  abandoned  the  study  of  medicine  and  directed 
his  attention  to  the  legal  profession,  which  was  much  more  to  his  taste. 
He  read  law  in  the  office  of  Mr.  Sunderlin,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  1862,  since  which  time  he  has  steadily  applied  himself  to  the  duties 
of  his  profession  for  which  he  has  a  natural  adaptation.  He  has  made  a 
fine  record  as  advocate,  and  is  a  skillful  cross-exantiner.  Sometimes  in 
his  examinations  he  is  very  severe  and  he  makes  it  very  uncomfortable 
for  the  witness. 

He  is  particularly  careful  and  painstaking  in  the  preparation  of  his 
cases  for  trial.  His  briefs  are  always  full  and  complete.  This  is  one  of 
the  secrets  of  his  success. 

Mr.  Spicer,  speaking  of  the  commencement  of  his  legal  practice,  tells 
the  story  of  the  trial  of  his  first  suit.  He  says  two  parties  that  were 
in  law  each  wanted  the  services  of  Mr.  Sunderlin.  They  were  both  per- 
sonal friends  and  he  declined  serving  either,  and  advised  the  parties  to 
employ  the  boys  (students)  ;  M.  J.  Sunderlin  was  a  student  in  his 
father's  office.  The  proposition  was  accepted  and  "  the  boys  "  had  a 
severe  legal  tussle.  Spicer  gained  the  suit  and  received  two  dollars  for 
his  fee.      This  was  the  beginning  of  a  long  and  successful  legal  practice. 

After  concluding  his  studies  and  his  admission  to  the  bar,  Mr.  Spicer 
opened  an  office  in  Dundee.  The  business  was  successful  and  from  the 
commencement  of  his  practice  he  has  taken  a  high  position  in  his  pro- 
fession. 

In  the  year  1880  the  Dundee  National  Bank  was  organized  and  Mr. 
Spicer  was  elected  president,  and  has  held  the  office  until  the  present 
time. 

In  addition  to  his  other  business  he  has  the  management  of  a  large 
farm.  His  early  home  training  gave  him  a  love  for  agricultural  pursuits 
and  he  takes  great  pride  and  pleasure  in  raising  fine  sheep  and  other 
stock. 

He  has  a  fine  residence  in  Dundee,  which  he  occupied  for  some  years; 
but  preferring  a  rural  life  he  moved  on  his  farm  where  he  can  give 
direction  and  oversight  to  his  faiming  operations.  His  farm  is  situate 
one- half  mile  north  of  the  village  line  and   was  known  as  the   Lon''uill 


512  HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUA'J  Y. 

farm.      Since  it   came    in  his   possession  he  has  greatly  improved  and 
beautified  it  and  it  is  now  considered  the  model  farm  of  the  county. 

In  his  farming  business  his  wife  is  a  very  efficient  helpmate.  Mr. 
Spicer  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was  Katharine,  daughter  of 
Dr.  Richard  and  Rebecca  Huson,  in  1845,  who  died  many  years  ago. 
They  had  born  to  them  two  daughters,  Mary  and  Rebecca,  only  one 
(Mary),  now  living.  His  second  marriage  was  to  Martha  Sharp,  in 
1 86 1,  who  is  still  living.  Mr.  Spicer  has  had  for  partners  Judge  Hurd, 
Hiland  G.  Wolcott,  Charles  Baker,  Hon.  H.  Struble.  His  residence, 
with  the  exception  of  one  year  in  Penn  Yan,  has  been  in  Dundee  since 
1845- 

HARTSHORN,  ISAAC  WRIGHT,  is  a  son  of  Samuel  Hartshorn, 
and  Samuel  was  born  at  Amherst,  Mass.,  in  June,  1872,  and  he 
was  a  blacksmith.  He  married  Sarah  Genung,  in  1798  ;  Sarah  was 
born  April,  1781,  in  Newark,  N.  J.  In  1 817  they  came  to  Barrington, 
Yates  County,  N.  Y.,  and  five  years  later  they  moved  to  Jerusalem,  set- 
tling on  lot  68.  Samuel  died  May  6,  1854,  and  his  wife,  July  13,  1862. 
Their  children  were  Hiley,  who  was  born  November  23,  1799,  married 
Hosea  Williams,  of  Exeter,  N.  Y.  She  died  November  26,  1879,  and 
he  died  November  19,  185 1,  in  Jerusalem.  Bersey,  born  March  12, 
1802,  married  Robert  Brown,  and  moved  to  Dresden,  where  he  died, 
October,  1850,  and  she  died  December  18,  1873.  Abigail,  born 
May  I,  1804,  married  Azor  Barrett;  he  died  December  14,  1871, 
and  she  died  December  18,  1873,  William  W.,  born  September  6, 
1806,  married  Mary  Thomas,  and  moved  to  Michigan  ;  he  died  May  3, 
1868;  his  widow  still  resides  there.  Sybil,  born  July  29,  181 1,  died 
May  25,  1875.  James  H.,born  January  17,  1814,  married  Emily  Will- 
iams; he  died  July  18,  1856;  she  died  July  8,  1854.  Malissa,  the  young- 
est, died  in  infancy. 

Isaac  Wright,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Exeter,  Otsego 
County,  N.  Y.,  March  1,  1809.  He  was  educated  at  the  common 
schools  of  that  time,  and  when  he  was  seventeen  years  of  age  he  began 
teaching  and  kept  at  it  during  the  winter  for  a  number  of  years,  work- 
ing on  the  farm  in  the  summer  ;  and  he  also  became  a  civil  engineer, 
but  he  always  lived  upon  the  farm,  and  by  close  application  to  business, 
good  judgment,  strict  economy,  and  ceaseless  industry,  he  was  known 


a/i^^^<^2-'^'::>~'iyy^ 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  5 1  ^ 

as  one  of  the  most  successful  farmers  of  Yates  County.  In  politics  he 
was  known  as  a  reformer,  always  voting  for  the  party  that  he  thoui;ht 
was  for  reformation;  he  was  a  strong  Prohibitionist,  and  also  a  great 
friend  and  supporter  of  the  cause  of  anti-slavery,  and  made  a  trip 
through  the  South  with  the  late  William  Lloyd  Garrison,  when  the 
friends  of  this  cause  were  persecuted  by  the  press  and  in  the  pulpit ; 
but  Mr.  Hartshorn  lived  to  see  this  grand  cause  succeed.  He  was  not 
a  member  of  any  religious  denomination,  but  he  always  recognized  that 
there  was  a  Supreme  Being,  and  tried  to  live  so  that  his  actions  would 
warrant  and  deserve  the  respect  and  esteem  of  his  fellow-man. 

Mr.  Hartshorn  married,  first,  Sarah,  daughter  of  Ashbel  Beers,  in 
1849,  and  she  died  in  April,  1853,  without  issue.  He  married,  second^ 
Sarah,  daughter  of  Amzi  Bruen,  December  31,  1S57,  and  by  this  union 
there  was  one  child,  Wendell  Phillips  Hartshorn,  born  October  19, 
(866.  Mr.  Hartshorn  died  March  18,  1888,  much  respected  by  all  who 
knew  him.  His  widow  still  resides  upon  the  old  homestead,  and  their 
son,  Wendell  Phillips,  resides  in  Penn  Yan.  He  spent  one  year  at 
Oberlin  College,  and  then  graduated  at  the  Albany  Business  College,  at 
Albany,  N.  Y  ,  and  is  now  reading  law  with  J.  H.  Butler,  and  has  also 
opened  a  real  estate  and  broker's  office  in  the  Post-office  block,  and  it  is 
through  his  liberality  that  we  are  enabled  to  insert  in  this  work  a  fine 
likeness  of  Isaac  Wright  Hartshorn. 


VAN  ALEN,  JAMES  VANDERPOEL,  was  born  at  Stuyvesant, 
N.  Y.,  February  11,  18 19,  and  was  the  son  of  Lucas  I.  and  Eliza- 
beth (Vanderpoel)  Van  Alen.  He  was  named  for  his  uncle,  James 
Vanderpoel,  an  eminent  lawyer  of  Albany.  After  completing  his  early 
education  he  commenced  the  study  of  medicine  with  his  uncle.  Dr.  John 
Vanderpoel,  but  on  going  to  Philadelphia  to  attend  medical  lectures 
conceived  .t  dislike  for  a  farther  prosecution  of  that  study,  and  left  for 
the  West  where  his  elder  brother  had  settled.  Owing  to  the  death  of 
this  brother  he  returned  to  his  native  town,  where  he  studied  law,  and  in 
1844  came  to  Penn  Yan,  where  he  completed  his  studies  in  the  office  of 
Benedict  M.  Franklin,  esq.  After  remaining  in  Mr.  Franklin's  office 
two  years,  he  established  himself  in  business  at  Newark,  N.  Y.  His 
stay  was  short  in   Newark  ;  after  a  residence  of  six  months  he  received 

05 


5,4  HJS70RY  OF   YATES  COUA'TY. 

an  offer  of  partnership  from    Mr.  Franklin  and    returned  to  Penn  Yan. 
Mr.  Van  Men   was   for  the  next  ten  years  partner   with  Mr.    Franklin, 
and  after  the  dissolution  of  the  firm,  practiced  law  until  his  death.      In 
1853  he  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  Eben  Smith,  and  in  1862-63,  erected 
a  residence,  corner  of  Clinton  and   Sheppard  streets.      Mr.  Van  Men's 
taste  and  industry  were  largely  manifested  in  the  beautiful  appearance 
of  his  elegant  and  well  organized  home.      Domestic  enjoyment  blessed 
his  abode  with  all  that  is  best  in  life,  e.Kcept  children,  of  which  there  was 
none.     Kind,  thoughtful,  and  peerless  in  generosity,  Mr.  Van  Men  was 
a  model  husband.      His  professional  work  was  chiefly  office  work.      He 
never  cultivated  his  powers  as  an  advocate  and  seemed  to  shrink  from 
anything;  of  that  character  as  a  legal  counselor.      He  was  eminently  safe 
and  trusworthy,  and   documents  prepared   under  his  hand   were  found 
worthy  of  all  confidence  and  noted  for  legal  accuracy.      He  put  his  con- 
science  into   his   work   as  a  lawyer,  and  hence   came  to   be  trusted  im- 
plicity  by  a  large    clientage,  who  had   learned   by  experience   the   high 
value  of  his  advice  and  services.      A  more  industrious  man  was  seldom 
seen-   whatever  he  had   to  do  he   did   with  all    his   might,  and   thereby 
accomplished  a  large  amount  of  work.      His  professional  accomplish- 
ments were  strictly  practical  and   gave  him  thorough   understanding  of 
le-al  affairs  as  connected  with  the  ordinary  business  of  life  in  the  present 
da'y       He  was  the  chief  legal  advisor  of  nearly  all  the  sheriffs  of  Yates 
County  for  a  period  of  thirty  years,  and   no  one  was  better  qualified  for 
such  service.      He  naturally  shunned  large  professional   responsibilities 
and  did  not  estimate  his  own  legal  abilities  at  their  true  value.      But  for 
his  extreme  modesty  and  timidity  of  mind  he  might  have  filled  a  much 
larger  sphere  in  his  profession,  for  he  had  an  excellent  legal  mind,  as 
well  as  the  energy  and   ability  to  achieve  real  eminence  in  his  chosen 
walk  of  life.      Mr.  Van  Men   died    at  his  residence  in    Penn  \an,  April 
-6    1877,  while  yet  in  the  prime  of  his  powers,  and  his  loss  was  there- 
fore very  keenly  felt.      His  widow  survives  him,  being  a  resident  of  Penn 
Yan.  ^ 

LAPHAM,  LUDLOW  E.— The  original  emigrant  ancestor  ol  this 
crentleman  was  lohn  Lapham,  a  weaver  by  trade,  who  came  Irom 
Devonshire.  England,  and  settled  at  Providence,  R.  I.  He  marr.ed 
Mary  a   daughter  of  William   Mann,  and  had  a  family  of  five  sons  and 


4BTOTVPF     PROCESS 


-^  O!  ^?^^ 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  ■■, :  ; 

one  daughter.  John,  the  eldest  son  of  this  family,  married  Mary 
daughter  of  Joseph  Russell,  and  they  had  fourteen  children,  of  whom 
John,  the  second  child  and  oldest  son  was  born  October  3,  1703,  and 
married  Desire,  daughter  of  Benjamin  Howland.  He  settled  about 
1772  at  Nine  Partners,  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y.,  and  had  three  children. 
Benjamin,  his  eldest  son,  was  born  January  15,  1727,  and  had  four  chil- 
dren, Pazzi  being  the  youngest  son,  and  was  born  October  22,  1750,  and 
married  Bethany  Foster.  Of  their  ten  children  the  eldest  was  Eliakim, 
born  at  Nine  Partners,  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y.,  September  i,  1778,  and 
married,  January  5,  1800,  Rachel  Harris.  The  latter  was  a  native  of 
Northeast,  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y.  Eliakim  died  in  Columbia  Count}', 
N.  Y.,  December  17,  1828.  His  widow  came  to  Penn  Yan  in  1840, 
residing  with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Metzer  Tuell,  and  died  in  1 863,  at 
the  advanced  age  of  eighty-five.  The  children  of  Eliakim  and  Rachel 
(Harris)  Lapham,  were  John  H.,  born  October  8,  1804.  He  came  to 
Penn  Yan  and  engaged  in  the  drug  trade,  and  died  in  1874;  and  Lud- 
low E.,  born  at  Kinderhook,  Columbia  County,  July  22,  i8o6.  His 
education  was  limited  to  the  local  school,  and  during  his  boyhood  he 
learned  the  trade  of  scythe  making  of  one  Harris,  he  being  at  that  time 
the  most  noted  manufacturer  of  scythes  in  the  United  States.  Mr.  Lud- 
low E.  Lapham  came  to  Penn  Yan  in  1825,  being  then  nineteen  years  of 
age,  and  was  engaged  as  a  clerk  in  the  store  of  his  uncle,  Capt.  James  Har- 
ris, the  firm  being  Harris  &  Stevens.  This  was  one  of  the  first  stores 
opened  in  Penn  Yan.  Mr.  Lapham  retained  his  connection  with  this  firm 
til!  1833,  in  which  year  he  succeeded  to  the  business,  the  firm  being  Lap- 
ham &  Brown.  He  continued  in  the  mercantile  business  till  within  a 
few  years  of  his  death,  with  partners  and  individually,  excepting  a  pe- 
riod of  ten  years,  when  he  was  engaged  in  farming  in  the  town  of  Ben- 
ton. He  was  an  excellent  farmer,  and  was  one  of  the  most  industrious 
organizers  of  the  Yates  County  Agricultural  Society,  and  in  competi- 
tion in  ploughing  was  frequently  a  successful  winner  of  the  society 
awards. 

Mr.  Lapham  married,  April  18,  1830,  Reliance  W.,  daughter  of  Henry 
Townsend.  She  was  born  in  1812,  and  died  in  1855,  leaving  five  chil- 
dren, viz.:  Sabra  A.,  the  eldest,  who  was  a  young  lady  of  fine  mental  gifts, 
ambitious  and  earnest  in  self-improvement.      She  was  one  of  the  early 


5 1 6  HIS  TOR  Y  OF   YA  TES  CO  UA  T  Y. 

graduates  of  the  State  Normal  School  at  Albany,  and  was  a  frequent 
contributor  to  the  press  of  poems  of  acknowledged  beauty  and  worth, 
amongst  which  we  mention  "Spirit  Voices,"  and  "The  Carrier  Dove." 
She  married,  in  1853,  Rev.  Asa  Countryman,  Universalist  minister,  and 
died  in  1857,  at  Orange,  Mass.,  leaving  two  daughters,  Ella  and  Geor- 
gia, both  graduates  of  the  Iowa  State  University.  George  H.,  the  sec- 
ond child  (see  biographical  sketch  in  another  part  of  this  work).  Olive 
T.,  the  third  child,  is  the  wife  of  Theodore  F.  Wheeler,  the  well-known 
druggist  of  Penn  Yan.  Mary  J.,  the  fourth  child,  is  the  wife  of  Clar- 
ence M.  Page,  of  Rocliester,  N.  Y.  Agnes  R.,  the  youngest  of  this 
family,  resides  in  Penn  Yan,  and  is  the  wife  of  John  T.  Knox,  Esq., 
present  district  attorney.  Mr.  Lapham  remarried,  August  20,  1856, 
Mrs.  Susan  Wilkin  ftce  Booth,  of  Hamptonburg,  Orange  County,  N.  Y. 
The  issue  of  this  marriage  was  one  son,  Ludlow  E  ,  professor  of  lan- 
guages at  Cornell  University. 

Ludlow  E.  Lapham  was  methodical  and  accurate  in  his  dealings,  social 
and  genial  in  his  manners,  and  had  a  large  circle  of  very  warm  friends. 
He  always  took  a  deep  interest  in  public  affairs,  endeavoring  to  inform 
himself  well  and  keep  himself  versed  in  the  general  intelligence  of  the 
day.  He  was  for  many  years  an  active  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church,  to  which  he  was  strongly  attached,  often  acting  in  the  official 
capacity  of  trustee.  On  July  8,  1882-,  in  his  seventy  sixth  year,  quietly 
and  peacefully  his  soul  took  wings  to  perpetual  peace,  rest  and  bliss, 
at  his  own  home  surrounded  by  all  the  members  of  his  large  family. 


LAPHAM,  GEORGE  H.,  the  only  son  of  Ludlow  E.  and  Reliance 
^  W.  (Townsend)  Lapham,  was  born  in  Benton,  Yates  Count)-, 
N.  Y.,  May  18,  1834  His  father  returned  to  Penn  Yan  when  he  was 
about  eiglit  years  of  age,  and  he  finisiied  his  education  at  the 
Penn  Yan  Academv,  which  at  th.it  time  was  in  charge  of  the  well-known 
and  popular  teacher,  Joseph  Bloomingdale.  After  leaving  school  at 
the  at;e  of  fourteen  years,  Mr.  Lapham  became  a  clerk  in  his  uncle 
John  H.  Lapham's  drug  store  in  the  village  of  Penn  Yan.  He  remained 
with  his  uncle  two  years,  when  he  went  to  Geneva,  N.  Y.,  and  was  em- 
ployed in  the  wholesale  and  retail  drug  establishment  of  A.  D.  Piatt 
until  1853.      In  the    latter  year,  returning  to  Penn  Yan,  he    engaged   in 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  517 

the  mercantile  business  with  his  father  under  the  firm  name  of  L.  E. 
Lapham  &  Son.  This  firm  continued  business  for  three  years,  when 
Mr.  Lapham  estabhshed  business  on  a  more  extended  scale  under  his 
own  name,  in  which  he  was  engaged  successfully  until  1873. 

In  1873,  having  obtained  a  charter  for  a  national  bank  by  a  special 
act  of  Congress,  the  State  quota  being  full  at  that  time,  he  organized 
the  First  National  Bank  of  Penn  Yan.  This  was  the  first  national  bank 
to  be  organized  in  Yates  County.  Mr.  Lapham  became  chief  owner  of 
the  stock  of  the  bank,  has  been  its  principal  financial  officer  and  has 
successfully  conducted  its  affairs  ever  since.  P"or  many  years  he  has 
held  the  office  of  president.  Politically  Mr.  Lapham  has  always  been  a 
Democrat  of  the  Jeffersonian  school,  and  became  active  in  politics  when 
quite  a  young  man,  and  was  for  years  an  honored  leader  of  his  party, 
and  as  chairman  of  its  county  committee  was  often  enabled  to  lead 
them  to  victory,  although  his  party  was  largely  in  the  minority  in  the 
county.  His  superior  ability  for  organization  and  management  as  a 
party  leader  was  acknowledged  by  all.  Mr.  Lapham  has  frequently 
represented  Yates  County  in  the  State  conventions.  His  advice  on 
political  matters  was  much  sought  for  by  the  prominent  leaders  of  his 
party.  He  was  unanimously  chosen  to  represent  the  twenty  seventh 
congressional  district  as  a  delegate  to  the  St.  Louis  National  Convention 
held  in  1 876,  and  was  active  in  accomplishing  the  nomination  of  the  Hon. 
Samuel  J.  Tilden.  In  1880  his  name  was  placed  on  the  Democratic 
ticket  for  presidental  elector,  he  receiving  the  largest  vote  cast  for 
any  of  the  nominees  on  that  ticket.  Previous  to  holding  of  the  Demo- 
cratic State  Convention  in  188 1,  while  Mr.  Lapham  was  absent  from 
the  State,  his  name  was  prominently  mentioned  by  the  press  as  a  candi- 
date for  State  Treasurer.  This  being  without  his  knowledge  and  con- 
sent, it  was  not  till  after  considerable  hesitancy  and  upon  the  earnest 
solicitation  of  his  friends,  he  finally  consented  to  become  a  candidate  for 
that  office.  At  the  State  Convention  subsequentlj'  held  at  Albany,  it 
was  decided  to  present  Mr.  Lapham's  name  for  Comptroller.  His  name 
was  presented  to  the  convention  by  his  worthy  townsman,  Hon.  Darius 
Ogden,  who  in  his  presentation  address  says  :  "  I  name  a  man  who  will 
bring  to  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  the  office  of  comptroller  vigor 
and  j'outh  ;   who  will   bring  it  also  the  maturity  of  manhood,   a   man 


Si8  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY 

whose  education  has  been  of  the  character  that  fits  him  to  take  hold  of 
this  office  and  to  master  and  discharge  its  duties.  We  need  a  man  for 
the  office  of  comptroller  whose  character  is  above  reproach,  honest, 
capable,  faithful  to  the  State  ;  faithful  to  the  constitution  ;  faithful  to  the 
country  in  an  eminent  degree.  We  have  such  a  candidate  in  our  nom- 
inee." The  nomination  was  ably  seconded  by  Hon.  Peter  B.  Olney, 
of  New  York,  and  Gen.  Falkner,  of  Livingston,  and  Mr.  Lapham  was 
unanimously  nominated,  an  honor  rarely  if  ever  conferred  by  a  State 
Convention  for  that  office.  On  account  of  severe  sickness  in  his  family, 
Mr.  Lapham  could  not  make  a  personal  canvass  prior  to  the  election, 
but  in  locations  where  he  was  well  known  he  ran  far  ahead  of  the  bal- 
ance of  the  ticket.  At  the  State  Convention  held  in  Buffalo  in  1S84, 
his  name  was  prominently  mentioned  by  the  Tilden  wing  of  the  party 
for  comptroller,  but  after  the  nomination  of  Isaac  H.  Maynard  as  Sec- 
retary of  State,  Mr.  Lapham  declined  to  allow  his  name  to  go  upon  the 
ticket.  Since  this  time  he  has  withdrawn  entirely  from  politics;  al- 
though he  has  been  often  solicited  by  the  leaders  of  his  party,  he  has 
declined  taking  any  active  part  in  political  matters.  Mr.  Lapham 
was  one  of  the  seven  commissioners  appointed  by  the  State  Legisla- 
ture to  locate  the  site  of  the  cantilever  bridge  at  Niagara  Falls,  which 
was  the  first  of  the  kind  erected  in  the  United  States. 

Mr.  Lapham  married,  in  1861,  Margaret  P.,  daughter  of  Hon.  Ezekiel 
Casner,  and  their  family  consists  of  four  children  :  Charles  C,  who  is 
treasurer  of  Hammondsport  Vintage  Co.,  resides  in  Penn  Yan  ;  Margaret 
R.,  wife  of  Walter  Sheppard,  proprietor  and  editor  of  the  Penn  Yan 
Democrat;  George  H.,  jr.,  a  student  at  Cornell  University,  and  Bessie 
C.  Mrs.  Lapham  died  March  14.  1887,  and  he  remarried  June,  13,  1889, 
Miss  Kathleen  H.  M.  Boddy,  daughter  of  the  Archdeacon  of  York,  M. 
A.  Cambridge,  of  Toronto,  Canada. 

Mr.  Lapham,  as  a  late  very  intimate  friend  of  him  says,  "  is  a  man  of 
quick  perceptions  and  rare  common  sense,  with  accurate  and  method- 
ical business  habits  and  superior  business  ability.  He  is  in  the  prime 
of  life  and  is  of  attractive  personal  appearance.  He  enjoys  to  a  large 
degree  the  culture  of  experience  and  observation  and  has  proved  him- 
self to  be  a  practical  and  successful  business  man." 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


S19 


CASNER,  Hon.   EZEKIEL,  the  son  of  John  and   Lydia  (Rhodes) 
Casner,  was  born  in  Norristown,  Pa.,  April  23,  1802.      His  father 
dying  when   Mr.  Casner  was  quite  young,  he    was   only  able  to  obtain 
the  advantages  of  a  common  school   education.      He  was  apprenticed  to 
learn  the  trade  of  miller,  and  when  hardly  in  his  majority  he  engaged  in 
the  milling  business  in  Allentown,  Pa.,  which   place  he  left  in  1824  and 
came  to  Penn  Yan,  which  thereafter  lie  made  his  future  home.      He  first 
obtained   employment  of  Abraham    Wagener  who   ran  a  flouring- mill 
where  the  present  one  is  located  in  Penn  Yan.      In  company  with  Hon. 
Aaron  Remer,  he  purchased  the  mill  and  the  firm  continued  until  1843 
when  it  was  dissolved  by  the  death  of  Mr.  Remer.      During  the  same 
year  Mr.  Casner  formed  a  partnership  with  John  C.  Scheetz,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Casner  &  Scheetz.      This  firm  continued  business  until  the 
death  of  the  senior  partner;   and  during  a  partnership  of  most  forty  years 
the  most   pleasant  relations  existed,  which  speaks  well   for  their  enter- 
prise and  mutual  confidence.      In   politics   Mr.  Casner  was  originally  a 
Whig  ;   he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Assembly  in  1844  ;   he  was  ap- 
pointed by  President  Fillmore  to  fill  the  unexpired  term  of   Mr.  James 
Robinson  as  postmaster  of  Penn  Yan,  and  during  the  seven  months  he 
filled  that  position  he  gave   the  income  of  the   office   to   his  assistants. 
Upon  the  disruption  of  the   Whig  party  he  became  a  Democrat,  with 
which   party  he  thereafter  affiliated,  taking  an  active  part,  and  persist- 
ently refusing  any  political  honors,  though  often  solicited  to  do  so. 

Mr.  Casner  was  a  man  of  sincere  convictions,  and  free  and  frank  in 
the  utterance  of  his  views.  He  was  in  no  mean  sense  a  wit  and  as  such 
was  a  character  in  his  originality.  When  in  his  neighborly  way  he  did 
talk  it  was  to  the  point  and  the  hits  were  worth  considering  and  remem- 
bering. He  was  industrious,  economical  and  exemplary  in  his  daily 
unostentatious  life.  Commencing  business  in  Penn  Yan  with  no  advan- 
tages and  among  strangers,  he  early  attracted  the  men  of  prominence 
in  the  community  by  his  self-reliance,  merit  and  worth,  and  always  en- 
joyed their  confidence.  He  married  before  coming  to  Penn  \'an,  Miss 
Elizabeth  Kachline.  They  had  a  family  of  nine  children,  and  though 
six  of  them  arrived  at  the  age  of  maturity,  none  are  now  living.  The  six 
mentioned  above  were  Joanna,  who  married  Henrj-  L.  Kendig  ;  Frank, 
Lydia,  Margaret  Prior,  who  married  Hon.  George  II.  Lapliam  ;   Samuel, 


520  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

and  Albanus  C.  Mrs.  Casner  died  May  26,  1846,  and  on  June  17,  1852, 
Mr.  Casner  married  Elizabeth  J.,  daughter  of  Dr.  E.  E.  W.  Gale,  of 
Albany,  N.  Y.,  who  survives  him  and  resides  on  the  Casner  homestead 
in  Penn  Yan.  The  issue  of  this  marriage  was  Elizabeth  A.  who  married 
Dr.  Byron  B.  Harcas,  at  Penn  Yan,  and  died  at  Rushville,  N.  Y.  Mr. 
Casner  died  October  22,  1882,  and  the  universal  testimony  and  appre- 
ciation of  the  poor  to  his  goodness  of  heart  and  sympathizing  disposi- 
tion are  sufficient  evidences  of  the  love  he  bore  his  neighbors,  however 
lowly.  His  benevolence  was  a  marked  trait  of  his  character.  He  was 
successful  in  accumulating  a  comfortable  competency,  which,  after  pro- 
viding liberally  for  his  widow,  was  equally  distributed  amongst  his  sur- 
viving heirs.  Besides  being  engaged  in  the  milling  business,  Mr.  Casner 
was  connected  with  other  mercantile  enterprises.  He  was  from  its  or- 
ganization in  1873  until  his  death  a  director  of  the  First  National  Bank 
of  Penn  Yan,  and  on  financial  and  other  matters  his  approval  was  often 
sought  by  the  general  public.  He  was  very  outspoken,  direct  and 
practical,  and  rarely  erred  in  judgment  of  men  and  things. 


SMITH,  FRANKLIN  ELLSWORTH,  an  early  merchant  of  Penn 
Yan,  was  born  in  that  village,  April  6,  1824.  His  father,  Eben 
Smith,  was  a  prominent  merchant  and  influential  citizen  of  Penn  Yan 
for  nearly  a  half  of  a  century.  His  mother,  Miss  Eliza  Ellsworth,  was 
a  sister  of  Judge  S.  S.  Ellsworth.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  our  subject 
entered  his  father's  hardware  store  as  clerk.  He  continued  in  this  busi- 
ness till  1852,  alone  and  in  partnership  with  his  father.  With  others, 
Mr.  Smith  was  largely  interested  in  the  building  of  the  Elmira,  Canan- 
daicua  and  Niagara  Falls  Railroad,  which  enterprise  proved  not  to  be  a 
financial  success.  Soon  after  disposing  of  his  hardware  business  he  en- 
gaged in  the  clothing  trade,  in  which  he  remained  until  July  8,  1884. 
Mr.  Smith  was  known  as  an  upright  and  useful  citizen,  an  active  sup- 
porter of  public  improvement,  conspicuous  for  his  fair  dealing,  and  had 
a  deep  interest  in  all  that  concerned  the  welfare  of  his  native  town  and 
county.  He  was  one  of  the  most  active  and  influential  friends  of  the 
Penn  Yan  and  New  York  Railroad.  He  was  twice  elected  supervisor 
of  the  town  of  Milo,  and  was  jealously  watchful  of  the  interests  of  the 
town,  and    faithful   to   his   trust,  as  he  was  in  every  department  of  life  ; 


^(^  uy^?u. 


~s%* 


^-^^^^^/^^-^^^ 


I^tny  ^'    l^^T^ci/vU.^^ 


/ 


{^^^.  ^. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  521 

for  in  those  respects  he  was  as  conscientious  and  just  as  he  was  frank 
and  open-hearted.  As  a  husband  and  father  he  was  mindful  of  the 
responsibiUties  which  those  relations  imposed,  and  as  a  member  of  a 
Christian  church — the  Presbyterian — he  was  alike  responsive  to  his  obli- 
gations, rarely  missing  its  meetings  for  public  worship,  and  striving 
ever  to  walk  by  the  rules  of  his  higii  calling  in  sincerity  and  truth. 
He  was  for  many  years  connected  with  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  filled 
very  acceptably  many  high  positions  in  that  order.  He  married  in 
1869  Emily,  daughter  of  Rev.  Dr.  Heman  Dyer,  of  New  York.  Their 
only  child  is  Emily  Stewart  Smith. 

Mr.  Smith,  after  a  long  and  protracted  sickness,  died  January  I  i,  1886, 
and  in  his  death  Penn  Yan  lost  one  of  her  most  influential  and  enter- 
prising merchants. 


SHEPPARD,  Hon.  MORRIS  F.,  was  born  at  Germantown,  near 
Philadelphia,  November  28,  1774,  being  the  son  of  Moses  Shep- 
pard  and  Hannah  Fletcher.  They  were  members  of  the  society  of 
Friends  or  Quakers.  The  ancestors  of  Moses  Sheppard  had  settled 
sometime  about  1675,  at  Salem,  N.  J.,  and  afterwards  some  of  the  fam- 
ily had  made  homes  for  themselves  in  the  prosperous  colony  which  had, 
in  the  meanwhile,  been  established  under  the  auspices  of  William  Penn. 
In  the  year  1800,  Mr.  Sheppard,  in  company  with  two  or  three  others, 
made  an  exploring  expedition  on  horseback  to  the  Genesee  country, 
and  finally  found  their  way  to  the  spot  where  now  is  the  village  of  Penn 
Yan.  So  pleased  was  he  with  the  country,  that  he  at  once  made  prepa- 
rations for  emigrating  and  settling  there.  In  1 801,  with  a  horse  and 
cart,  he  again  made  the  journey,  bringing  with  him  what  personal  prop- 
erty he  possessed,  and  the  implements  of  his  trade.  Arriving  at  his 
destination,  he  purchased  of  Abraham  Wagener,  ten  acres  of  land  on 
the  east  side  of  Main  street,  bounded  on  the  north  by  Head  street,  and 
embracing  Jacob's  Brook.  Here  he  established  a  tannery,  one  of  the 
first,  if  not  the  first,  in  the  county,  certainly  the  first  within  the  limits 
of  Penn  Yan.  The  same  year  he  married  Rachel  Supplee,  daughter  of 
the  widow  of  Peter  Supplee.  Mrs.  Supplee  had  come  to  this  country 
about  1797,  in  company  with  her  brother,  David  Wagener.  Mr.  Shep- 
pard and  Rachel  Supplee  were  married  October  22,  1801,  and  erecting 
«6 


522  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

a  small   log  house  with  two  ground   rooms,  they  kept  house  in  one  end 
while  the  other  was  used  as  a  finishing  shop  for  the  tannery. 

Mr.  -Sheppard  was  an  active  and  useful  citizen  of  the  young  village 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  November  i8,  1846.  The  following 
newspaper  notices,  written  by  men  who  knew  him  well,  will  give  a  good 
idea  bf  his  career  and  character. 

From  Daily  Telegrapli,  Thursday,  November  19,  1846. 

"  Died  in  this  village,  last  evening,  after  an  illness  of  a  week's  dura- 
tion, Hon.  Morris  F.  Sheppard,  aged  seventy-two  years. 

"  The  deceased  was  one  of  the  founders  of  Penn  Yan,  as  well  as  one  of 
the  earliest  settlers  of  this  now  fertile  region  of  country.  He  spread  his 
tent  in  the  then  wilderness,  and  not  far  from  the  spot  where  his  remains 
now  lie,  over  fifty  years  ago.  He  has  lived  and  participated  in  the 
active  bustle  of  business  enterprise  and  improvement,  and  seen  and  as- 
sisted in  making  the  waste  places  become  beautiful  gardens,  and  the 
'  Hazel  Copse  '  become  one  of  the  most  thrifty  and  prosperous  villages 
of  Western  New  York.  He  enjoyed  through  life  the  esteem  and  confi. 
dence  of  his  fellow  citizens  in  an  eminent  degree,  and  was  frequently 
called  upon  by  them  to  fill  important  stations  of  public  trusts.  His 
labors  in  the  legislature  for  several  successive  sessions  were  appeciated 
beyond  the  bounds  of  the  county  that  honored  him  by  its  suffrage.  In 
all  the  relations  of  life,  public  and  private,  he  discharged  the  obligations 
imposed  upon  him  with  credit  to  himself  and  his  constituency.  He  was 
a  kind  husband,  an  affectionate  father,  and  an  honest  man.  Those  who 
knew  him  best  and  longest  loved  him  most.  And  now  that  he  has  been 
gathered  by  the  great  destroyer  of  us  ail,  ripe  and  full  of  years,  there  are 
many  outside  of  the  circle  of  his  family  and  kindred  who  will  sincerely 
mourn  his  departure,  and  long  cherish  a  remembrance  of  the  many  ex- 
cellent traits  of  the  character  of  Morris  F".  Sheppard.  From  the  earliest 
dawn  of  the  temperance  reformation  to  the  day  of  his  departure,  that 
glorious  cause  had  no  truer  advocate." 

From   Yates  County  CAro/n'c/e  of  March  5,  1874. 

"  It  may  neither  be  inappropriate  nor  unprofitable  to  offer  a  few  re- 
marks respecting  the  father  and  family  of  the  late  deceased  George  A, 
Sheppard.  They  may  awaken  interesting  reminiscences.  Haifa  century 
ago,  Morris   F.    Sheppard,   esq.,   then   in   the   prime  of  life,   was  one  of 


biographical:  523 

the  prominent  and  enterprising  citizens  of  Penn  Yan.  His  cliildren  by 
his  wife  Rachel  were  George  A.,  Saraii  F.,  John  S.,  Charles  C,  and 
Susan.  The  father  and  sons  have  been  prosperous,  yea  more  tlian  pros- 
perous, in  their  business  aft'airs,  by  reason  of  their  economical,  industri- 
ous, correct  and  temperate  habits.  Of  said  children,  Charles  C.  Sheppard 
now  alone  survives. 

"  Morris  F.  Sheppard  came  to  this  place  at  an  early  day  from  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  commenced  business  as  a  tanner  and  currier.  In  addition  to 
taking  care  of  his  own  affairs,  he  was  soon  and  frequently  called  upon 
by  his  fellow  citizens  to  attend  to  theirs.  Sometimes  a  couple  of  neigh- 
bors would  come  to  him  to  settle  their  little  difficulty,  but  oftener  to  call 
on  him  to  become  their  servant  in  official  capacities,  reaching  from 
magistrate  to  member  of  Assembly.  He  represented  Yates  County  in 
the  State  legislature  during  the  sessions  of  1828-29-30,  with  honor  to 
himself,  and  credit  to  his  constituents,  taking  rank  among  the  foremost 
men  there.  And  although  a  man  of  outspoken  political  sentiments,  he 
could  always  poll  a  vote  in  excess  of  his  party  ticket.  He,  with  others, 
exerted  all  his  powers  to  promote  the  prosperity  and  ascendency  of  the 
upper  or  north  portion  of  the  village,  until  it  was  forced  to  succumb  to 
the  water  power,  the  canal,  the  bank,  and  the  business  of  the  town  or 
south  portion  of  Penn  Yan.  There  are  yet  a  few  left  who  can  look  back 
and  recall  the  portly  form  and  genial  face  of  Morris  F.  Sheppard,  and 
the  many  pleasant  hours  they  have  passed  with  him  in  his  office  listen- 
ing to  his  President  Lincoln-like  sayings,  and  to  words  of  interest  and 
tvaiue  to  themselves  on  very  many  subjects  His  advice  in  business 
matters,  when  called  for,  was  always  cheerfully  and  frankly  given,  and 
it  evidenced  wisdom  in  the  hearer  to  profit  by  it." 

In  addition  to  the  matters  already  spoken  of,  it  is  of  interest  to  note 
that  during  the  War  of  i8i2  Mr.  Sheppard  was  associated  with  the  or- 
ganization of  an  independent  military  company,  called  "  Silver  Grays," 
under  the  captaincy  of  Truman  Spencer,  and  was  called  out  at  the 
attack  on  Sodus  Point.  In  18 18  he  built  a  grist-mill  on  Sucker  Brook, 
located  in  what  is  now  known  as  Cornwell's  Gully.  This,  through  a 
failing  water  supply,  was  soon  rendered  an  unprofitable  speculation  In 
1830  he  built  the  stone  house  on  Main  street,  now  owned  by  Mr.  Jeptha 
Potter,  and  this  we  are  told  was  at  that  time  regarded,  "as  approach- 
ing the  extensive,  if  not  the  extravagant," 


524  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

A  record  of  Mr.  Sheppard's  life  would  be  incomplete  without  a  men- 
tion of  his  religious  belief.  For  his  time  he  was  an  advanced  thinker, 
in  that  he  believed  that  the  good  /i/e  is  of  the  first  importance.  In  a 
day  of  intolerant  creeds  he  asserted  that  to  live  uprightly  and  to  deal 
justly  are  the  essential  parts  of  true  religion,  and  that  a  man's  life  is  his 
real  "  Confession  of  faith  "  by  which  he  must  stand  or  fall. 


SHEPPARD,  CHARLES  CLEMENT.— In  an  early  chapter  of  this 
work  will  be  found  an  extended  account  of  the  family  of  which 
Mr.  Sheppard  was  a  member.  He  was  bornin  Penn  Yan,  June  9,  1808, 
and  was  the  son  of  Hon.  Morris  F.  Sheppard,  a  pioneer  of  prominence  of 
Yates  County.  His  early  life  was  passed  in  his  native  village,  attending 
the  local  schools,  and  arriving  at  the  age  of  maturity  he  became  identi- 
fied with  the  mercantile  business  of  Penn  Yan.  Of  his  business  career 
as  a  merchant  for  many  years,  and  his  subsequent  successful  operations  in 
the  purchase,  development  and  sale  of  valuable  well- placed  lands  in  the 
Western  States,  the  large  fortune  he  accumulated  is  an  evidence  of  his 
prudence,  industry  and  foresight.  Mr.  Sheppard  was  never  a  seeker  for 
office  and  place,  but  was  always  an  influential  partisan.  In  early  life  a 
Whig,  then  active  and  heroic  in  the  advocacy  and  substantial  advancement 
of  Republican  success  and  supremacy,  and  a  loyal  friend  of  the  Union 
when  its  integrity  was  in  peril.  In  i860  he  was  a  delegate  to  the 
National  Republican  Convention  which  nominated  Abraham  Lincoln 
for  the  presidency.  In  1857,  by  a  legislative  act,  he  was  made  a  mem- 
ber of  the  original  board  of  education  of  Penn  Yan,  continuing  by 
election  as  such  until  1874,  and  for  nine  years  was  president  of  the 
same. 

Mr.  Sheppard  was  an  exemplary  man  in  his  daily  life,  a  model  of  ex- 
cellent personal,  business  and  covenant  relations  and  performances.  He 
was  a  good  citizen,  with  his  face  and  force  ever  in  the  higher  and  bet- 
ter direction  ;  frank  in  the  expression  of  his  opinions,  invariably  sound, 
and  fearless  in  the  discharge  of  duty.  He  united,  at  an  early  age,  with 
the  Church  of  Christ  and  his  place  in  all  of  its  worship  was  never  vacant, 
his  voice  for  his  heavenly  Master  was  never  silent,  and  his  ample  purse 
was  ever  open.  To  the  beautiful  new  Presbyterian  Church  edifice  of 
this  village  he  was  a  very  large  contributor.      Cheerfully,  yet  modestly, 


FAMIL  V  SKETCHES.  525 

in  the  congregation  of  the  people,  he  volunteered  his  timely  aid,  and  on 
recording  his  large  donation  on  a  subsequent  day,  he  closed  his  eyes, 
suffused  with  tears,  while  he  silently  prayed  for  God's  direction  and 
blessing  on  the  proposed  religious  home.  For  years  he  gave  largely  to 
church,  missionary,  educational,  and  benevolent  causes,  and  no  deserv- 
ing local  charity  ever  failed  to  receive  his  prompt,  discreet  and  liberal 
response.  Peculiar  in  his  ways  and  methods,  as  reformers  usually  are, 
in  his  intercourse  with  his  fellow- men,  we  believe  that  no  honest,  appre- 
ciative person  ever  listened  to  his  critical  counsel  and  pertinent  sug- 
gestions without  feeling  in  his  heart  that  he  was  right,  and  faithful  and 
sincerely  desirous  that  better  examples  and  purer  purposes  should  be 
pursued.  Many  of  his  original  trite  sayings  will  long  be  remembered. 
Mr.  Sheppard  died  January  17,  1888,  and  of  his  family  the  following 
survive  him,  viz.:  John  S.,  a  prominent  and  influential  citizen  of  Penn 
Yan  ;  Capt.  Morris  F.,  president  of  the  Yates  County  National  Bank  of 
Penn  Yan  ;  and  Mrs.  Sarah  F.  S.  Armstrong.  All  over  the  State  and 
countrj'  the  death  of  Mr.  Sheppard,  so  long  identified  with  Penn  Yan, 
the  center  of  his  life- long  activities  and  generous  benefactions,  was  re- 
ceived with  regret  and  impressive  consideration.  Life  is  judged  by  its 
results,  and  his  was  known  to  all. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

FAMILY  SKETCHES, 

rO  enumerate  all  of  the  old  and  prominent  families  in  Yates  county 
would  in  itself  make  a  large  and  pretentious  volume,  while  it 
would  be  practically  impossible  to  give  a  genealogical  sketch  of  all. 
We  have  been  compelled,  owing  to  lack  of  space,  to  limit  these 
sketches  to  only  those  who  have  felt  and   manifested  an  interest  in  pre- 


526  HIS  TOR  Y  OF  YA  TES  CO  UN  T  Y 

serving  the  records  of  their  ancestors.  In  this  chapter  biographical 
notices  iiave  been  collected  and  printed  of  those  whose  descendants  to- 
day form  the  business  and  social  life  of  the  stated  localities. 


Town  of  Milo. 

Baxter,  Gilbert,  was  born  in  Covert,  Seneca  County,  N.  Y.,  in  June, 
1839,  and  came  with  his  father's  family  to  Milo  in  183  i.  They  settled 
on  the  Thomas  Bennett  farm  on  the  east  road,  and  here  Gilbert  has  ever 
since  lived.  Thomas  Baxter,  his  father,  died  here  in  March,  1864.  In 
October,  1852,  Gilbert  married  Emeline  Titus,  of  Milo,  by  whom  he  had 
seven  children,  six  of  whom  are  living,  viz. :  Gilbert  C,  Ella,  Lida, 
George,  William,  and  M.  Louise. 

Bigger,  Garrett  Ayers,  born  in  Sullivan  County,  Pa.,  September  5, 
1846,  was  a  son  of  James  and  Catherine  Bigger.  At  the  age  of  twelve 
he  came  to  live  with  Garrett  Ayers  in  Milo,  where  he  was  brought  up 
to  farm  work.  About  twenty- five  years  ago  Mr.  Bigger  purchased  the 
Adam  Struble  farm,  but  bought  his  present  place  in  1877.  It  is  de- 
voted principally  to  fruit  and  grape  growing.  In  1868  he  married 
Mary  M.  Longor.  They  have  no  children.  Both  are  members  of  the 
Baptist  Church.  In  politics  Mr.  Bigger  is  a  Republican,  and  in  1888 
he  was  elected  as  such  to  the  ofifice  of  justice  of  the  peace. 

Bogart,  Theodore,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Milo,  October  5,  1828. 
He  was  the  youngest  of  the  seven  children  of  Cornelius  and  Phebe 
(Cornwell)  Bogart.  His  early  education  was  acquired  in  the  common 
schools  of  the  town.  His  first  business  venture  was  the  manufacture  of 
fanning  mills  in  Penn  Yan,  Bath  and  Perry,  New  York  State.  After- 
wards he  did  a  large  business  in  company  with  Adam  Oliver,  of  Ingersoll, 
Canada,  in  the  manufacture  and  sale  of  these  celebrated  mills.  He  also 
sold  the  famous  Seth  Thomas  Clocks  in  Canada.  In  his  business  enter- 
prises Mr.  Bogart  has  been  fairly  successful,  and  has  acquired  a  com- 
fortable competency.  He  married  Mary  A.,  daughter  of  Daniel  Brennan, 
in  1863,  and  they  had  two  children,  Josephine  and  Louise,  both  of 
whom   are   living.      Mrs.  Bogart   died  in    1874.     Theodore  Bogart  has 


BIOGRAPHICAL  527 

been  for  years  a  prominent  figure  in  Yates  County  politics,  and  is  rec- 
ognized as  one  of  the  stalwart  Republican  leaders  in  the  county  seat. 
In  1858  Mr.  Bogart  was  elected  collector  of  the  town  of  Milo  and  was 
supervisor  of  the  same  town  four  terms,  as  will  be  seen  by  reference  to 
the  succession  in  the  history  of  Yates  County,  published  by  honorable 
S.  C.  Cleveland.  In  the  fail  of  1873  he  was  elected  sheriff  of  Yates 
Countj'  and  served  one  full  term  of  three  years.  Mr.  Bogart  is  recog- 
nized as  a  man  of  the  strictest  integrity,  a  true  friend — careful  in  all  his 
business  relations,  and  is  justly  esteemed  by  his  fellow  citizens. 

I^ragg,  Ethan,  born  in  Erie  County,  N.  Y.,  about  1822,  married  Eliza 
Einch,  of  Milo,  by  whom  he  had  two  children,  Martin  and  Zalmuna. 
In  1862  Mr.  Bragg  enlisted  in  the  126th  Infantry  New  York  Volunteers, 
and  was  discharged  with  his  regiment.  Zalmuna  Bragg,  born  March 
27,  1857,  in  Milo,  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  in  Starkey 
Seminary  and  Oberlin  College.  August  20,  1885,  he  married  Ida  A., 
daughter  of  Sanford  Kriss,  of  Starkey.  Mr.  Bragg  is  a  farmer  and  fruit 
grower.      His  maternal  grandfather  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812. 

Buxton,  William  W.,  was  a  son  of  John  Buxton,  jr.,  and  the  grandson 
of  John,  sr,  the  latter  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Milo.  William  W.  was  born 
in  Milo  August  9,  1837.  He  started  out  in  life  with  a  determination  to 
possess  a  thorough  education,  but  financial  reverses  coming  to  his  father 
changed  his  plans  and  compelled  his  return  to  the  farm.  He  exhibited 
a  remarkable  inclination  and  taste  for  geology  and  mineralogy,  and  in 
these  fields  he  has  indulged  so  far  as  time  would  permit.  His  chief  oc- 
cupation is  farming  and  fruit  and  grape  growing.  In  i86i  Mr.  Buxton 
married  Sarah  C.  Babcock,  by  whom  he  has  two  children,  John  G.  and 
Watts.     The  latter  died  in  infancy. 

Cheney,  T.  Apoleon,  born  in  Leon,  Cattaraugus  County,  N.  Y.,  March 
16,  1830,  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  graduated  from  Ober- 
lin College,  June  12,  185  I.  He  married  Julia  R.  Towers,  of  Conewango, 
N.  Y.  She  was  born  April  9,  1829.  They  had  five  children  :  Louis  A., 
Julia  E.,  Willis,  Francis  and  George  B.  Louis  A.  Cheney  was  born 
April  29,  1852,  at  Leon,  N.  Y.  He  is  a  fruit  grower  and  apiarist. 
March  5.  1875,  he  married  Ida  J.,  daughter  of  Samuel  P.  Bryant  of 
Covington,  Tioga  County,  Pa.  They  have  one  daughter,  Mabel,  living, 
born  February  5,  1889. 


528  HISTORY  UF   YATES  COUNTY. 

Chubb,  Ira,  became  a  resident  of  Himrods  in  Yates  County,  in  1887, 
but  was  a  native  of  Steuben  County,  N.  Y.,  being  born  at  Bradford  in 
1845.  ^^  was  a  farmer.  In  1862  he  enlisted  in  Company  D,  i6ist 
New  York  Volunteers,  and  served  three  years  and  three  months.  He 
was  scalded  on  a  gunboat  and  made  prisoner  at  Sabine  Pass.  There- 
after he  was  confined  in  the  rebel  prisons  at  Husted,  Hemstead  and 
Tyler  or  eleven  months,  before  being  exchanged.  He  then  rejoined 
his  command  and  completed  his  term.  In  1866  Mr.  Cliubb  married 
Rebecca  Dickinson,  by  whom  he  has  two  children.  Since  living  at  Him- 
rods he  has  devoted  his  time  to  speculation. 

Cornell,  William,  born  in  Ireland  March  6,  1841,  came  to  America 
with  his  parents  in  1851,  and  first  located  in  Bradford,  Steuben  County, 
N.  Y.  He  then  lived  with  Daniel  Washburn  in  Altay,  Schuyler  County, 
N.  Y.,  one  year  and  six  months,  and  then  resided  with  his  uncle,  Will- 
iam R.  Baskins  in  Starkey,  until  he  was  twenty- one  years  old.  He 
then  came  to  Milo  and  worked  for  George  L.  Jones.  September  4, 
1864,  he  enlisted  in  Company  I,  148th  Infantry  Volunteers,  and  partic- 
ipated in  the  battles  of  Chapin's  Farm  and  Fair  Oaks.  In  the  latter  fight 
he  was  captured  with  fifty-  six  others  of  his  regiment  and  taken  to  Libby 
Prison,  where  he  remained  a  short  time,  and  was  then  taken  to 
Salisbury,  N.  C,  where  he  remained  until  February  22,  1865,  and  was 
then  taken  to  Raleigh,  where  he  was  paroled  and  sent  to  Wilmington, 
N.  C,  where  he  and  others  were  turned  over  to  the  United  States  au- 
thorities and  sent  to  Annapolis,  Md.  He  was  discharged  July  19,  1865, 
at  Elmira,  N.  Y.  December  30,  1865,  he  married  a  daughter  of  Henry 
Spears,  of  Tyrone,  Schuyler  County,  N.  Y.  They  have  two  children, 
Eva  and  William. 

Dewey,  David  E.,  the  proprietor  of  the  popular  resort  known  as  the 
"  Ark,"  was  born  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  in  1842.  At  the  outbreak  of  the 
late  war  he  was  in  the  south  and  was  conscripted  into  the  Confederate 
service.  After  three  years  he  deserted  and  came  into  the  Union  camp. 
He  was  wounded  on  the  first  day  of  the  liattle  of  the  Wilderness.  He 
afterward  resided  in  Wayne  County,  Michigan,  and  came  to  New  York 
State  in  1876.  In  1880  he  purchased  the  "Ark  "  property  from  Calvin 
Carpenter,  remodeled  it  and  improved  it,  and  made  it  the  popular  re- 
sort that  it  is.      The  mineral  springs  here  have  become  almost  famous. 


FAMIL  Y  SKETCHES.  529 

Dunn,  Homer  \V.,  was  born  in  Painted  Post,  Steuben  County,  N.  Y., 
March  4,  1814,  was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  and  was  a  farmerby 
occupation.  January  17,  1839,  he  married  Mary  A.,  daughter  of  Rus- 
sell A.  Hunt,  by  whom  he  had  five  children:  Rebekah  A  ,  Theron  T., 
who  married  Carrie  A.  Holden  and  resides  in  Chicago,  111.  ;  Florence 
H.,  who  married  Thomas  Ellis  and  lives  in  Watkins,  N.  Y.  ;  Willis  C, 
Carrabel,  who  married  S.  Frank  Swarthout  and  resides  in  Milo.  Rebekah 
A.  and  Willis  C.  are  unmarried  and  remain  at  the  homestead  with  their 
mother.  Mr.  Dunn  is  a  successful  farmer,  giving  particular  attention 
to  breeding  fine  stock. 

Fiero,  John  C,  was  born  in  Ulster  County,  N.  Y.,  October  28,  18 16, 
a  son  of  Abram  and  Mary  Fiero.  In  April,  1 842,  he  came  to  Milo  Cen- 
ter with  a  stock  of  goods,  and  started  in  trade.  He  was  in  business 
here  (or  six  years,  when  he  moved  to  Cass  County,  Mich.,  where  he 
kept  a  store  for  three  years.  Returning  thence  to  Milo,  Mr.  Fiero 
bought  the  old  Abel  Hunt  farm,  on  which  he  has  since  lived  in  com- 
fort and  quiet.  On  the  14th  of  February,  1844,  in  Milo,  he  married 
Mary  A.,  daughter  of  W^illiam  W.  Aspell.  Five,  children  have  been 
born  of  this  marriage:  William  H.,  Frank  ].,  John  A.,  Helen  and  Etta. 
John  C.  Fiero  is  one  of  the  strong  Republicans  of  Milo,  but  of  late  years 
he  has  taken  no  active  part  in  politics.  He  was  assessor  of  the  town 
three  j'ears. 

Gano,  Emmett,  born  in  Dundee,  June  7,  1850,  was  the  son  of  Joseph 
and  Adaline  (Reader)  Gano,  and  the  youngest  of  si.K  children.  Emmett 
was  reared  on  his  father's  farm,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty  started  out  for 
himself.  In  1874  he  bought  from  Penfield  Mulford  124  acres  of  land  in 
Milo,  one  of  the  best  and  most  pleasantly  situated  tracts  in  the  town. 
On  this  property  Mr.  Gano  has  made  material  changes  and  improvements 
and  now  has  ten  acres  of  viiieyard,  six  acres  of  berries,  fourteen  acres 
of  apple  orchard,  and  between  400  and  500  peach  trees.  On  June  12, 
1888,  he  married  Ruth  Ann,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Marietta  Hicks, 
of  Peim  Yan,  N.  Y.  Mr.  Gano  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  l-'irst 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Penn  Yan. 

Gardner  Family,  The. — Mary  Reynolds  married  George  Gardner,  of 
North  Kingston,  R.  I.     She  was  a  firm  believer  in  the  doctrines  of  Je- 

67 


530  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

niima  Wilkinson,  and  one  of  her  most  faithful  followers.  Leaving  her 
husband  behind  she  brought  her  children,  Dorcas,  Abner  and  George, 
and  settled  near  the  Friend's  residence  on  the  west  shore  of  Seneca 
Lake.  Dorcas  Gardner,  born  in  1779,  married  Eleazer  Ingham,  jr.,  and 
their  children  were  John,  Abigail,  Mary,  George,  Rhoda,  Rachel  and 
Nancy.  Abner  Gardner,  born  in  1781,  married  Mary,  daughter  of 
Rowland  Champlin,  in  1814.  Their  children  were  Mary  S.,  George  W., 
Rowland  J.,  and  Abner.  The  father  died  in  1S60,  the  mother  in  1858. 
Mary  S.,  unmarried,  died  in  1839;  George  W.,  born  in  1816,  married 
Mary,  daughter  of  Daniel  Husted,  reside  in  Torry.  Their  children  are 
Melville  G.,  married,  and  a  prosperous  citizen  of  Michigan  ;  Hannah, 
married,  and  living  in  Michigan  ;  Charles,  single,  residing  with  his  par- 
ents;  Mary  married  and  at  home. 

Gardner,  Rowland  J.,  was  born  in  182 1  and  married  first,  Lydia  L., 
daughter  of  Henry  Hunt.  His  second  wife  is  Emma,  daughter  of  Ste- 
phen Bennett.  They  reside  on  lot  21.  Mr.  Gardner  is  a  prominent 
stock  grower  and  an  honored  and  useful  citizen.  TJieir  children  are 
Rowland  J.,  born  in  1865  ;  Jonathan  J.  born  in  1867  ;  Mary  L.,  born  in 
1870;  Lee  B.,  born  in  1873  ;  George  A.,  born  in  1875  ;  and  Emma  D., 
born  in  1877.  Rowland  J.,  Jonathan  J.,  and  Mary  L.,  are  married  and 
live  near  the  paternal  home.  Abner  Gardner,  jr.,  born  in  1825,  married 
Sarah,  daughter  of  John  Stone.  Their  children  are  Rowland  J.  2d, 
born  in  1850,  and  Abner  Elmer,  born  in  1862.  Both  sons  are  married 
and  are  intelligent,  useful  citizens.  Intelligence,  thrift  and  hospitality 
mark  all  the  members  of  this  family,  and  the  heads  of  these  families 
have  all  been  honored  by  the  suffrages  of  the  people  with  positions  of 
trust  and  honor. 

Haines,  Egbert,  born  in  Putnam  County  in  the  town  of  Southeast, 
January  5,  1824,  was  the  son  of  Edmund  and  Sarah  Haines.  He  lived 
for  a  time  in  Chenango  County,  but  in  January,  1854,  went  to  Torrey, 
Yates  County.  In  1881  Mr.  Haines  bought  an  excellent  location  near 
Penn  Yan,  and  since  that  time  has  made  his  home  at  the  latter  place. 
On  December  14,  1846,  he  married  Amelia  Tovvnsend  They  have  no 
children.      Both  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church  at  Benton. 

Henderson,  James  A.,  son  of  Samuel  and  Henrietta  F.  Henderson, 
was  born  in    Milo,  March   24,  1822.      At   the    age   of  twent)-eight   he 


FAMILY  SKETCHES.  531 

commenced  railroading  on  the  Erie  and  later  went  to  Georgia  and  Mis- 
sissippi, where  he  was  at  the  commencement  of  the  war.  He  was  not 
conscripted  into  the  Confederate  service,  but  stayed  south  voluntarily, 
conducting  trains  and  doing  other  railroad  service  under  military 
authority.  In  1863  he  returned  to  Milo  and  purchased  137  acres  in 
the  south  part  of  the  town.  Here  he  has  since  lived,  devoting  his  time 
to  agricultural  pursuits.  In  1858,  at  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  Mr.  Henderson 
married  Mary  E.  Abbey,  by  whom  he  had  four  children.  In  187 1 
Mrs.  Henderson  died,  and  April  3,  1888,  Mr.  Henderson  married  Mary 
E.,  daughter  of  Alexander  Bell. 

Hollowell,  John  B.,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Milo  on  the  farm  on 
which  he  now  resides  on  October  5,  1820.  He  was  the  son  of  Joseph 
and  Eleanor  Hollowell,  old  and  highly  respected  residents.  Joseph  was 
a  shoemaker  by  trade,  but  took  to  farming  as  a  more  suitable  occupa- 
tion. Both  he  and  his  wife  died  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  John  B. 
The  latter  has  always  lived  on  this  farm,  but  the  improvements  he  has 
made  have  entirely  changed  its  appearance.  John  B.  Hollowell  mar- 
ried Mercy  E.  Sprague,  and  to  them  have  been  born  six  children  : 
Eleanor,  De  Witt,  Olive,  John,  Alice  and  Franc.  He  is  a  prominent 
member,  steward  and  class-leader  of  the  M.  E.  Church  at  Milo  Center. 
In  politics  he  has  been  a  Republican,  but  is  now  a  staunch  Prohibi- 
tionist. 

Hyatt,  Nelson,  was  born  in  Covert,  Seneca  County,  N.  Y.,  March  2, 
1831,  the  son  of  Abram  and  Mary  (Smith)  Hyatt,  of  that  place.  Hehas 
followed  various  occupations  commencing  as  school  teacher,  then  as  in- 
structor in  music,  followed  by  several  years  as  editor  of  weekly  newspa- 
pers (the  Dundee  Record,  Waterloo  Observer  and  the  Ovid  Independent), 
and  at  other  and  intermediate  times  his  favorite  calling,  that  of  teaching 
music.  While  connected  with  the  Dundee  Record  he  studied  law  in  the 
office  of  Seeley  &  Wolcott,  and  was  admitted  to  practice  in  1857,  but 
has  never  practiced  his  profession.  About  1875  '''^  came  to  reside  in 
Milo,  just  outside  the  limits  of  Penn  Yan.  Here  he  has  entered  into  a 
fine  grape  and  fruit-growing  business,  together  witli  music  teaching.  In 
1862  Mr.  Hyatt  married  Celia  Wright,  of  Waterloo.  Two  children  have 
been  born  of  this  marriage. 


532  HISTORY  UF  YATES  COUA'TY. 

Jones,  Seth  Nelson,  son  of  Seth  and  Rachel  (Fitzuater)  Jones,  was 
born  in  August,  1833.  Both  parents  were  of  old  pioneer  stock  in  the 
county,  and  both  were  members  of  respected  families.  The  old  Jones 
home  farm  is  still  in  the  family,  the  property  of  Seth  N.  At  eighteen 
years  of  age  S.  Nelson  started  for  himself.  He  worked  on  the  farm 
summers  and  taught  school  winters.  About  eighteen  years  ago  he 
came  to  Himrods,  and  entering  commercial  life  as  the  active  member 
in  partnership  with  G.  S.  Ayres,  became  a  dealer  in  grain,  coal,  lum- 
ber, .seeds  and  phosphates,  doing  an  extensive  and  successful  business. 
In  1858  he  married  Margaret  Rapalee,  by  whom  he  has  had  one  child, 
Herbert  A.  Jones. 

Jones,  Asa  L.,  born  in  Milo,  October  11,  1826,  and  a  son  of  Seth 
and  Rachel  Jones,  has  always  been  a  farmer,  teaching  school  winters, 
with  few  exceptions,  from  1847  to  1872.  Prior  to  1872  he  and  his 
brother  Loring  owned  a  farm  in  Starkey.  In  politics  Mr.  Jones  is  in- 
dependent, taking  no  practical  active  part  in  the  prevailing  conduct  and 
management  of  the  different  organized  parties,  but  possessing  a  lively 
interest  in  local,  State  and  national  affairs,  as  becomes  every  good 
citizen. 

Jones,  Josiah,  came  to  the  State  of  New  York  in  1806,  and  located 
near  the  village  of  Himrods.  His  son  Seth,  born  August  23,  1786,  in 
East  Greenwich,  came  with  his  parents  from  \'ermont  to  Milo  when  a 
young  man.  February  5,  1823,  he  married  Rachel,  daughter  of  George 
Fitzwater,  of  Milo.  She  was  born  December  13,  1796.  They  had  five 
children:  George  L.,  Asa  L.,  born  October  11;  1826;  Loring  G.,  born 
January  6,  1830,  died  May  25,  1890;  and  Allen  C.  George  L.  Jones, 
born  May  11.  1825.  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  in  Starkey 
Seminary.  After  a  varied  career  he  settled  on  a  farm  and  October  I, 
1867,  he  married  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Samuel  Enibree,  of  Torrey. 
Allen  C.  Jones  was  born  in  Milo,  Novmber  22,  1835,  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools,  and  is  a  prosperous  farmer.  March  6,  1866,  he  mar- 
ried Eliza,  daughter  of  Moses  Rapalee,  of  Torrey.  S.  Nelson  Jones, 
born  August  10,  1833,  received  an  academic  education,  and  is  a  farm- 
er and  grain,  coal  and  lumber  dealer.  February  4,  185S,  he  married 
Margaret,  daughter  of  Miles  G.  Raplee,  of  Milo.  They  had  one  son, 
Herbert   A.      Mrs.  Jones  died  April  27,  1883.      Herbert  A.  Jones  was 


FAMILY  SKETCHES.  533 

born  October  24,  i860,  and  was  educated  in  Starkey  Seminary.  In 
1882  he  began  farming  and  the  nursery  business  on  the  homestead 
farm,  and  has  made  a  successful  business  in  all  branches.  December 
14,  1881,  he  married  Josephine  E.,  daughter  of  John  H.  Plattman,  of 
Bellona.  They  have  had  two  children,  LesHe  Gordon,  born  August  29, 
1886,  and  died  June  16,  1891,  and  Margaret  Maria,  born  February  17, 
^  1889,  now  living. 

In  18.^0  there  left  England  for  America  a  colony  of  farmers  under 
Winthrop  and  Salstonstall,  and  among  them  were  William,  Nicholas  and 
Roger  Knapp,  brothers.  William  located  in  Watertown,  Mass.,  in  1630. 
His  children  were  William,  Mary,  Elizabeth,  Ann,  Judith,  John  and 
James.  Nicholas  settled  at  the  same  place.  By  his  wife  Eleanor  he 
had  seven  children  :  Jonathan,  Timothy,  Joshua,  Caleb,  Sarah,  Ruth 
and  Hannah,  In  1648  he  moved  to  Stamford,  Conn.,  where  he  had 
two  children,  Moses  and  Lydia,  by  his  wife,  Unity.  Roger  located  in 
New  Haven,  and  later  at  Fairfield,  Conn.,  where\by  his  will  he 
mentions  his  wife  Elizabeth,  and  children  Jonathan,  Josiah,  Lydia. 
Roger,  John,  Nathaniel,  Eliza  and  Mary.  James  Knapp  came  from 
Dutchess  County  to  Cortland,  and  thence  to  Yates  County  in  181  5.  He 
served  in  the  war  of  1776  as  drum  major  for  over  six  years,  and  was  in 
the  Indian  raid  with  General  Sullivan  in  1779.  He  married  Lucy  C. 
Ball,  by  whom  he  had  four  children,  Anna  B.,  Samuel  C,  James  A., 
and  Pamelia.  The  parents  died  in  1831,  aged  respectively  sixty -seven 
and  sixty-six  years.  James  A.  Knapp  was  born  in  1794,  and  in  1816 
married  Margaret  Heltibidal.  They  had  nine  children,  George  H.,  Mar- 
sena  V.  B.,  Aaron  P.,  Samuel  A.,  Mary  L,,  Charles  F.,  Oliver  C,  Will- 
iam C,  and  Franklin  R.  The  latter  was  born  in  Pcnn  "S'an,  June  18, 
1844,  and  was  a  soldier  in  the  Union  army  during  tlie  Rebellion. 
October  2,  1867,  he  married  P'rances  A.,  daughter  of  John  and  Luc\'  A. 
Shepard,  of  Milo.  She  was  born  at  Reed's  Corners,  Ontario  County, 
N.  Y.  Her  father,  John  Shepard,  born  in  Norfolk,  England,  came  to 
America  in  1838  and  lotated  in  Gorham,  Ontario  County,  N.  Y.  Mr. 
Shepard  moved  to  Himrods  in  1876,  and  was  proprietor  of  the  hotel 
which  Mr,  Knapp  now  conducts,  for  eighteen  years. 

Longwell,  Andrew,  born  in  Bath,  N.  Y.,  in  June,  1840,  was  the 
youngest  son  of  Orrin  and  Rebecca  Longu  ell.    The  father  came  to  Milo  in 


534  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

1857,  settling  on  the  farm  on  which  Andrew  Longvvell  now  Hves, 
and  on  wiiich  he  died  in  1867.  The  place  descended  to  him  on  his  pay- 
ing the  interests  to  the  other  heirs.  In  1867  Mr.  Longwell  married 
Rebecca  Miller,  by  whom  he  has  had  three  children. 

McFarlane,  Duncan,  was  born  in  Dunbartonshire,  Scotland,  in  1788. 
About  1835  he  married  Cliristina  Smith.  They  came  to  America  and 
located  at  Hamden,  Delaware  County,  N.  Y.  They  had  eight  children, 
Jane,  Helen,  Mary,  Andrew,  John  S.  and  Margaret.  Andrew  wasa 
soldier  of  the  late  war  and  died  in  Andersonville  Prison.  John  S.,  born 
June  21,  1835,  in  early  manhood  was  a  farmer.  May  2,  1 861,  he  married 
Margaret  J.,  daughter  of  William  Fraser,  a  Presbyterian  minister  of 
Hamden,  Delaware  County,  N.  Y.  They  have  had  seven  children, 
William  A.,  M.  Lizzie,  Nellie  C,  Jennie  S.  and  Jessie  C.  (twins),  Mar- 
garet, and  one  who  died  in  infancy.  William  A.  is  a  merchant  with  his 
father.  John  S.  McFarlane  enlisted  in  Company  C,  14th  Inf  New 
York  Vols.,  August  26,  1862,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He 
was  promoted  corporal  October  I,  1864,  and  subsequently  second  ser- 
geant. Upon  his  return  to  Milo  he  was  section  foreman  on  the  North- 
ern Central  Railroad  for  eight  years.  He  then  became  a  general  mer- 
chant in  Himrods.      He  is  a  member  of  Sloan  Post,  G.  A.  R. 

Miller,  David,  tenth  of  fourteen  children  born  to  Samuel  V.  C.  and 
Esther  C.  Miller,  was  born  in  New  Jersey  and  came  with  the  family  to 
Milo  in  1823.  David  was  born  September  13,  1822,  and  lived  on  the 
old  family  homestead  on  Lake  Keuka.  He  is  a  farmer  and  vineyardist, 
having  been  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  latter  industry  in  this  locality. 
In  1868  he  married  Pricilla  A.  Haight,  of  Jerusalem,  of  which  marriage 
three  children  have  been  born.  Two  of  these,  Jessie  M.  and  David  E., 
are  living.  The  old  farm  comprises  118  acres,  of  which  twenty  are  in 
vineyard. 

Miller,  James,  was  born  in  Steuben  County,  N.  Y.,  March  22,  1819, 
the  eldest  of  five  children.  Soon  after  he  reached  the  age  of  ten  years 
his  father  died,  leaving  a  farm  of  fifty  acres  partly  improved,  and  an  ox 
team.  With  the  assistance  of  a  brother  and  his  mother,  James  carried 
on  the  farm  and  kept  the  family  together  until  he  attained  his  majority. 
His  time    was  spent    alternately  on  the  farm  and   in  the  district  school 


FAMIL  Y  SKETCHES.  535 

during  these  early  years,  supplemented  by  a  brief  attendance  at  the 
Penn  Yan  Academy.  After  teaching  school  for  a  few  terms,  and  at- 
tending an  academy  and  a  select  school,  he  entered  the  academy  at 
Aurora,  Cayuga  County,  in  1842.  He  then  devoted  his  attention  to 
the  lumber  and  transportation  business  until  1850,  when  he  assumed  the 
management  of  the  farm  on  which  he  now  resides.  Mr.  Miller  married, 
August  31,  1843,  Hannah  Benedict,  whose  father  owned  their  present 
farm,  which  is  Mrs.  Miller's  birthplace.  They  have  two  sons  and  a 
daughter,  of  whom  the  oldest  son  died  December  21,  1881.  The 
youngest  son  is  now  married  and  has  a  son  and  a  daughter  living.  James 
Miller's  daughter  graduated  from  Vassar  College  in  the  class  of  'jy. 
She  taught  Greek  and  Latin  in  the  Chambersburg  Female  College  one 
year  and  in  Vassar  College  three  years.  She  married  Rev.  P.  W.  Dor- 
sey  and  now  lives  in  Los  Angeles,  Cal.  Mr.  Miller  is  a  leading  farmer 
and  an  ardent  advocate  of  the  modern  methods  of  agriculture.  He  is  a 
writer  of  considerable  ability  upon  agricultural  topics,  and  in  this  field 
he  has  wielded  a  potent  influence.  It  is  safe  to  say  that  he  doubled  the 
products  of  the  farm  he  occupies,  and  in  the  State  at  large  has,  through 
his  teachings,  materially  increased  the  average  farmer's  income. 

Miller,  Samuel  V.,  son  of  Samuel  and  Esther  (Cutler)  Miller,  was  born 
in  New  Jersey,  Februarys,  18 14,  and  has  lived  in  Yates  County  the 
greater  part  of  his  life.  He  is  a  farmer,  the  occupation  to  which  he  was 
brought  up.  May  8,  1842,  he  married  Adeline  (who  was  born  May 
15.  18 15),  daughter  of  Allen  Vorce,  by  wliom  he  had  six  children, 
Gertrude,  Lois,  Frank,  Esther,  Ella  and  Adeline.  Mrs.  Miller  died 
March  15,  1861,  and  November  14,  1864,  Mr.  Miller  married  Drusilla, 
daughter  of  Jonathan  Miles,  by  whom  he  h;is  had  three  children,  Sam- 
uel M.,  Charles  W.  and  Lizzie  B  Samuel  V.  Miller  has  for  many  years 
been  one  of  the  prominent  men  of  Milo,  though  not  conspicuous  in 
public  office.  He  is  one  who  has  been  identified  with  the  best  interests 
of  the  town. 

Nichols,  Loring  G,  was  born  in  Milo,  August  22,  1822,  the  only 
survivor  of  four  children  born  to  Alexander  and  Mary  Nichols,  the  lat- 
ter of  whom  will  be  remembered  bj-  a  few  of  the  older  people  of  Milo 
as  having  been  a  tanner  and  currier  of  the  toun.  Loring  G.  was 
brought  up  in  part  to  his  father's  trade  but  gave  his  attention  more 


536  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

particularly  to  farming.  The  old  family  homestead  and  farm  are  now 
his.  At  the  age  of  twenty-three  Loring  married  Charlotte  Guile, 
daughter  of  Libbius  B.  and  Minerva  Guile,  by  whom  lie  had  four  chil- 
dren, Libbius  M.,  who  married  Lottie  Sherman,  Andrew  F.,  who  mar- 
ried Frances  Briggs,  Minnie  C.  (Mrs.  C.  H.  Jennings),  and  Dora  M. 
(Mrs.  Frank  Owen).  Mr.  Nichols  is  comfortably  and  pleasantly  situ- 
ated on  his  excellent  farm,  just  south  of  Milo  Center.  In  politics  he  is 
a  Republican.  He  has  held  some  of  the  minor  offices  of  the  town.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Second  Milo  Baptist  church. 

Owen,  Ira,  a  prosperous  farmer,  was  born  in  Milo  April  28,  1827,  the 
son  of  Jonathan  and  Freelove  Owen.  '  His  father's  children  were  Allen, 
Ira,  Benjamin,  Leonard,  Minerva  and  Mary  Jane.  At  the  age  of  twenty- 
two  he  married  Diantha,  daughter  of  Ezekiel  Swarthout.  Three  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  them :  Georgia  (Mrs.  Eugene  Lewis),  Lola 
(Mrs.  Orson  Brundage),  and  Merton,  who  carries  on  his  father's  farm, 
married  Eva  Bogers.  Ira  Owen  has  always  been  a  farmer;  he  lives  at 
Second  Milo,  about  one  mile  from  his  farm  property,  and  in  politics  he 
is  a  Republican,  but  takes  no  active  part  in  the  councils  of  his  party. 
The  family  are  members  of  the  Second  Milo  Baptist  Church. 

Plimpton,  John,  came  from  Massachusetts  and  settled  in  Milo  about 
1796.  He  had  eight  children  :  Esther,  who  married  Enoch  Sherman  ; 
Rachel,  who  married  Carlton  Legg ;"  Moses,  who  married  Betsey  Col- 
dren ;  Aaron;  John,  who  married  Harriet  Holden  ;  Rhoda,  wife  of 
Robert  Taft;  Polly  (or  Mary),  wife  of  Chapin  Taft ;  and  Henry,  who 
married  Mary  Ann  Worden.  All  are  now  dead.  Aaron  Plimpton, 
born  in  Massachusetts  in  1788,  came  with  his  father's  family  to  Milo  in 
1796.  He  returned  to  Massachusetts  in  18 10,  but  came  again  into  Milo 
in  181  2  and  afterwards  worked  in  Abraham  Wagener's  mill  at  Penn 
Yan.  He  bought  a  farm  some  years  later,  and  lived  and  died  thereon. 
His  wife  was  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  George  Hiltibidal,  and  a  native  of 
Sunbury,  Pa.  They  had  five  children,  viz.:  Daniel,  George  W.,  Stephen 
V.  R.,  Mary  E.  (Mrs.  Andrew  Thayer),  and  Ezra  W.  Aaron  Plimpton 
died  in  1866  and  his  wife  in  1872.  He  was  a  prominent  Democrat,  but 
not  an  office  seeker  or  holder,  his  interest  was  that  of  the  substantial 
citizen,  and  not  of  the  politician.  His  son,  George  W.  Plimpton,  lives 
on  the  homestead  farm.      He  was  born  August  17,  1824,  and  has  spent 


FAMIL  Y  SKETCHES.  537 

his  life  in  tiie  town  and  on  the  same  farm.  In  1855  lie  married  Caro- 
line Stone,  by  whom  he  has  had  three  children,  two  of  whom,  Ida  E. 
and  Aaron,  are  living.      Mr.  Plimpton  is  a  Democrat  by  conviction. 

Raplee,  Delanson  Munger,  born  in  Milo,  April  11,  1824,  was  the  son 
of  Ezra  and  Amarillus  (Dains)  Raplee.  On  his  mother's  side  he  is 
descended  from  one  of  the  pioneers  of  western  New  York.  He  has 
always  been  a  farmer  in  Milo  and  a  successful,  substantial  one,  too.  In 
1 85  I  he  married  Elvira,  daughter  of  Jonas  Perry,  of  Otsego  County. 
They  have  had  three  children  :   Frank  P.,  Mary  PVances,  and  Freddie  A. 

Raplee,  Miners,  son  of  Miles  and  Maria  Raplee,  was  born  in  Milo 
October  23,  1841.  He  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm,  where  he  lived 
until  his  father's  death.  In  his  stables  on  his  splendid  farm  on  the  Bath 
road  in  Milo  can  be  found  some  of  the  best  bred  horses  in  Yates  County, 
among  them,  the  liorse  "  Stillman "  a  half  brother  to  the  famous 
"  Jerome  Eddy"  and  son  of  old  "  Louis  Napoleon  ".  Mr.  Raplee  has 
a  number  of  exceptionally  fine  animals.  In  1877  he  married  Roena, 
daughter  of  James  Spooner,  of  Milo,  and  they  have  had  two  children, 
Irene  and  Corrinne  (twins). 

Scutt,  Seymour  S.,  born  in  Columbia  County,  August  4,  1825,  was 
the  son  of  Henry  and  Mary  Scutt.  The  family  came  to  Milo  in  Novem- 
ber, 1825,  and  settled  in  the  south  part  of  the  town.  In  1849  Seymour 
S.  married  Mary  A.,  daughter  of  Thomas  Fitzwater,  an  old  resident  of 
Milo,  who  came  into  the  town  at  the  age  of  five  years,  from  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  spent  his  life  here.  Mr.  Scutt  is  a  successful  farmer  and  one 
whose  interests  are  centered  in  his  farms  rather  in  public  affairs.  He  is 
a  Republican,  but  has  never  sought  or  held  office.  Both  he  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Second  Milo  Baptist  Church. 

Shearman,  George,  one  of  the  most  energetic  men  of  the  country 
during  his  time,  was  born  in  Dublin,  Ireland,  March  24,  1790.  He  left 
home  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  and  came  to  America.  After  living  in 
Otsego  two  years  he  came  to  Penn  Yan  about  1808,  where  he  had  a 
store  near  the  corner  of  Main  and  Jacob  streets.  Here  he  was  engaged 
in  trade  some  twenty-five  or  thirty  years.  He  built  a  hotel — the 
"  American  " — near,  or  on,  the  site  of  Cornwcll's  Opera  House  block, 
and  a  grist-mill,  a  potashery,  and  a  distillery  on  the  outlet.  One  of  his 
68 


538  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

partners  was  Solomon  D.  Weaver,  and  during  their  association  the  firm 
operated  two  saw -mills,  two  grist-mills,  and  two  distilleries.  Mr.  Shear- 
man met  with  reverses  that  cost  him  his  fortune,  but  others  profited  by 
his  financial  downfall.  He  retired  to  his  farm  south  of  the  village,  and 
engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  in  Penn  Yan  with  a  partner,  Daniel 
B.  Bissell,  carrying  on  the  largest  dry  goods  business  in  this  part  of  the 
country.  After  closing  out  this  business,  he  engaged  in  grain  buying. 
From  this  time  on,  his  son  Oliver,  although  quite  young,  was  associated 
with  his  father,  and  at  his  death  continued  the  business.  Mr.  Shearman 
was  a  captain  of  Light  Horse  Cavalry,  having  the  largest  company  in 
the  State,  and  escorted  Gen.  La  Fayette  on  part  of  his  tour  through  this 
State.  He  was  always  a  Democrat  and  served  as  county  clerk  several 
terms.  He  was  very  public  spirited  and  one  of  the  foremost  promoters 
of  the  building  of  the  canal  from  Dresden  to  Penn  Yan.  On  the  31st 
of  March,  181 1,  he  married  Rebecca,  daughter  of  David  VVagener,  by 
whom  he  had  these  children:  Abraham  W.,  William,  Mary  Ann,  Mary 
Ann  2d,  George,  Rebecca,  Eliza,  Isabella,  William  2d,  Charles,  Oliver 
G.,  and  Eleanor.  Of  these  children,  onl\'  four,  George,  Charles,  Oliver 
G.,  and  Eleanor  are  living.  Mrs.  Shearman  was  a  pious  woman  and  a 
devoted  Methodist,  being  one  of  the  first  class  of  fourteen,  who  held 
meetings  about  in  private  houses,  before  a  church  was  organized.  An 
incident  is  told  of  her  having  gone  to  Geneva,  a  distance  of  sixteen  miles, 
on  horseback,  to  attend  Love  Feast,  and  being  then  refused  admission 
because  she  had  two  feathers  on  her  bonnet.  Mr.  Shearman  was  trus- 
tee of  the  church  and  their  house  was  a  regular  stopping  place  for  all 
Methodist  ministers.  George  Shearman  died  December  26,  1859,  and 
his  wife  January  14,  1855.  George  Shearman,  jr.,  born  July  28,  1818, 
is  the  oldest  representative  of  his  family  in  the  county.  He  is  a  substan- 
tial farmei  of  Milo,  and  one  whose  efforts  in  life  have  been  rewarded 
with  more  than  a  fair  degree  of  success.  Deceniber  5,  1840,  he  married 
Phebe  Baxter,  of  Milo,  by  whom  he  has  had  two  children,  Abram  and 
Mary,  the  latter  the  wife  of  Capt.  Abraham  Gridley.  The  farm  on  which 
Mr.  Shearman  lives  was  formerly  known  as  the  Stewart  farm,  and  this 
Mr.  Shearman  purchased  before  his  marriage,  about  the  year  1838.  He 
is  a  devoted  member  and  trustee  of  the  Penn  Yan  M.  E.  Church 

Spooner,  Leonard  T.,  was  born  in   Milo  November  27,  18 19,  the  son 
of  Luther  and  Hannah  Spooner,  both  old  and  respected  residents  of  the 


FAMILY  SKETCHES.  539 

town.  On  January  (,  i  844,  Leonard  married  Mary  Ann  Nichols  and 
settled  on  the  farm  where  he  now  lives.  He  has  always  been  a  farmer, 
careful  and  conservative  in  action,  but  true  to  his  convictions  of  right. 
One  child  was  born  to  them,  Marvin  L.  Spooner,  a  graduate  from  Syr- 
acuse University,  and  at  present  a  professor  of  mathematics  in  Keuka 
College.  Mrs.  Spooner  died,  after  an  illness  of  only  a  few  hours,  July 
26,  1891.  M.  L.  Spooner  was  married  August  10,  1881,  to  Lina  A. 
Hunt,  daughter  of  Adam  Hunt.  They  have  two  children,  L.  H. 
Spooner,  born  August  4,  1888,  and  Laura  M.  Spooner,  born  August  4, 
1890. 

Stone,  John  and  Abigail  (Winship),  were  pioneers  in  Milo,  N.  Y., 
coming  from  Chester  County,  Pa.,  in  1797  and  locating  on  the  farm  now 
owned-  by  Calvin  H.  Stone.  In  their  family  were  nine  children.  John 
Stone  died  in  the  town  in  December,  1873.  Calvin  H.  Stone  has  always 
lived  on  this  farm,  having  been  born  here  September  15,  1815.  The 
property  was  sold  to  him  by  his  father  prior  to  the  latter's .death.  In 
1849  Calvin  married  Mary  A.  Keeler  b)-  whom  he  has  two  children, 
John  A.  and  Charles  A.  Mr.  Stone  was  formerly  a  Democrat,  but 
changed  his  views  on  account  of  his  opinions  on  the  slavery  question, 
which  to  his  mind  made  Democracy  and  anti-slavery  incompatible.  He 
has  since  then  been  a  strong  Republican,  and  as  such  was  assessor  of 
his  town  for  twenty-three  years.  He  is  also  a  f.iithful  member  of  the 
Second  Milo  Ciuirch  (Baptist)  and  for  about  thirt)-  years  has  been  super- 
intendent of  its  Sunday  school. 

Swarthout,  John,  was  born  in  Harrington,  May  13,  1835,  being  one 
of  the  younger  children  of  George  F.  and  Roena  (Russell)  Swarthout. 
Of  the  older  branch  of  this  family  mention  will  be  found  in  another 
part  of  this  present  volume.  George  F.  Swarthout  died  in  1853,  leav- 
ing $900  to  each  of  his  children.  With  his  share  John  bought  a  part  of 
the  Owens  farm  in  Milo.  In  March,  1858,  he  married  Ann  E.,  daughter 
of  Jonathan  Spencer.  Two  children  have  been  born  of  this  marriage, 
neither  of  whom  is  now  living.  John  Swarthout  is  considered  one  of 
the  successful  farmers  of  Milo,  and  one  who  finds  profit  as  well  as 
pleasure  in  his  work.  He  is  prominent  in  town  affairs  and  is  a  staunch 
Republican.  He  has  held  the  office  of  commissioner  of  highways  for 
more  than  nine  years. 


54©  HISTORY  UF   YATES  COUNTY. 

Swarthout,  William  R.,  was  born  in  Barrington,  August  20,  1823, 
the  third  of  eleven  children  born  to  George  F.  and  Roena  (Russell) 
Swarthout.  William  R.,  more  familiarly  known  as  Deacon  Swarthout 
by  reason  of  his  long  term  as  deacon  (thirty  years)  of  the  Second  Milo 
Baptist  Church,  commenced  life  as  a  farmer  by  buying  fifty  acres  from 
his  father,  but  between  that  and  the  time  of  purchasing  his  present  farm, 
he  had  lived  on  various  farms  in  the  town  and  in  Torrey.  His  present 
property  was  formerly  known  as  the  Baxter  Kinney  Place,  containing 
100  acres,  and  located  about  a  mile  south  of  Penn  Yan.  In  1845  he 
married  Hannah  Ann  Spooner,  by  whom  he  had  two  children,  Hor- 
tense  and  Hattie  M.,  both  of  wliom  are  married.  Deacon  Swarthout 
has  been  an  industrious  and  successful  farmer. 

Three  brothers  of  the  Taylor  family  came  from  Wales,  England,  to 
America  at  an  early  day.  One  was  killed  by  the  Indians.  John  Taylor 
was  born  in  Sheffield,  Mass.,  March  13,  1771,  being  on  his  father's  side 
of  Welsh  descent  and  on  his  mother's  side  of  Scotch.  He  died  in 
Starkey  on  March  9,  1857,  revered  by  all  as  an  upright  citizen.  One 
of  his  children  by  his  second  marriage  was  John  W.,  who  was  born 
September  18,  1819,  in  Starkey  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools. 
He  spent  one  year  in  Ovid  Academy  and  two  years  in  Canandaigua 
Academy,  graduating  finally  from  Wabash  College  in  1851.  He  went 
south  and  taught  in  the  academy  at  Raleigh,  Tenn.,  for  one  year  and  for 
two  years  was  tutor  in  a  private  tamily  at  Holly  Springs,  Miss.  He  then 
returned  to  his  native  State  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  practiced 
law  with  Kernan  and  others.  May  17,  1854,  he  married  Elizabeth  T., 
daughter  of  Russell  A.  and  Ann  M.  Hunt,  of  Milo.  They  had  one  son, 
Fr.ink  R.,  born  June  7,  i860,  in  Canandaigua.  After  attending  the 
common  schools  F"raiik  R.  spent  three  years  at  Penn  Yan  Academy 
and  one  j'ear  in  Hobart  College  at  Geneva.  He  tiien  taught  school  for 
three  years.  November  24,  1886,  he  married  H.  Anna,  daughter  of 
Amos  E  Vanorsdall,  of  Himrods.  She  was  born  October  7,  1864  Mr. 
Taylor  is  a  prosperous  farmer  and  fruit  grower.  1 

Thayer  family,  the.  Jacob  Thayer,  son  of  Simeon  Thayer,  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  Yates  County,  was  born  September  29,  1806,  and  died  in 
September,  1886.  His  wife,  Sarah  Ann  Mclntyre,  was  born  August  27, 
181  5,  and  died  in  June,  1883.      The)'  were  married  September  26,  1S30. 


FAMILY  SKETCHES.  541 

Their  children  were  Arcliibald,  born  June  22,  1831  ;  Susan  N.,  born 
May  9,  1833,  died  June  5,  1869  ;  Simeon,  born  May  18,  1835  ;  Sylves- 
ter N.,  born  May  7,  1837;  Jacob  W.,  born  April  7,  1839;  James  K., 
born  October  30,  1841  ;  and  Angeline  A.,  born  June  4,  1847.  Archi- 
bald Tha}'er,  better  known  from  his  long  service  on  Crooked  Lake  as 
Capt.  Archie  Thayer,  left  the  lake  in  1887  and  moved  to  the  homestead 
farm  where  he  now  has  one  of  the  best  vineyards  in  the  town  of  Milo. 
December  25,  1855,  he  married  Minerva  Wheeler. 

Thayer,  Jacob  W.,  son  of  Jacob  Thayer,  was  born  in  Milo  April  7, 
1839.  He  bought  a  sixty  acre  farm  from  his  father  on  the  lake  road 
and  in  1864  he  purchased  a  fifty- acre  farm  on  the  Bath  road.  This 
latter  has  been  sold  in  parcels  until  Mr.  Thayer  has  but  little  left — about 
seventeen  acres — which  is  all  in  vineyard.  ,  On  November  15,  1859,  he 
married  Marietta,  daughter  of  Joel  Workman,  of  Milo.  They  have  two 
children,  Anna  Amelia  and  William  Joel.  Mr.  Thayer  has  been  an 
extensive  traveler,  selling  agricultural  implements  over  a  territory  of 
eleven  States  for  D.  M.  Osborn  &  Co.  of  Auburn  He  is  also  the  in- 
ventor and  builder  of  a  binder  that  has  done  excellent  work. 

Tha)'er,  James,  the  son  of  Simeon  Thayer,  the  pioneer,  was  born  May 
29,  1 8 10  (died  January  8,  1881),  and  married  Zenecia,  daughter  of 
Allen  Bassett,  of  Barrington,  by  whom  he  had  six  children  :  James  A., 
Emma,  Laura,  Fanny,  Mary  and  one  who  died  in  infancy.  James 
Thayer  is  remembered  as  having  been  one  of  the  best  farmers  and  one 
of  the  foremost  men  of  the  town  of  Milo.  James  A.  Thayer,  who  suc- 
ceeded his  father  in  the  ownership  of  the  farm,  was  born  in  Milo,  April, 
26,  1843,  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  Prof.  Ayres' select  school, 
also  at  the  Penn  Yan  Academy,  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  began  teach- 
ing winter  school,  continuing  for  eight  years.  In  1867  he  married  Allie, 
daughter  of  James  Lawrence,  of  Milo,  by  whom  he  had  one  child,  May, 
the  wife  of  H.  E.  Huie,  of  Springfield,  Mass.  Mrs.  Thayer  died  Septem- 
ber 22,  1884,  and  in  January,  18S6,  Mr.  Thayer  married  Nellie  S.  Huie, 
of  Rushville,  N.  Y.,  by  whom  he  has  one  child,  Zenecia.  He  is  one  of 
the  most  progressive  and  successful  farmers  of  Milo,  having  been  honored 
several  times  with  positions  of  trust  and  importance.  He  was  clerk  of 
the  board  of  supervisors  in  1883-84,  school  commissioner  of  'S'ates 
County  from  188510  1891.      For  a  number  of  years  he  has  been  president 


542  HIS  TORY  OF  YA  TES  CO  UN  T  Y. 

of  the  County  Teacher's  Association,  is  now  a  director  of  the  Farmer's 
AlUance  Insurance  Co.,  and  for  several  years  served  as  secretary  of  the 
Yates  County  Agricultural  Society.  He  is  a  prominent  member  of  the 
M.  E.  Church  and  for  three  years  was  superintendent  of  its  Sunday 
school. 

Thayer,  James  K..  the  sixth  child  of  Jacob  Thayer,  and  the  grandson 
of  Simeon  Thayer,  was  born  in  Milo,  October  31,  1841.  He  lived  at 
home  until  twenty  years  old,  when  he  started  out  to  make  his  own  way 
in  life.  Two  years  later  he  married  Helen  C.  Freeman,  of  Milo,  by 
whom  he  had  two  children,  both  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Thayer's 
farm  comprises  sixty-one  acres  of  land  on  the  east  shore  of  Crooked  Lake. 
He  is  a  thrifty  and  industrious  farmer  and  fruit  grower.  In  politics  he 
is  a  conservative  Democrat.  Both  himself  and  wife  are  members  of  the 
Penn  Yan  M.  E.  Church. 

Thayer,  Simeon  2d,  born  in  Milo,  May  18,  1835,  was  the  third  child 
of  Jacob  and  Sarah  Ann  Thayer.  Simeon  was  reared  on  the  farm  ;  for 
one  year  he  was  foreman  on  a  railroad  construction  train.  He  first 
began  farming  where  Jacob  W.  Thayer  now  lives.  His  present  property 
is  a  twenty-three-acre  vineyard  on  Lake  Keuka.  In  1856  Mr.  Thayer 
married  Elizabeth  Raplee,  who  died,  leaving  two  children.  His  second 
wife  was  Mary  Morris,  to  whom  one  child  has  been  born. 

Youngs,  Isaiah,  was  born  in  Milo,  N.  Y.,  August  19,  1819,  and  was  tiie 
second  of  six  children  born  to  George  and  Rebecca  Youngs,  both  of 
the  later  being  old  and  highly  respected  citizens  of  the  town.  Isaiah 
was  brought  up  to  farm  work,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty- five  commenced 
conducting  his  father's  farm,  being  the  same  that  Isaiah  now  owns.  He 
lived  there  from  1846  to  1887,  when  he  removed  to  his  present  loca- 
tion. In  1846  he  married  Sybilla  L.,  daughter  of  John  Matthias,  of 
Milo  ;  four  children  were  born  to  them,  of  whom  one  is  deceased.  Mr. 
Youngs  is  one  of  Milo's  substantial  Democrats,  and  as  well  one  of  the 
town's  foremost  citizens.  For  one  term  he  held  the  office  of  town 
assessor. 


FAMILY  SKETCHES.  543 


Village  of  Penn  Yan. 

Barden,  William  W.,  M.D  ,  boin  in  Penn  Yan,  January,  1845,  ""^^d 
medicine  with  his  father,  Henry  Barden  ;  graduated  from  Pennsylvania 
HomcEopathic  College  in  1869,  after  which  he  located  in  Penn  Yan, 
where  he  has  practiced  since.  Married  in  1882,  Cornelia  McCartey,  of 
Penn  Yan. 

Barden,  Henry,  son  of  Otis,  was  born  in  Benton  in  1806.  He  gradu- 
ated from  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  in  1833,  and  began 
practice  in  his  native  town,  continuing  there  for  several  years,  locating 
finally  in  Penn  Yan  about  1840,  where  he  died  in  1873.  He  married 
Caroline  Purdy,  of  Benton,  by  whom  he  had  two  children,  Helen,  wife 
of  Cornelius  S.  Van  Wyck,  who  resides  in  Benton,  and  W.  W.,  a  phy- 
sician who  resides  in  Penn  Yan. 

Beebe,  George,  born  in  Albany  County,  became  a  resident  of  Penn 
Yan  when  about  twenty-four  years  of  age.  He  was  employed  by  Tim- 
othy Brigden  in  a  carriage  shop  which  stood  where  the  present  large 
Beebe  factory  is  now  located.  In  1872  the  plant  burned,  after  which 
Mr.  Beebe  bought  the  land  and  erected  new  buildings.  For  a  time 
W.  H.  Whitfield  was  a  partner  in  the  business  of  carriage  manufactur- 
ing. The  firm  of  Beebe,  Whitfield  &  Co.  continued  eleven  years  and 
then  dissolved,  Mr.  Beebe  since  conducting  the  business.  His  chief 
manufactures  are  carriages  and  speeding  carts.  He  furnishes  employ- 
ment to  about  twenty-five  hands.  The  works  are  in  Jacob  street  in 
Penn  Yan  village.  In  1862  George  Beebe  enlisted  in  Companj'  B, 
One  Hundred  and  Forty-eighth  New  York  Volunteer  Infantry,  and 
served  three  years.  In  March,  1857,  at  Moliawk,  N.  Y.,  he  married 
Ann  Eliza  Woolever,  by  whom  he  had  two  sons.  Ann  E.  Beebe  died 
in  1878.  In  1879  he  married  Susan  M.  Nelson,  of  Little  Falls.  One 
child  has  been  born  of  this  marriage. 

Comings,  George  A.,  born  in  Bergen  County,  N.  J.,  March  31,  1856. 
When  twelve  years  of  age,  his  father,  Morris  Comings,  moved  to  Penn 
Yan.  George  attended  the  common  schools  of  Penn  Yan,  Cook 'and 
Geneva  Academies,  and  in  1883  he  married  Eda  L.  Shepherd,  of  Roch- 
ester, by  whom   he    had    one   son,  Jesse  A.      George   A.  taught   sclif>ol 


544  HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUNTY. 

three  years,  and  was  clerk  for  Morgan  &  Perkins  for  ten  years.  Ii> 
March,  1891,  he  opened  a  coal  yard  under  the  firm  name  of  Shepherd- 
Comings  Coal  Co.,  on  Jackson  and  Shepherd  streets. 

Dintrufif,  Jacob,  a  native  of  Penn  Yan,  came  to  Potter  about  1800,  be- 
ing one  of  the  pioneers  in  that  town.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  had  twelve 
children,  of  whom  four  sons  and  one  daughter  survive.  John  L.,  the 
third  cliild,  was  born  November  27,  1821,  and  was  educated  at  the  com- 
mon schools  of  his  native  town.  He  married  Lucy  Thomas,  of  Potter, 
by  whom  he  had  five  children,  two  deceased.  He  was  engaged  in 
farming  until  1849,  when  he  removed  to  Italy,  and  carried  on  a  saw- 
mill for  two  years.  In  1851  he  moved  to  Middlesex  and  carried  on 
farming  there  until  187  r,  when  he  was  elected  sherifif  of  Yates  County. 
He  then  removed  to  Penn  Yan,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  was 
road  commissioner  three  years  in  Middlesex,  was  assessor  six  years, 
supervisor  two  years,  has  been  six  years  assessor  in  Penn  Yan  corpora- 
tion, was  vice-president  of  Yates  County  Bank  four  years,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Dintruff  &  Dwelle,  wool  dealers — the  largest  in 
Yates  County.      Mr.  Dintruff  has  been  in  the  business  thirty-five  years. 

Doubleday,  Dr.  Charles  E.,  son  of  Dr.  Guy  L.,  was  born  in  Italy, 
N.  Y.,  April  3,  1864.  Both  his  father  and  grandfather  Elisha,  were  also 
physicians.  His  early  education  was  attained  in  the  schools  of  Penn 
Yan.  He  read  medicine  with  Dr.  Nathan  Jaccbson,  and  in  1887  he 
graduated  from  the  Syracuse  Medical  College.  He  then  spent  two 
years  in  Europe,  where  he  was  a  student  in  the  Universities  of  Heidel- 
berg and  Vienna,  at  the  former  place  being  under  the  tutelage  of  Prof 
Arnold.  Dr.  Doubleday  opened  an  office  in  Penn  Yan  in  April,  1890. 
He  has  done  much  work  with  tiic  microscope.  During  his  vacations  he 
spent  considerable  time  traveling  in  different  parts  of  Europe.  Dr. 
Doubleday  has  been  health  officer  of  the  village  of  Penn  Yan.  He  has 
attained  eminence  and  honor  even  thus  early  in  his  chosen  profession 
and  bears  with  modesty  and  becoming  dignity  the  mantles  descended 
from  father  and  grandfather. 

Drake,  Capt.  Alexander  H.,  son  of  Philip  L.,  was  born  October  18, 
1832,  in  Starkey.  He  was  educated  at  the  common  schools,  and  served 
several  years  as   clerk   in   the   hotels  in    Penn   Yan,  Canandaigua,  and 


FAMILY  SKETCHES.  545 

Geneva,  and  fifteen  years  in  Kansas  City.  In  1861  he  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany H,  Thirty-third  New  York  Volunteers,  from  Geneva.  He  en- 
Hsted  as  private  ;  at  the  organization  was  made  second  lieutenant,  and 
at  the  organization  of  the  regiment  was  made  first  lieutenant,  May  25, 

1861.  After  nine  months'  service  he  was  promoted  captain,  June  24, 

1862.  He  was  captured  at  VVilliamsburgh,  N.  C,  May  5,  1862,  and 
after  three  and  a  half  months  of  imprisonment  was  exchanged.  He  was 
in  Libby  prison  twenty  days,  then  taken  to  Sah'sbury,  wliere  he  was 
paroled.  On  September  13,  1887,  he  married  Ida  Wagoner  Thompson, 
widow  of  Nelson  Thompson,  and  daughter  of  George  Wagoner. 

Elmendorf,  Charles,  was  born  at  Canandaigua,  May  13,  1829.  His 
father  was  Joseph  Elmendorf,  well  known  as  one  of  the  early  business 
men  of  the  little  village.  His  mother  was  Catharine  (Chittenden)  El- 
mendorf. They  came  to  Canandaigua  from  Durham,  Greene  County, 
N.  Y.  Charles  was  the  eldest  of  three  children,  viz.:  Charles,  William, 
and  Eliza.  His  father  was  a  dentist  and  to  this  occupation  Charles  was 
brought  up  and  educated  by  his  father,  and  was  associated  with  him 
until  the  death  of  the  former  in  December,  1871.  In  September,  1863, 
Charles  Elmendorf  made  an  extensive  trip  to  Nicaragua  and  California, 
being  away  nineteen  months.  In  April,  1865,  he  returned  to  Penn 
Yan,  where  he  has  since  been  engaged  in  dentistry.  For  a  time,  when 
about  twenty-one  years  of  age,  Dr.  Elmendorf- practiced  at  Rushville, 
remaining  there  about  a  year.  From  Rushville  he  went  to  Jefi"eison  — 
now  Watkins,  Schuyler  County,  N.  Y., — where  he  practiced  dentistry 
about  two  years,  when  he  returned  to  Penn  Yan.  He  is  a  prominent 
Odd  Fellow,  having  passed  the  chair  of  N.  G.,  and  is  also  P.  C.  P.  of 
Penn  Yan  Encampment,  I.  O.  O.  F.  He  is  a  P.  M.  of  the  local  lodge 
of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and  in  religion  a 
Free  thinker.  He  says  he  "  never  '  took  any  stock  '  in  the  supernatuial 
religion  of  any  church  or  sect,"  believing  "  that  just,  charitable,  moral 
conduct  towards  his  fellow-men  is  all  that  is  necessary  to  become  ac- 
ceptable to  any  of  the  gods." 

Gage,  William  Hoyt,  was  born  near  Bcllona,  June  22,  18 10.  His 
wife,  Abigail  Reed  Fargo,  was  born  April  7,  18 10.  They  were  married 
February  9,  1832.  William  Gage's  father,  Reuben  Gage,  was  born  in 
Dutchess  County,  N.  Y.      At  the  age  of  sixteen,  William   learned   the 

6y 


546  HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUNTY. 

trade  of  carriagemaker  at  Peiin  Yan,  at  which  he  worked  several  years, 
in  various  places.  He  later  purchased  the  Kipp  farm  in  Benton  and  be- 
came a  farmer.  About  ten  years  ago  he  bought  the  Stewart  place  on 
Flat  street  where  he  now  resides.  Mr.  Gage  is  the  owner  of  more  than 
2CO  acres  of  land. 

Hewson,  Robert  C,  a  solid  business  man  and  an  enthusiastic  sup- 
porter of  the  Greenback  party,  was  born  in  Milo  in  1831,  the  son  of 
Fisher  W.  and  Hannah  (Chissom)  Hewson.  He  read  law  with  Frank- 
lin &  Van  Allen,  and  with  Van  Buren  &  Prosser,  and  was  admitted  to 
the  bar.  Hs  practiced  but  little,  however,  having  a  stronger  interest 
for  other  pursuits.  His  business  life  has  been  devoted  to  lumbering 
mainl)',  and  fruit  growing.  About  1880  he  started  the  evaporator  at 
the  "  head  of  the  street,"  and  in  1890  established  the  feeder  mill  on 
Sucker  Brook.  In  1888  Mr.  Hewson  married  Lue  A.,  daughter  of 
Haverly  Brooks,  of  Auburn.  Mr.  Hewson's  mother  was  one  of  the  first 
settlers  in  Penn   Yan. 

Hopestill,  R.  Phillips,  was  born  in  Tioga  County,  Pa.,  August  i, 
1835,  the  eldest  son  and  child  of  Samuel  and  Sarah  (Beecher)  Phillips. 
Samuel  was  a  dentist.  After  his  elementary  education  was  acquired  he 
made  a  study  of  dental  surgery  under  his  father's  instruction.  L;itcr  he 
attended  the  lectures  of  the  Baltimore  Dental  College.  In  1857  he 
commenced  professional  work  at  Winchester,  Va.,  and  there  he  was  at 
the  outbreak  of  the  war  in  1861.  His  professional  interests  being  such 
that  he  could  not  leave  at  the  time,  he  voluntarily  enlisted  as  private, 
but  was  promoted  to  the  lieutenancy  of  Co.  K,  of  the  loth  Vir- 
ginia cavalry,  and  served  until  July  2,  1863,  when  he  was  captured  at 
Gettysburg  b>'  the  Union  troops,  and  thereafter  held  at  Johnson's  Island 
in  Lake  Erie  After  his  release  Lieutenant  Phillips  resumed  the  profes- 
sion of  dentistry  successively  at  a  southern  city,  in  Tioga  County.  Pa.,  at 
Bath,  N.  Y.,  and  finally  at  Penn  Yan,  in  1887,  where  he  has  since  re- 
mained, occupying  commodious  and  elegantly  equipped  offices.  Asso- 
ciated with  him  in  business  is  his  son-in-law,  Robert  S.  Wrean,  under 
the  firm  name  of  H.  R.  Phillips  &  Wrean.  Dr.  Phillips  is  genial  and 
companionable.  He  is  something  of  a  sportsman,  fishing,  hunting  and 
yachting  being  his  chief  recreations.  His  yacht,  Tlie  TJiistle,  is  one 
of  the  staunchest  and  fleetest   on  Lake  Keuka..      The  wife  of  Dr.  Phil- 


FAMILY  SKETCHES.  547 

lips  is   Pamelia    Ann   Rednor,  of   Potter  County,  Pa.     They  have   five 
children. 

Kelley,  Charles,  the  genial  proprietor  of  the  Central  House  in  Penii 
Yan,  was  born  in  Glasgow,  Scotland,  in  1831,  and  in  1846  came  to 
America  with  his  father  and  stepmother,  making  the  entire  distance 
from  his  home  to  Penn  Yan  by  water.  He  learned  the  painter's  trade 
and  worked  at  it  several  years,  and  afterward  read  law  with  A.  V.  Har- 
pending  for  a  time,  but  did  not  continue  the  study.  In  i860  he  bought 
a  part  of  the  property  now  covered  by  his  hotel  and  soon  after  made 
other  purchases.  In  1862  he  helped  to  raise  a  company  for  the  Rebel- 
lion, and  was  mustered  in  in  October,  1S62,  he  taking  a  commission  as 
second  lieutenant  of  Co.  C,  Forty-fourth  New  York  Volunteers,  Infant- 
ry, "Ellsworth's  Avengers"  He  was  mustered  out  in  1864  with  the 
rank  of  brevet-captain.  Returning  from  the  service.  Captain  Kelly  re- 
modeled his  Jacob  street  property  and  opened  a  hotel.  The  buildings 
were  burned  in  1872  and  at  once  rebuilt.  The  Central  House  is  one  of 
the  most  popular  hostelries  of  Penn  Yan.  In  1876  Mr.  Kelly  married 
Margaret  A.,  daughter  of  Francis  Graham,  of  Geneva.  Four  children 
have  been  born  to  them,  three  of  whom  are  living. 

Knapp,  Clarence  H.,  born  in  Harrington  June  5,  1846,  was  the  son 
of  Jesse  C.  and  Rachel  M.  Knapp,  of  that  town.  His  father  was  a 
farmer,  and  on  the  farm  Clarence  was  reared  and  lived  until  about 
twenty-one  years  of  age,  when  he  went  to  Elmira  and  was  engaged  for 
the  next  five  years  as  grocer  and  fire  insurance  agent.  Leaving  Elmira 
Air.  Knapp  went  to  Addison,  and  was  a  furniture  dealer  and  undertaker 
for  five  years.  While  residing  at  this  place  he  began  traveling  on  the 
road,  and  so  continued  until  the  fall  of  1884,  when  he  came  to  Penn 
Yan.  The  next  year  he  established  his  present  business  of  furniture 
and  undertaking.  Mr.  Knapp  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  enterprising 
and  successful  business  men  of  the  village.  In  1882  he  married  Ida  J. 
Bates,  of  Utica.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  but  is  not  active  in  party 
work. 

Lanning,  Daniel,  son  of  Isaac  and  Catherine  (Swartz)  Lanning,  was 
born  in  Starkey  May  16,  1816.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  iJaniel  com- 
menced farming,  continuing   until    1854.      In  1856  he    moved  to    Penn 


548  HISTORY  UF  YATES  COUNTY. 

Yan  to  assume  the  office  of  sheriff,  to  which  he  had  been  elected  the 
preceding  fall  by  a  majority  of  over  i,6oo.  Prior  to  coming  to  Penn 
Yan,  Mr.  Lanning  was  three  \'ears  supervisor  of  Starkey,  and  afterward 
held  tlie  same  office  three  terms  in  Milo.  He  was  President  Arthur's 
appointee  to  the  postmastership  at  Pcnn  Yan  in  1882  and  served  four 
years.  He  has  also  held  the  office  of  village  trustee  and  has  been  other- 
wise prominently  identified  with  local  and  general  Republican  politics. 
His  business  life  has  been  successful  and  he  is  now  regarded  as  one  of 
the  substantial  men  of  the  county  seat.  He  is  vice-president  of  the 
Yates  County  National  Bank.  On  December  11,  1836,  Daniel  Man- 
ning married  Mary  Myers,  daughter  of  Jacob  Myers,  by  whom  he  had 
no  children.      Mrs.  Lanning  died  December  21,  1879. 

Lawrence,  John,  a  native  of  New  Bedford,  Mass.,  born  September  6, 
1753,  was  a  ship  builder,  and  came  to  Milo  in  1789,  settling  two  and 
one- half  miles  south  of  Penn  Yan,  where  he  carried  on  the  mercantile 
business  for  years.  He  had  four  sons  and  five  daughters,  most  of  whom 
lived  and  died  in  this  county.  His  oldest  son,  Meletiah,  born  October 
18,  1774,  was  educated  in  New  Bedford,  Mass.  He  married,  in  1810, 
Mary  Alford,  of  Milo,  by  whom  he  had  four  children,  of  whom  Judith 
A.  is  the  widow  of  D.  Ogden  ;  and  Sabra  A.  is  the  widow  of  Oliver 
Stark,  and  resides  in    Penn  Yan. 

Le  Van  Bender,  Joseph,  born  near  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  August  23,  1840, 
was  reared  on  a  farm  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  commenced  work  in  a 
store.  In  1861  he  enlisted  in  Company  B,  Fifty-second  Regiment 
Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  and  after  a  brief  service  was  discharged,  with 
the  rank  of  second  lieutenant.  He  re  enlisted  and  served  as  first  lieu- 
tenant of  Company  D,  One  Hundred  and  Sixty- eighth  Pennsylvania 
Volunteers,  till  the  close  of  the  war.  Having  studied  medicine  before 
entering  the  service,  he  now  completed  his  course  and  practiced  several 
years  in  Wyoming  County,  before  coming  to  Pcnn  Yan.  His  medical 
education  was  acquired  in  l^altimorc,  Buffalo  and  New  York  City,  and 
his  practice  is  after  the  eclectic  school 

Lynn,  John,  was  born  in  Brockport,  N.  Y.,  April  17,  1827.  When 
six  years  of  age  his  father  died  and  he  came  to  Dundee  to  live  with  his 
uncle   Elisha,  where   he  remained   until   sixteen   years   old.      He   then 


FAMILY  SKETCHES.  549 

learned  the  machinist's  trade,  serving  four  years  with  John  E.  BHven, 
of  Dundee.  He  then  came  to  Penn  Yan  and  worked  for  E.  B.  Jones 
&  Co.,  until  1858.  In  1850  he  married  Susan  A.  Southerland,  by  whom 
he  had  six  children.  Two  are  living,  Fred  H.  and  Jennie,  wife  of 
Charles  W.  Smith,  of  Rochester.  Fred  H.  was  born  December  25, 
1857,  and  married  Alice  Hutcher,  of  Penn  Yan,  by  whom  he  has  had 
two  children,  Bessie  and  Maithy  S.  He  has  been  foreman  of  the  Com- 
mercial Iron  Works  since  1885.  In  the  fall  of  1858  John  Lynn  went  to 
Seneca  Falls,  taking  charge  of  the  pump  department  of  Silsby  &  Co., 
for  nine  years.  In  1865  his  wife  died,  leaving  four  children.  In  1866 
he  married  Sarah  E.,  a  sister  of  his  former  wife.  By  her  he  has  had 
three  children,  one  of  whom  is  living,  Mamie,  wife  of  William  Webbie, 
of  Penn  Yan.  In  1868  the  subject  of  our  sketch  went  to  Pomeroy, 
Ohio,  to  take  charge  of  a  large  manufacturing  establishment,  but  on  ac- 
count of  ill  health  was  obliged  to  return  to  Penn  Yan  in  1871,  and 
worked  for  Whitaker  &  Brian  until  the  fall  of  1872,  when  he  assisted 
in  organizing  the  Commercial  Iron  Works,  of  which  he  has  been  super- 
intendent since.  William  Sutherland,  son  of  John,  was  born  in  New 
Jersey  November,  27,  1812,  and  came  to  Benton  when  three  years  of 
age.  He  married  Roxanna  Henry,  of  Geneva,  and  had  eight  children. 
He  settled  in  Penn  Yan  in  1830  and  carried  on  shoemaking  until  1888, 
residing  at  the  present  time  with  his  daughter,  Mrs.  J.  Lynn. 

Mariner,  Ephraim  2d,  a  native  of  Connecticut,  was  born  May  26, 
1766.  His  wife,  Rhoda  Hollister,  also  a  native  of  Connecticut,  was  born 
May  II,  1767.  They  were  married  December  20,  1792,  and  had  chil- 
dren as  follows:  Hannah,  born  October  13,  1793,  married  Dudley 
Brown,  of  Benton,  and  died  January  4,  1864  ;  Persis,  born  February  15, 
1795,  married  John  J.  Smith  and  lives  in  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  aged  ninety- 
six  years.  William,  born  Februar)-  6,  1797,  died  January  24,  1867; 
Miles,  born  October  24,  1798,  died  July  4,  1862  ;  Amanda,  born  Jan- 
uary 5,  i8oi,died  September  6,  1833;  Polly  (or  Mary),  born  January 
13,  1803,  died  about  1806;  Fannj',  born  December  2,  1804,  married 
Benjamin  Dean,  and  Celestia,  born  May  12,  1807.  died  June  20,  1810. 
Miles  Mariner  was  a  butcher  in  Penn  Yan,  but  he  alterwards  became  a 
real  estate  and  mill  owner.  Miles  married  first  Millicent  Seelej',  Jan- 
uary 22,  1826,  and  had  these  children:     Ephraim,  Celestia,  Samuel  S., 


5  so  HIS  TORY  OF  YA  TES  CO  UN  T  Y. 

and  William.  His  first  wife  died  in  August,  1835,  and  in  1844  he  mar- 
ried second  Maria  Keeler,  by  whom  he  had  three  children  :  Charles, 
Barnet,  and  George  W. 

McDowell,  John,  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  in  1795  became  a  pioneer 
of  the  Genesee  country,  settling  first  in  Jerusalem  on  the  west  branch  of 
Lake  Keuka,  on  land  purchased  from  the  Hornby  estate.  About  1803  . 
he  came  to  the  "  foot  of  the  lake,"  on  the  Milo  side.  Six  years  later  he 
moved  further  up  the  lake  where  he  died  in  18 14.  He  had  a  family  of 
six  children,  viz.  :  William,  who  married  Doratha  Decker  and  lived  in 
Barrington,  and  among  whose  children  are  John  and  William  of  the 
same  place;  Sarah,  who  married  David  Hall,  and  lived  in  Wayne,  Steu- 
ben County ;  Esther,  who  married  Wallace  Finch,  and  lived  near  Italy, 
Yates  Count)' ;  Elizabeth,  who  married  Jonathan  Taylor  and  lived  in 
Barrington  ;  Catharine,  who  married  Henry  Cronkrite  and  lived  in 
Tyrone,  Schuyler  County,  and  Matthew,  who  married  Maria  Mitchell 
and  lived  in  Wayne.  The  latter  had  four  children  :  Ann  Eliza,  who 
married  Samuel  Hallett,  and  resides  in  Wayne;  Francis  M.,  who  mar- 
ried Eva  Sherwood,  also  resides  in  Wayne  ;  Marie  Louise,  who  married 
Gen.  N.  M.  Crane,  resides  in  Hornellsville  ;  George  W.,  who  married 
Mary  E.  Spencer  and  resides  in  Penn  Yan. 

Meade,  James,  was  born  in  Penn  Yan  in  May,  1858,  and  was  the 
son'  of  Francis  L.  and  Bridget  Meade.  At  the  age  of  fifteen  James 
began  learning  the  cigar  making  trade,  and  before  reaching  his  majority 
he  was  in  business  for  himself.  His  shop  and  store  are  in  the  Knapp 
House  block,  where  five  men  are  constantly  employed.  Mr.  Meade 
was  elected  village  treasurer  at  the  spring  meeting  of  1891.  His  wife 
was  Elizabeth  Grady, of  Branchport,  whom  he  married  in  January,  1886. 
They  have  one  child. 

Moore,  Deacon  John,  was  born  in  Scoharie,  N.  Y.,  November  17, 
1795,  and  removed  to  this  county  (then  Ontario)  in  1813.  The  same 
year  he  married  Sabra,  daughter  of  John  Beal,  of  Jerusalem,  and  settled 
on  a  farm  on  Bluff  Point.  Their  children  were  Mary  A.,  Phebe  A., 
Whitman,  Beal,  Obera,  Jane  E.,  Sabra,  Genette  Lydia  and  George  D. 
In  1866  he  married  second  Mrs.  Margaret  Dow,  of  St.  Anthony,  Minn. 
George  D.  Moore  was  born  in  this  county  February  13,  1838,  and  mar- 


FAMIL  Y  SKE  TCHES.  5  5 1 

ried  Abbie  D.  Dow, of  Little  Falls,  Minn.,  in  October,  1859..  Six  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  them,  four  of  whom  survive:  William  H.,  John 
D.,  G.  Vernon  and  Perlie  C.  Mr.  Moore  resides  on  the  Beales  home- 
stead and  is  engaged  extensively  in  the  vinegar  business.  He  served 
in  the  late  war  in  Company  L,  14th  New  York  Heavy  Artillery,  and 
participated  in  the  Battle  of  the  Wilderness,  Spottsylvania,  Cold  Harbor, 
and  Petersburg.  William  H.  and  John  D.  are  vineyardists,  each  o\\  n- 
ing  twenty  acres  of  the  homestead  farm. 

Morgan,  Charles,  born  in  New  York  City,  when  three  years  of  age 
came  to  Penn  Yan  with  his  uncle  F.  H.  Morgan,  residing  with  him 
until  ten  or  twelve  years  of  age,  when  at  his  uncle's  death  he  went  to 
live  with  Susan  Wells  in  Jerusalem,  remaining  five  years.  At  the  age 
of  fifteen  he  entered  the  store  of  M.  D.  Munger,  under  contract  to  clerk 
for  him  for  five  years,  for  which  he  was  to  receive  $50  the  first  year, 
$80  the  second  .year,  $ioo  the  third  year,  $120  the  fourth  year  and 
$150  the  fifth  year.  After  one  year  Mr.  Munger  sold  his  business  to 
Messerole  &  Co.,  and  he  remained  with  them  five  years.  They  then 
moved  west,  Mr.  Morgan  going  with  them  to  Red  Wing  in  1857,  where 
he  remained  one  year,  then  entered  the  hardware  store  of  Morgan  & 
Co.,  remaining  about  six  months,  after  which  he  went  to  Iowa  City  for 
one  year,  then  to  Illinois  remaining  two  years  on  a  farm,  after  which 
he  returned  to  Penn  Yan  in  the  fall  of  i86i  and  entered  a  mercantile 
establishment,  where  he  remained  one  year,  then  entered  the  store  of 
N.  R.  Long  &  Co.,  remaining  until  1886,  when  the  firm  was  changed 
to  Morgan  &  Perkins.  Mr.  Morgan,  in  company  with  H.  W.  Perkins, 
purchased  the  stock  of  N.  R.  &  VV.  H.  Long,  continuing  until  1891, 
when  he  bought  Mr.  Perkins's  interest.  On  account  of  failing  health  he 
sold  the  business  on  April  26,  to  D.  A.  Ogden.  Mr,  Morgan  married 
lone  Corey  Morse,  of  Penn  Yan. 

Ogden,  Hon.  D.  A.,  son  of  Elizabeth  and  Abigal  (Hraudt)  Ogden 
was  born  at  Northville,  Cayuga  County,  N.  Y.,  August  14,  181 3.  He 
attended  the  district  schools  of  his  native  county  until  fifteen  j-cars  of 
age,  when  he  came  to  Penn  Yan,  living  in  the  family  of  Henry  Bradley 
two  or  three  years  and  attending  the  Penn  Yan  Academy.  He  entered 
the  store  of  Samuel  Stevens  as  clerk,  and  December  18,  1S34,  married 
Judith  A.  Lawrence,   of  Milo,  by  whom  he  had   thirteen  children,  four 


552  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

surviving.  Mr.  Ogden  studied  law  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  He 
was  elected  to  the  State  legislature  one  term,  and  took  an  active  part 
in  raising  volunteers  for  the  late  war.  He  was  sent  as  Minister  Resident 
to  the  Sandwich  Islands  by  President  Pierce  and  remained  there  two 
years  ;  was  canal  appraiser  under  Governor  Seymour,  was  elected  canal 
commissioner  in  1876,  and  was  an  influential  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church  for  many  years.  He  was  a  trustee  of  Willard 
Asylum  from  its  foundation  until  his  death.  Was  appointed  by  Cleve- 
land one  of  the  Prison  Labor  Commissioners.  He  died  May  4,  1889. 
His  widow  still  resides  in  Penn  Yan. 

Parks,  Marvin,  was  born  September  18,  1831,  in  Scipio,  Cayuga 
County,  N.  Y.,  and  learned  the  wagon  maker's  trade  in  Port  Byron. 
He  came  to  Penn  Yan  in  1852,  where  he  opened  a  shop  a  year  later 
and  has  been  in  business  ever  since.  He  married  Mary  Swarthout,  of 
Tyrone,  N.  Y.,  and  had  one  daughter,  Lillian,  wife  of  C.  W.  Morgan. 
He  was  twice  elected  corporation  assessor. 

Peckins,  Myron,  a  son  of  Elipha  and  Martha  Peckins,  early  settlers  in 
this  county,  was  born  in  Benton,  October  21,  1829,  and  reared  on  a 
farm.  He  devoted  several  winters  to  teaching  school,  worked  his  fath- 
er's farm,  and  afterward  became  its  owner.  By  industry  and  persever- 
ance he  acquired  a  comfortable  competency.  In  1880  Mr.  Peckins  be- 
came a  resident  of  the  county  seat.-  In  1854  he  married  Sarah  J., 
daughter  of  Alvah  Taylor,  of  Benton,  by  whom  he  has  two  children. 
Ion,  wife  of  Norman  Lockwood,  of  Penn  Yan,  and  Byron  E.,  who  mar- 
ried Florence  A.  Henderson  and  now  lives  on  the  old  home  farm  at 
Benton. 

Potter,  Jeptha  A.,  who  owns  and  resides  in  the  old  stone  mansion 
built  by  the  pioneer,  Morris  F.  Sheppard,  on  Main  street,  is  a  native  of 
Potter  township  and  a  descendant  of  Judge  William  Potter,  one  of  the 
first  settlers  of  Yates  County.  Jeptha's  mother  was  Nancy  Wilkinson,  a 
relative  of  the  Friend.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  Jeptha  commenced 
work  for  himself  on  his  father's  farm,  but  after  five  years  he  bought  a 
place  with  his  father  and  moved  on  it.  About  this  time  he  married 
Sarah,  daughter  of  Noah  Davis,  of  Jerusalem.  No  children  have  been 
born   to  them,  but  they  have  adopted   and    reared  four.      In  1870  Mr. 


FAMIL  Y  SKETCHES.  553 

Potter  came  to  reside  in  Penn  Yan,  where  his  wife  died  in  1884  Mr. 
Potter  is  a  successful  man  and  a  self-made  one.  He  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  M.  E.  Church  for  more  than  forty  years.  In  pohtics  he  is  a 
Democrat,  but  has  never  aspired  to  office  holding. 

Pratt,  Seneca  L,  son  of  H.  D.,  was  born  in  Milo,  January  12,  1852, 
was  educated  at  the  pubUc  schools  of  Penn  Yan,  and  married  Guertha 
Wolcott,  daughter  of  George  W.,  September  27,  1882.  He  has  two 
children,  Carrie  and  Florence.  In  1873  he  entered  his  father's  shoe 
store  as  clerk,  continuing  as  such  for  three  years,  when  he  was  taken 
into  partnership,  the  firm  becoming  H.  D.  Pratt  &  Son.  In  1880  he  sold 
shoe  business  and  bought  interest  in  flour  mill  and  commission  business, 
firm  being  Andrews,  Pratt  &  Co.,  and  in  1S83  firm  ch^ged  to  Russell, 
Fox  &  Co  ,  he  continuing  with  same  until  1887.  A  year  later  he  com- 
menced the  manufacture  of  grape  baskets,  and  in  1891  he  built  a  large 
factory  at  the  foot  of  Monnell  street,  which  was  burned  August  25, 
1891,  and  rebuilt  within  thirty  days  of  fire,  being  the  largest  and  best 
equipped  factory  anywhere  in  this  section. 

Price,  Ira,  was  born  in  Erie  County,  N.  Y.,  September  30,  1S58,  and 
married  Louise  Goodsell,  of  Potter,  November  12,  18S4,  by  whom  he  has 
two  children,  Harry  and  Allen.  Mr.  Price  is  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
E.  A    Price  &  Co.,  manufacturers  of  wheels,  spokes,  etc. 

Price,  George  W. ,  was  born  in  Erie  County,  N.  Y.,  on  Auj^ust  20, 
1856,  and  married  Ella  A.  Green,  of  Canandaigua,  N.  Y.,  November  3, 
1881.  Mr.  Price  has  been  associated  with  his  brother,  Ira  Price,  in  the 
business  of  manufacturing  spokes,  etc.,  since  1882.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  firm  of  E.  A.  Price  &  Co. 

Raplee,  Ira,  born  in  Little  Britain,  Greene  County,  January  23,  1  804, 
was  the  son  of  Joshua  and  Keziah  Raplee,  and  the  sixth  of  their  eleven 
children.  In  1805  the  family  came  to  what  is  now  Torrey,  where  the 
parents  lived  and  died.  Ira  lived  on  a  farm  until  he  was  fifty  years  old, 
and  then  moved  to  Dundee  to  educate  his  children.  In  1870  he  moved 
to  Penn  Yan,  where  he  has  since  resided,  Mr.  Raplee  has  never  been 
an  idle  man,  and  even  in  his  retirement  from  business  life  and  regard- 
less of  his  advanced  age  is  still  active  both  in  body  and  mind.  A  life 
of  industry  and   frugality  have  brought  him  a  substantial  fortune.      In 

70 


5 54  f^^S TORY  OF   YA TES  COUNT) '. 

1826  Mr.  Raplee  married  Polly  Smith,  by  whom  he  had  four  children  : 
William  R.,  Keziah,  Sarah  and  Villa.  His  wife  died  April  9,  1843. 
April  10,  1845,  he  married  Caroline  Smith,  a  sister  of  his  first  wife.  She 
died  August  13,  1877.  September  3,  1878,  Mr.  Raplee  again  married 
Mary  Jane  Owen,  daughter  of  Jonathan  Owen,  an  old  and  respected  citi- 
zen of  Milo. 

Rogers,  Jerome  D.,  born  in  Monroe  County,  N.  Y.,  June  11,  1857; 
was  reared  on  a  farm  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen  began  work  in  a  dry 
goods  store.  In  this  employment  he  lived  in  Honeoye  Falls  and  at 
Rochester — at  the  latter  place  about  five  years.  In  April,  1881,  became 
to  Penn  Yan  and  became  a  member  of  the  enterprising  firm  of  Roenke 
&  Rogers.  In  1883  he  married  Corleyn  Baker,  of  Rochester,  of  which 
marriage  two  children  have  been  born. 

Rupert,  Justus  O.,  whose  home  is  in  Penn  Yan  village,  was  born  in 
Geneva,  in  1842  ;  he  came  to  Penn  Yan  about  ten  years  ago,  and  en- 
tered a  general  nursery  business.  In  1880  Mr.  Rupert  married  Eliza- 
beth Bilsborrow,  of  Geneva,  by  whom  he  has  one  child. 

Sampson,  Dr.  Franklin  S.,  has  been  a  practicing  physician  of  Penn 
Yan  for  only  three  years,  yet  he  is  an  exceedingly  busy  man  in  his  pro- 
fession. He  was  born  at  St.  Albans,  Me.,  in  1851,  was  educated  in  the 
common  and  Normal  schools  of  that  State,  read  medicine  with  Dr. 
W.  E.  P"ellows,  attended  the  Hahnneman  Medical  College,  of  Philadel- 
phia, and  was  graduated  in  1882.  He  practiced  for  a  time  at  Holton, 
Me.,  and  for  about  six  years  in  Monroe  County,  N.  Y.  In  1888  he 
located  in  Penn  Yan. 

Shannon.  Deacon  George  W.,  son  of  Daniel  and  Lydia  (Raplee) 
Shannon  (who  moved  from  New  Jersey  to  this  county),  was  born  in 
Starkey,  December  27,  1806,  one  of  nineteen  children  born  to  his  par- 
ents. They  came  to  this  country  with  the  earliest  settlers,  and  took  up 
their  residence  at  what  afterwards  became  known  as  Shannon's  Corners. 
George  received  a  common  school  education,  and  when  sixteen  years 
of  age  took  charge  of  his  father's  grist-mill  for  three  years.  He  then 
ran  a  boat  on  Seneca  Lake  for  five  years,  and  on  the  Erie  Canal  for 
two  years.  January  20,  1830,  he  married  Eliza  Wilkins,  of  Jerusalem, 
by  whom  he  had  one  daughter,  Mary  A.,  wife  of  Frank  L.  Wentworth, 


F.I  MIL  V  SKE  TCHES.  5  5  5 

residents  of  Penn  Yaii.  In  1837  he  became  convinced  that  his  life 
ought  to  be  Hved  with  a  view  to  serving  God,  and  with  this  thought 
uppermost  in  his  mind  he  united  with  the  Baptist  Church  at  Ilimrods, 
being  baptized  in  Seneca  Lake  in  February  of  that  year.  It  was  in 
connection  with  the  Himrods  Church  that  he  so  proved  himself  in 
Christian  work  as  to  be  ordained  a  deacon  in  1840.  In  April,  1S44,  he 
bought  a  farm  in  Benton  and  moved  there,  and  here  he  resided  for  two 
years.  He  then  sold  it  and  bought  a  farm  in  Milo,  just  out  of  the  vil- 
lage of  Penn  Yan,  and  connected  himself  with  the  Baptist  Church  of 
that  place.  His  wife  died  May  15,  1852,  and  he  married,  second,  Feb- 
ruary 13,  1853,  Mary  E.  Gould,  by  whom  he  had  one  daughter,  Lillie, 
wife  of  L.  J.  Sprague.  His  second  wife  died  May  20,  1 874,  and  he  mar- 
ried, third,  Fannie  Osborn,  who  survives  him.  In  1875  he  sold  his 
farm  at  war  prices  and  moved  to  Penn  Yan,  where  he  resided  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death.  During  the  past  forty  seven  years  Deacon  Shannon 
has  identified  himself  with  every  good  work.  On  Thursday,  Decem- 
ber 24,  at  8  o'clock  A.  M.,  he  departed  this  life.  His  funeral  services 
were  held  in  the  Baptist  Church  on  Sunday,  December  27,  1891,  which 
was  the  eighty- fifth  anniversary  of  his  birth. 

Shearman,  Oliver  G.,  a  native  of  Milo,  was  born  August  7,  1834.  His 
father,  George  Shearman,  was  of  Irish  nativit}',  while  his  mother,  Re- 
becca, daughter  of  David  Wagener,  was  born  in  the  city  of  Philadel- 
phia. Oliver  G.  was  the  eleventh  of  their  twelve  children.  He  lived 
on  a  farm  until  past  twenty-one  years  of  age.  His  early  education  was 
acquired  in  the  common  schools.  In  1857  he  came  to  Penn  Yan  and 
engaged  in  the  grain  business,  and  May  i,  i860,  the  present  firm  of 
Shearman  &  Lewis,  grain  dealers,  was  formed.  Prior  to  i860  Mr. 
Shearman's  brother  was  his  partner.  In  1882  the  Yates  County  Malt 
House  was  erected,  and  the  malting  house  of  O.  G.  Shearman  &  Co., 
composed  of  Mr.  Shearman,  John  Lewis,  E.  C.  Dwelle  and  G.  R.  ^'oungs 
was  formed.  In  1888  Mr.  Youngs  retired,  since  which  time  the  other 
members  of  the  firm  have  conducted  the  business.  Oliver  G.  Shear- 
man is  not  unknown  in  local  Democratic  circles.  In  1862  he  was 
elected  town  clerk  of  Milo,  and  moved  the  office  to  Penn  Yan.  In 
1868  he  was  elected  trustee  of  the  village  and  two  or  three  years  later 
was  made  president  of  the  board,  holding  that  office  two  years.     In  1S75 


556  HISTORY  UF  YATES  COUNTY. 

he  was  elected  county  treasurer  by  a  majority  of  139  ;  in  1887  he  was 
the  Democratic  candidate  for  the  Assembly,  but  was  defeated  by  a 
small  majority,  the  normal  Republican  majority  of  Yates  County 
being  over  1,200.  He  now  holds  the  cjfifice  of  trustee  of  "  the  WiUard 
Hospital  for  the  Insane,"  having  been  appointed  to  that  office  by  David 
B.  Hill.  Outside  of  politics  Mr.  Shearman  has  been  identified  with  a 
number  of  measures,  each  of  which  had  for  its  end  the  substantial  wel- 
fare of  Penn  Yan.  To  him  and  his  associates  was  due  the  honor  of 
bringing  about  the  railroad  leading  from  Dresden  to  Lake  Keuka,  being 
president  of  the  company  that  procured  the  right  of  way.  Many  other 
public  improvements  might  be  recalled,  but  space  forbids. 

Sprague,  James  S.,  a  native  of  Milo,  was  born  in  May,  1834,  the  son 
and  third  child  of  the  four  children  of  Jeremiah  and  Priscilla  (Fergu- 
son) Sprague.  His  father  was  a  tailor  at  Milo  Center,  but  James  was 
brought  up  to  farm  work.  He  lived  at  home  until  reaching  his  thirty- 
second  year,  when  he  married.  He  still  worked  the  home  farm  until 
his  father  died.  Seven  years  ago  Mr.  Sprague  bought  his  present  farm 
on  the  East  road.  He  is  one  of  Milo's  successful  farmers.  His  wife 
was  Lucy  Jane,  daughter  of  Henry  Hunt,  a  highly  respected  citizen  of 
Milo.  One  child  only  has  been  born  to  them,  Delos  E.,  at  present  a 
student  at  Cornell. 

Steelman,  Franklin  W.,  known  to  the  local  mercantile  trade  for  about 
ten  or  twelve  years,  was  first  employed  here  in  the  store  of  H.  W.  Per- 
kins In  1 886  he  went  into  business  with  Horatio  Hazen,  a  partnership 
that  continued  until  about  two  years  ago.  Mr.  Steelman  was  born  in 
New  Jersey  in  1843,  ^nd  at  the  age  of  nineteen  he  became  clerk  in  a 
grocery  store  in  Jersey  City.  Afterwards  he  found  similar  employment 
in  New  York  city.  His  place  of  business  in  Penn  Yan  is  prominently 
located  on  Main  street,  and  his  stock  in  trade  is  carefully  selected  and 
complete. 

Swarthout,  Lewis,  born  in  Tjrone,  Steuben  County,  N.  Y.,  August 
17.  1827,  was  the  son,  and  the  seventh  of  the  ten  children,  of  Henry 
and  Polly  Swarthout.  In  1849  Henry  Swarthout  and  fiinily  moved  to 
Milo,  and  located  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Lewis.  There  he  died  in 
1864,  followed    by  his  wife,  four  )-ears  later.      Lewis   lived    in   Tj-rone 


FAMILY  SKETCHES.  557 

until  1869,  when  upon  the  death  of  his  mother,  he  came  to  Milo.  This 
is  known  as  the  "  old  Fort  farm,"  an  account  of  which  somewhat  pecul- 
iar name  will  be  found  in  the  historical  department  of  this  volume. 
November  16,  1848,  Mr.  Swarthout  and  Louisa  Hallock  were  married. 
They  have  two  children,  Frank  B.  and  Martha  J.  In  Milo  Lewis  Swart- 
hout is  known  as  an  industrious  and  successful  farmer.  He  is  not  act- 
ive in  town  affairs,  yet  has  an  interest  in  all  that  pertains  to  its  welfare. 
The  family  are  members  of  the  Second  Milo  Baptist  Church,  of  which 
Frank  B.  Swarthout  is  clerk. 

Wagener.  Lucius  P.,  son  of  George,  grandson  of  Abram,  and  great- 
grandson  of  David  Wagener,  attended  the  common  schools  and  Penn 
Yan  Academy,  and  finished  his  education  at  Eastman's  Business  Col- 
lege, in  Rochester,  with  his  brother.  He  bought  the  grocery  stock  of 
Mr.  Thompson,  and  conducted  a  partnership  business  for  five  or  six 
years,  when  Lucius  P.  became  sole  proprietor.  Mr.  Wagener  married 
Mary  E.,  daughter  of  J.  C.  Shannon,  of  Starkey.  He  is  a  Democrat  in 
politics.  He  was  deputy  sheriff  during  his  father's  incumbency  of  the 
sheriff's  office  of  Yates  County. 

Watrous,  Thomas  S.,  a  native  of  Potter  County,  Pa.,  located  in  Penn 
Yan  in  1885,  and  was  employed  by  George  Beebe  in  his  carriage  fac- 
tory for  five  years.  In  1890  he  opened  a  shop  on  Stark  avenue,  where 
he  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  the  Watrous  road  carts,  which  he  in- 
vented in  1890-91.  He  manufactures  about  200  a  year  of  carts  and 
wagons.  They  are  also  manufactured  in  difterent  parts  of  the  State, 
netting  him  a  royalty  of  over  $50  a  month. 

Weare,  Samuel  C,  born  near  Seneca  Lake,  N.  Y.,  January  20,  1813, 
died  in  Penn  Yan  in  September,  1891.  During  his  youth  Mr.  W'care 
was  apprenticed  to  a  country  merchant  in  wJiich  employment  he  first 
came  to  Penn  Yan.  Being  afflicted  with  ague  he  went  to  Potter  Cen- 
ter, but  soon  returned  to  the  county  seat.  In  1836  he  had  charge  of  a 
dry  goods  store  at  Rushville,  where  he  remained  two  years.  He  was 
then  employed  in  various  places  for  some  years,  but  returned  to  Penn 
Yan  where  he  was  employed  by  Ketchum  &  Sharp,  succeeding,  how- 
ever, the  junior  member  of  that  firm  about  1850.  I-'or  three  years  Mr. 
Weare  was  a  merchant,  and  then  was  engaged  in  lumbering  in  Canada, 


558  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

continuing  thus  ten  years.  Again  in  1862  he  came  to  Penn  Yan  and 
started  in  tiie  grocery  business,  but  soon  sold  out  and  returned  to  lum- 
bering for  three  more  years.  He  bought  a  farm  in  Benton  which  he 
soon  sold  and  moved  to  Albany  to  retire  from  active  business.  Later 
he  returned  to  Benton  but  left  again  to  superintend  the  building  of 
docks,  roads  and  tracks  at  Buffalo.  After  this  he  went  again  into  lum- 
bering, this  time  at  Bay  City,  Mich.,  in  partnership  with  his  son-in-law. 
Eight  years  later  he  returned  to  Penn  Yan.  About  1840  Mr.  Weare 
married  Martha  \V.,  daughter  of  Israel  Arnold,  by  whom  he  had  two 
children.  His  wife  died  in  1874.  In  1S79  he  married  Sarah  A.  Pol- 
lock, who  survives  him. 

Whittaker,  Jonathan  (son  of  William  Harlow),  was  born  August  15, 
1841,  and  was  educated  at  the  common  schools.  He  engaged  until 
1866  in  farming,  when  he  came  to  Penn  Yan  and  formed  a  partnership 
with  his  uncle,  A.  F.  Whittaker,  carrying  on  a  foundry  and  machine 
shop,  which  was  burned  April  30,  1872.  He  formed  a  connection  with 
the  Commercial  Iron  works  Co.,  of  which  he  was  secretary  and  treasu- 
rer. Since  1884  he  has  been  president  of  the  company.  He  married 
Eliza  WocUey,  of  Jamaica,  L.  I.,  by  whom  he  had  three  children,  Clar- 
ence A.,  Cornelia  A.,  and  Maud  E.  His  wife  died  May  8,  1874.  He 
married,  second,  Alida  M.  VVyckoff,  of  Penn  Yan,  in  1884,  by  whom  he 
had  three  children,  Ruth  M.,  Janet  and  Ralph  T.  (deceased). 

Whitfield,  William  H.,  was  born  in  New  Jersey  and  became  a  resi- 
dent of  this  county  soon  after  the  close  of  the  civil  war.  He  was  in  the 
service  as  a  member  of  Company  G.,  149th  New  York  Volunteers,  hav- 
ing enlisted  in  Angust,  1 862,  at  Syracuse,  and  serving  about  three  years. 
On  first  coming  to  Penn  Yan  Mr.  Whitfield  worked  at  his  trade  of  car- 
riage trimming,  but  afterward  became  associated  in  business  with  George 
Beebe.  In  the  year  1884  the  firm  of  Whitfield  &  McCormick  was 
formed,  and  has  since  pursued  a  successful  business.  Reference  to 
the  manufactures  of  the  firm  is  made  in  the  chapter  devoted  to  Penn 
Yan.  In  1868  Mr.  Whitfield  married  Hattie  Wheeler,  widowed 
daughter  of  John  and  Huldah  Underdonk.  Two  children  have  been 
born  to  them. 

Youngs,  Isaiah,  a  farmer,  came  to  Milo  from  Essex  County,  N.  J., 
in    1802,  and  had  six  children  :     Stephen,    George,   Benjamin,   Nancy, 


FAMIL  V  SKETCHES.  559 

Elizabeth  and  Polly.  George  was  thirteen  years  old  when  his  father 
came  to  Milo.  He  married  Rebecca  Pitney,  by  whom  he  had  six  chil- 
dren, the  three  surviving  being  George  R.,  Isaiah  and  Phebe.  George 
R.,  born  November  28,  1871,  was  educated  at  Yates  County  Academy 
at  Penn  Yan,  and  when  eighteen  years  of  age  commenced  teaching. 
He  taught  several  terms,  and  in  1834  entered  the  store  of  Wheeler  & 
Van  Rensselear,  remaining  with  them  three  years.  January  i,  1841,  he 
was  appointed  deputy  county  clerk,  and  held  that  position  six  years. 
For  several  years  following  he  was  a  broker  and  speculator,  and  in  1854 
went  to  Chicago  and  opened  a  retail  lumber  )ard,  remaining  there  two 
years.  In  1855  he  built  the  first  malt  house  ever  built  in  Penn  Yan- 
He  carried  on  that  business  for  ten  years  with  D.  W.  Streetor  and 
and  others,  the  last  five  years  the  firm  name  being  George  R.  Youngs 
&  Co.  In  1867  he  sold  out  to  Tuttle  Brothers;  he  then  carried  on  a 
private  banking  business  for  several  years.  Since  1870  he  has  been  a 
practical  civil  engineer  and  surveyor.  He  made  the  preliminary  sur- 
vey for  the  New  York  and  Penn  Yan  Railroad  Co.,  from  Penn  Yan  to 
Dresden,  and  the  present  Fall  Brook  Company,  made  most  of  the  sur- 
vey for  their  road  in  1862,  issued  "  shin  plasters  "  for  the  use  of  Penn 
Yan,  kept  the  meteorological  volunteer  survey  for  the  government,  and 
for  the  past  fifteen  years  has  settled  more  estates  than  any  one  man  in 
town.  January  i,  1866  he  was  appointed  agent  and  warden  for  Sing 
Sing  Prison,  which  he  held  over  one  year.  Has  given  considerable  at- 
tention to  the  searching  of  titles  and  making  loans  on  real  estate  since 
1872,  and  has  been  a  practical  botanist.  He  has  a  good  herbarium. 
He  was  elected  a  member  of  the  board  of  education,  having  held  that 
position  most  of  the  time  since  1877.  In  1848  he  married  Philana 
Arnold,  of  Italy,  Yates  County. 

Town  of  Benton. 

Arnold,  Israel  Harrison,  was  born  in  Jerusalem  December  3,  i8l6. 
His  wife,  Susan  Ann  Cleaveland,  was  born  December  19,  1S16.  They 
were  married  December  26,  1841.  Their  children  were  Israel  Carlton, 
born  August  6,  1843,  died  April  13,  188S;  John  Cleaveland,  born  Sep- 
tember   15,  1855,  died  January  9,  1865;    and  George   Benjamin,    born 


56o  HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUNTY. 

December  24,  1848,  married  Mary  Lloyd,  December  9,  1873.  Israel 
H.  Arnold  was  well  known  in  Yates  County  as  a  surveyor,  a  business 
man,  and  a  friend  and  parent  of  exceptional  worth.  His  business  life 
was  successful,  and  at  his  death.  May  25,  i88l,he  left  a  good  estate. 
He  came  to  Benton  in  October,  1843.  His  wife  died  February  28,  1861. 
George  Benjamin  Arnold,  youngest  son  of  Israel  H.,  is  the  owner  and 
occupant  of  the  Benton  home  property  on  which  he  has  an  extensive 
nursery.  His  children  are  Susan  Ann,  Maud  Lillian,  George  B.,  jr.,  and 
Lloyd  Carlton. 

Barden,  George  Riggs,  son  of  George  and  Dolly  (Witter)  Harden, 
was  born  in  Benton  August  17,  1812.  His  father  was  poor,  and  as 
George  R.  was  one  of  the  oldest  of  thirteen  children,  he  was  early  put 
to  work  on  the  farm.  At  the  age  of  twenty-five,  he  married  (in  1837), 
and  started  for  himself  on  the  farm  on  which  he  now  lives  and  of  which 
he  is  the  owner.  His  wife  was  Elniira  Sutherland,  and  their  children 
were  Ashley  W.,  Lucy  A.,  Jennie  E.  and  Theda  H.  Mrs.  Barden  died 
March  17,  1863,  and  January  31,  1865,  Mr.  Barton  married  Jane  Wil- 
kinson. He  is  one  of  the  pioneer  Republicans  of  Yates  County,  being 
a  delegate  to  the  first  county  convention  of  that  party.  In  1859  he  was 
elected  to  the  Assembly.  He  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Bap- 
tist Church,  of  which  society  he  was  one  of  the  trustees  for  twelve  years. 
He  is  one  of  the  deacons  at  the  present  time  and  a  member  of  the  pul- 
pit committee. 

Barden,  Llewellyn  J.,  the  present  school  commissioner  of  Yates 
County,  born  in  Benton,  April  15,  1853,  is  the  son  of  Martin  W.  and 
Margaret  E.  Barden,  and  the  second  of  their  ten  children.  He  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools  and  at  the  Penn  Yan  and  Canandaigua 
Academies.  Later  he  attended  a  business  college  at  Rochester.  Com- 
mencing at  the  age  of  eighteen,  Mr.  Barden  taught  school  for  four  or 
five  years,  one  year  being  at  the  Genesee  Wesleyan  Seminary,  where  in 
1874  he  married  Jennie  E.,  daughter  of  George  R.,  Barden  of  Benton. 
They  have  had  five  children,  four  of  whom  are  living.  For  some  years 
Mr.  Barden  lived  at  New  Haven,  Conn.,  being  employed  as  book-keeper. 
In  1890  he  was  elected  county  school  commissioner. 

Becker,  Alfred  S.,  was  born  in  Columbia  County,  N.  Y.,  in  1838,  the 
son  of  David  L.  and  Sarah  Becker.     The  family  came  to  Benton  about 


FAMILY  SKETCHES.  561 

1849  ^'^'^  located  where  Alfred  now  resides.  At  that  time  David  L. 
Becker  was  married  to  his  second  wife.  Alfred  was  a  child  by  the  first 
marriage.  David  married  a  third  wife,  and  died  in  Penn  Yan  in  1875. 
At  the  age  of  twenty- one  Alfred  began  working  the  farm  on  shares. 
In  1863  he  married  Kate,  daughter  of  William  Best,  of  Benton,  by  whom 
he  had  two  children,  Sarah,  wife  of  Charles  F.  Walker,  and  Edgar  L. 
Kate  (Best)  Becker,  wife  of  Alfred,  died,  and  four  years  later  Alfred 
married  Anna  Durry,  of  Jerusalem.  Two  children  have  been  born  to 
the  second  marriage,  Alfred  D.  and  Ralph  C.  Alfred  S.  Becker  is  one 
of  Benton's  substantial  farmers.  He  has  125  acres,  twelve  of  which  are 
in  vinejard,  and  six  in  fruit  and  berries. 

Dorman,  James,  born  in  Seneca,  Jefferson  Count)-,  in  1824,  was  the 
son  of  Alanson  and  Eleanor  Dorman,  and  the  seventh  of  their  thirteen 
children.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  he 
started  out  to  make  his  own  way  in  life.  He  went  west  to  Wisconsin 
and  Iowa,  locating  in  the  latter  State,  but  he  soon  returned  and 
went  to  work  bj-  the  month.  In  1864  he  came  to  Benton  and 
bought  the  old  Foster  Watson  farm,  where  he  has  since  resided.  On 
January  13,  1859,  Mr.  Dorman  married  Maria,  daughter  of  Charles 
Ayres  of  Benton.  The)'  have  two  children,  Mary  J.  and  Dennie  M., 
both  living  at  home 

Earl,  Albert,  born  in  Benton,  November  6,  1839,  was  the  fourth  of 
seven  children  born  to  Arthur  and  Sybil  (Conklin)  Earl,  both  highly 
respected  residents  of  Benton,  and  both  representing  an  element  of 
pioneership  in  the  town.  Arthur  Earl  was  a  farmer  and  Albert  was 
brought  up  to  farm  work.  In  1850  his  fathei*  bought  the  place  on  which 
Albert  now  lives.     The  latter  owns  130  acres  near  Seneca  Lake. 

Earl,  Edwin  L.,  son  of  the  late  Jeptha  Earl,  was  born  in  Benton, 
N.  Y.,  January  10,  1838.  He  was  reared  on  tlie  farm  and  is  now  the 
owner  of  175  acres  of  excellent  land.  At  the  age  of  thirty- one  he  mar- 
ried Caroline  Coffin,  by  whom  he  has  had  five  children:  George  Jeptha, 
Henry  Clay,  Charles,  Eliza  and  Edwin  L.,  jr.  Mr.  Earl  is  a  Democrat 
in  politics,  but  takes  no  active  part  in  town  or  county  affairs.  He  has 
no  strong  religious  preferences,  but  inclines  towards  Universalism. 

Edmonds,  Aaron,  born  in  Fairfield  County,  Conn.  In  1 797  he  married 
Harriet  FoUiott  and  became  a  resident  of  Benton  in  1834.     His  family 

71 


5^62  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

is  as  follows :  Ann  Maria,  Sarah,  Robert  S.,  and  Harriet  E.  (Last 
mentioned  was  born  in  this  town).  Robert  S.  Edmonds  was  born  April 
5,  1830.  His  life  has  been  devoted  to  the  farm.  In  1855  ^^^  married 
Mary,  daughter  of  David  Buell,  by  whom  he  had  one  child,  Lillie,  wife 
of  John  R.  Gardner,  of  Potter.  Mary  died  in  i860.  In  1863  Mr.  Ed- 
monds married  Caroline,  daughter  of  Stephen  Seaman,  of  Saratoga 
County.      One  child,  Robert  Lee  Edmonds,  has  been  born  to  them. 

Gage,  Samuel  B.,  son  of  Samuel  G.  and  Martha  (Cole)  Gage,  was 
born  in  Benton  November  23,  1834.  The  old  Gage  farm  was  formerly 
known  as  the  Gillette  place,  and  came  to  Samuel  B.  upon  the  father's 
death.  It  contains  about  150  acres.  Mr.  Gage  married,  in  1853,  Lois 
Ann  Bunnett,  of  Benton,  by  whom  he  had  three  children,  S.  Granger, 
Ida  and  Arthur.  Mrs.  Gage  died  in  1888.  Mr.  Gage  is  one  of  the 
leading  Republicans  of  Benton.  For  two  terms  he  had  the  office  of 
supervisor.  Once  he  was  the  nominee  of  his  party  for  sheriff  but  was 
defeated.      In  1890  he  held  the  office  of  road  commissioner. 

Gristock,  Thomas,  born  in  Somersetshire,  England,  March  i,  1835, 
came  to  the  United  States  at  the  age  of  twenty  years,  residing  for  a  short 
time  in  Cayuga  County  and  then  coming  to  Benton,  Yates  County, 
where  he  has  since  lived.  In  1865  he  bought  the  Remer  farm  of  100 
acres,  in  Benton  near  Penn  Yan,  on  which  he  has  some  of  the  best  farm 
buildings  in  the  township.  Mr.  Gristock  is  generous  and  public  spirited. 
His  wife  was  Sarah  Hurford,  an  English  lady,  by  whom  he  has  had 
three  children  :  Thomas  J.,  now  living  in  Michigan  ;  Ella,  wife  of  Frank 
Kipp,  of  Torrey  ;   and  Frederick  W.,  who  assists  his  father  on  tiie  farm. 

Hurford,  Henry,  was  bom  in  Somersetshire,  England,  in  1832,  the 
son  of  James  and  Lydia  Hurford.  Henry  came  to  the  United  States 
in  1853,  when  for  several  months  he  worked  out  by  the  month  in  Penn 
Yan  and  elsewhere.  In  1866  he  bought  the  John  Lapham  fift\-acie 
farm,  where  he  now  resides.  In  1853  Mr.  Hurford  married  Eliza  Gris- 
tock, by  whoin  he  has  two  children.  Henry  Hurford  takes  an  active 
interest  in  the  affairs  of  his  town.  He  is  a  firm  Republican  and  is  now 
serving  his  third  term  as  assessor. 

Hurford,  William,  was  born  in  Somerset,  England,  in  December, 
1845,   the   youngest   of  nine   children   of  James  and    L\dia    Hurford. 


FAMILY  SKETCHES.  563 

He  came  to  this  countrv  in  1853  and  began  work  as  a  laborer.  In  1858 
he  bought  the  Lemuel  Sprague  farm  of  eighty  acres,  near  Spencer's 
Corners  in  Benton,  and  this  he  has  increased  to  100  acres.  In  1861 
Mr.  Hurford  married  Julia  A.  Holden,  of  Penn  Yan,  by  which  marriage 
these  children  have  been  born  :  Charles,  Harrj'  \V.,  Bradley  C.  and 
Perley.  William  Hurford  has  been  a  successful  farmer  and  a  generous 
provider  for  his  family.      He  has  started  his  sons  in  business. 

Hyatt,  Harrison,  was  born  in  Milo,  March  22,  1814,  the  son  of  James 
and  Betsey  Hyatt  of  that  town.  At  the  age  of  twenty-six  Harrison 
started  out  to  work  by  the  month,  continuing  for  five  years,  when  he 
bought  the  farm  in  Benton  where  he  now  resides.  He  has  been  twice 
married,  his  first  wife  being  Hannah  Schofield,  who  died  January  3, 
1887.  He  married  second  Eliza  Schofield  in  October  of  the  same 
year. 

Lewis,  Thomas  J.,  was  born  in  Cayuga  County,  N.  Y.,  April  27,  181 1. 
When  two  years  of  age  his  father,  Joseph  C,  moved  to  Starkey,  and  he 
(Thomas)  remained  there  until  1840,  when  he  came  to  Benton.  In 
1834  he  married  Sarah  A.  Ayers,  of  Starkey,  by  whom  he  had  five 
children.  He  died  May  28,  1882,  and  his  wife  October  17,  1890. 
Charles  G.,  the  oldest  son,  was  born  October  5,  1S35.  On  December 
4,  1866,  he  married  Emma  J.  Morgan,  by  whom  he  has  two  children, 
Hattie  A.  and  George  W.  His  wife  died  February  7,  1S77.  Mr.  Lewis 
is  a  farmer.  May  16,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  F,  Twenty-third  New 
York  Infantry  and  served  ten  months,  being  discharged  March  i,  1862, 
for  disability.  He  re-enlisted  August  10,  1863,  and  was  mustered  out 
at  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  27,  1865. 

Lewis,  Thomas  J.,  a  native  of  Cayuga  Count}',  came  to  Starkey  in 
in  1812,  and  to  Benton  in  1840.  His  wife,  whom  he  married  in  Starkey, 
was  Sally  Ann  Ayers,  and  their  children  were  Charles  G.,  Agnes  A., 
Wilson  A.,  Eli  and  Frank  E.  Thomas  J.  did  in  May,  1882,  and  his 
wife  in  October,  1890.  Charles  G.,  Wilson  A.  and  Eli  served  in  the 
war  of  1861-65.  Wilson  A.  died  in  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  in  the  army. 
Eli  was  born  in  October,  1840.  He  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  and  in  Penn  Yan  and  Dundee  Academies.  Eli  Lewis  enlisted 
at  Washington,  D.  C,  in  1863  in  an  engineer  corps.      After  two  montiis 


564  HISTORY  UF  YATES  CObWTY. 

he^came  home  and  in  the  fall  re-enlisted  in  Co.  H,  F'ifty- eighth  New 
York  Volunteers,  Infantry.  He  was  sergeant,  and  was  mustered  out  at 
the  end  of  his  term  of  service.  December  24,  1873,  he  married  Sarah 
C,  daughter  of  Joshua  Washburn,  Gorhani,  Ontario  County.  He  is  a 
farmer  by  occupation  and  i.s  livingonthe  farm  he  bought  in  1873. 

Mallory,  Almon  C,  for  a  quarter  of  a  century  devoted  his  life  to 
ministerial  work  in  Benton.  He  was  born  in  Cornwall,  Litchfield 
County,  Conn.,  and  was  ordained  as  minister  of  the  Baptist  Church  on 
September  30,  1840.  During  his  forty-five  years  in  the  ministry  he 
was  pastor  of  but  three  churches,  eleven  years  at  Wayne,  Steuben 
County,  twenty-four  years  at  Benton  Center,  and  ten  years  at  Covert, 
Seneca  County.  He  died  in  Benton,  September  17,  1888.  His  chil- 
dren were  Sara  H.,  who  became  the  wife  of  James  S.  Williams,  and  died 
in  1867  ;  and  Bradley  T.,  a  farmer  and  insurance  agent  of  Benton  Center. 

Mariner,  Buel,  born  in  Connecticut  January  6,  1775,  died  in  Benton, 
N.  Y.,  January  6,  1852.  His  wife,  Esther  Lord,  born  August  10,  1784, 
died  September  11,  1875.  They  were  married  in  Connecticut  and  had 
children  as  follows:  John,  born  June  20,  1808,  died  in  Illinois;  Jew- 
€tt,  born  August  12,  181 1,  died  in  Jesusalem,  N.  Y.  ;  Eliphalet,  born 
August  20,  i8i3,died  in  Illinois;  Orin,  born  December  28,  1816,  lives 
in  Illinois;  Henry,  born  March  10,  1818,  resides  in  Illinois;  Myron, 
born  July  7,  1810,  resides  in  Bloomfield,  Ontario  County;  Jay  Lord, 
born  September  29,  1822,  died  in  Milo  in  1849;  and  Homer,  born 
March  i,  1825.  Buel  Mariner  came  to  Yates  County  about  1S20,  and 
bought  260  acres.  He  was  one  of  Benton's  most  successful  farmers. 
Homer  Mariner,  youngest  of  the  children  of  Buel  Mariner,  is  recog- 
nized a.s  a  leading  farmer  and  influential  citizen  of  Benton.  He  first 
married  in  September,  1849,  Caroline  Sutherland,  who  died  October  26, 
1879  Their  children  were  Eva,  Floyd  A.,  Jay  E.,  Esther  L.  and  Lin- 
coln. His  second  wife  was  Cornelia  Bristol,  widow  of  John  Gray,  a 
former  resident  of  Cortland  County,  and  whom  Mr.  Mariner  married 
May  18,  1S81. 

Mead,  Joshua,  the  pioneer  of  the  Mead  family  in  Benton,  came  from 
Putnam  County,  N.  Y  ,  and  located  on  Pleasant  Ridge  in  1820,  where 
he    and    his   wife   died,   both   in    1866.      Their   chikhen    were    Gilbert, 


FAMILY  SKETCHES.  565 

Elizabeth,  Jane,  Joseph,  William,  Mary  and  John.  Gilbert  Mead,  born 
November  25,  181 1,  was  a  prominent  farmer  and  stock  dealer.  Janu- 
ary 2,  1834,  he  married  Catharine  Barnes,  by  whom  he  had  two  chil- 
dren, Joshua  and  George  W.  The  latter  died  in  May,  1891.  Joshua 
Mead  was  born  January  3,  1835,  and  has  always  lived  in  Benton.  Feb- 
ruary 29,  i860,  he  married  Isabella  Goundry,  of  Mile,  and  to  them  six 
children  have  been  born  :  Catharine  R.,  Georgiana,  Mary  R.,  Byron 
G.,  Frank  H.  and  Ada  Belle.  Joshua  Mead  commenced  business  life 
poor;   he  is  now  a  comfortable  farmer,  having  175  acres  of  good    land. 

Merrifield,  John,  came  to  Benton  from  Columbia  County,  N.  Y.,  in 
1823,  and  settled  in  the  west  part  of  the  town.  He  resided  in  the 
county  until  1844,  when  he  removed  to  Michigan,  where  he  died  in  185  i. 
He  had  a  family  of  eleven  children,  all  of  whom  are  living.  The  oldest 
son,  John,  was  born  September  10,  1809,  and  when  thirteen  years  of 
age  came  to  this  county  with  his  parents,  where  he  has  always  resided. 
He  is  a  farmer  and  owned  at  one  time  400  acres  of  land.  He  was  su- 
pervisor of  Benton  five  years,  and  was  several  years  excise  commis- 
sioner. He  married  Mary  Crank,  of  Columbia  Count}-,  by  whom  he 
had  four  children,  only  one  of  whom  now  lives,  John  Wesley,  born  De- 
cember 23,  1832.  He  married  Elvira  Crosby,  and  has  two  children, 
Sarah  E.  and  John  S.      He  is  an  apiarist  and  has  100  colonies. 

Peckins,  Charles  R.  (son  of  Elipha),  born  Febuary  28,  1832,  in  Ben- 
ton, was  educated  at  the  common  schools  of  Benton  and  select  schools 
ofPenn  Van.  When  twenty  years  of  age  he  commenced  dealing  in 
agricultural  implements,  which  business  he  carried  on  twenty-five  years. 
He  was  in  company  with  John  S.  Sheppard  under  the  firm  name  of 
Sheppard  &  Peckins  six  years  in  Penn  Yan,  then  returned  to  the  farm 
and  is  now  engaged  in  farming,  and  has  been  justice  of  the  peace  since 
1882.  He  married  Ella  A.,  daughter  of  Seth  B.  Briggs,  in  1861.  They 
have  three  children  ;  Burnett,  Martha  J.,  and  Villa  B.  Elipha  Peckins 
was  born  in  Massachusetts,  and  when  a  small  boy  he  came  to  Benton 
with  his  parents.  They  had  a  family  of  sixteen  children.  He  bought 
a  farm  and  carried  on  carpentering  and  joining.  He  died  in  1888  aged 
ninety-four  years.      Of  his  four  children  three  are  living. 

Platm;ni,  John  H.,  was  born  in  I-'ebruary,  1827.  His  father  was 
Joseph    Platman,  and  his  mother  Sarah   (Alabaster)   Platman,  both   of 


$66  HIS  TOR  V  OF  YA  TES  CO  UN  T  V. 

English  birth.  The  family  came  to  Geneva  in  1837,  and  a  few  months 
later  to  Benton.  John  H.  Platman  has  been  twice  married.  His  first 
wife  was  Mary  M.  C.  Ward,  by  whom  he  has  one  child,  Alice  M.,  wife 
of  David  M.  Scott  In  1854  Mrs.  Platman  died,  and  two  years  later 
Mr.  Platman  married  Catharine  Disbrew  by  whom  these  children  have 
been  born  :  Josephine  E.,  Elmer  E.,  Samuel  E.  and  George  H.  George 
H.  died  in  1871. 

Remer,  William  T.,  was  born  in  Benton,  May  15,  1824,  the  son  of 
Aaron  and  Phebe  Remer,  who  are  elsewhere  mentioned  in  this  work. 
Although  his  career  has  been  devoted  to  the  farm,  Mr.  Remer  has  never- 
theless been  much  in  public  life.  He  was  educated  in  the  district 
schools  and  attended  the  Albany  Academy.  He  was  one  of  the  organ- 
izers of  the  Republican  Party  in  Yates  County,  and  has  ever  since  been 
identified  with  its  fortunes.  Commencing  in  1859  he  served  three  years 
as  sherifif  of  the  county.  In  1863  he  was  appointed  provost- marshal  for 
this  congressional  district,  and  held  that  position  to  the  end  of  the  war. 
He  has  also  been  supervisor  of  the  town  of  Benton.  In  1849  Mr. 
Remer  married  Mary  H.,  daughter  of  Anthony  Trimmer,  of  Benton. 
Four  children  have  been  born  to  them,  three  of  whom  are  living. 

Scofield,  Ebenezer  P.,  whose  comfortable  residence  and  excellent 
farm  are  in  the  northwest  part  of  Benton,  was  born  where  he  now  lives, 
on  September  i,  1822.  He  was  the  son  of  William  and  Patience 
Scofield,  and  the  fifth  of  their  seven  children.  The  home  farm  of  his 
father  came  to  Ebenezer  by  descent.  He  was  supervisor  of  Benton  for 
two  years  and  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church  at  the  Center. 
June  21,  1855,  Mr.  Scofield  married  Elizabeth  Stokoe,  by  whom  he 
had  five  children,  viz.:  Frances  Jane,  wife  of  Russell  Chapman  ;  Clarence 
W.,  of  Benton  ;  Charles  D.,  of  Benton;  and  John  S.  and  Mary  Edith, 
who  live  at  home. 

Scofield,  William,  a  native  of  Connecticut,  came  to  Benton,  Yates 
County,  N.  Y.,  shortly  after  the  year  1800  and  engaged  in  farming.  He 
had  seven  children,  of  whom  Hiram,  the  oldest,  was  born  in  Benton, 
April  13,  18 13,  and  was  married.  He  had  two  children,  Mary  E.  and 
Emily  J.,  both  deceased.  Mrs.  Scofield  was  a  daughter  of  Squire  Nash, 
one  of  the  first  settlers,  and  a  prominent  citizen  in  Steuben  County.    He 


FAMILY  SKETCHES.  567 

was  a  supervisor  and  a  justice  of  the  peace  for  several  years.  Mrs. 
Patchin,  of  Benton,  an  aunt  of  Mrs.  Scofield,  is  the  grandmother  of 
Judge  Patcliin,  of  Detroit,  Mich.  Hiram  Scofield  has  always  been  en- 
gaged in  farming.  Both  he  and  his  wife  have  been  active  members  of 
the  M.  E.  Church  for  over  fifty  years.  He  has  also  served  as  class 
leader  and  steward. 

Shaw,  Gu)-,  born  in  Barrington,  December  4,  1820,  was  the  son  of 
Jeremiah  and  Betsey  Shaw  of  that  town.  At  the  age  of  twenty- one 
Guy  left  the  home  farm  to  make  his  own  way  in  life.  He  attended 
school  at  Canandaigua  two  years,  preparing  himself  for  teaching,  and 
thereafter  he  taught  school  eight  winter  terms.  His  summer  months 
were  spent  on  farms.  In  1843  his  father  died,  the  family  then  residing 
in  Ontario  County.  In  1848  Guy  bought  the  Thomas  Lee  farm  in 
Benton.  Here  Mr.  Shaw  has  since  lived,  with  the  exception  of  four 
years.  In  1843  he  married  Laura  L.  Pierce,  by  whom  he  has  three 
children.  Guy  Shaw  is  a  factor  in  Yates  County  politics.  He  was  an 
original  Free  Soiler,  but  became  a  Republican  on  the  organization  of 
that  party.  In  1863  he  represented  the  county  in  the  Assembly.  For 
the  last  twenty  years  Mr.  Shaw  has  acted  independent  of  politics  and 
has  inclined  to  the  Farmers'  Alliance.  Both  himself  and  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  M.  E.  Church,  he  having  been  formerly  one  of  its  trustees. 

Spencer,  George  \V.,  of  Benton,  who  was  born  and  died  in  the  town, 
was  one  of  its  foremost  citizens.  He  married  Eliza  M.  Wheeler,  of 
Potter,  February  11,  1852.  They  had  one  child,  Frank  E.  Spencer, 
now  a  resident  and  successful  business  man  of  Benton.  Mrs  Spencer 
died  April  2,  i860,  and  October  23,  1862,  Mr.  Spencer  married  Mary 
E.  Wheeler,  a  sister  to  his  first  wife.  One  child,  Charles  P.  Spencer, 
was  born  of  this  marriage.  George  W.  Spencer  died  October  19,  1878. 
Frank  E.  Spencer,  born  August  23,  1855,  on  February  28,  1882,  mar- 
ried Fannie  V.,  daughter  of  Joseph  R.  and  Frances  M.  Bell,  of  Dundee. 
They  have  one  child,  George  Harold.  Mr.  Spencer  is  a  successful  fruit 
grower.  His  farm  has  sixty- six  acres  of  good  land,  twenty  five  acres 
of  which  are  in  fruit. 

Sprague,  Daniel,  born  in  Jerusalem,  June  14,  1828,  was  the  son  of 
Robert  and  Melinda  Sprague.      His  pare.nts  were  poor  and  Daniel  was 


S68  HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUNTY. 

early  obliged  to  go  out  to  work.  At  twenty- two  he  married  and  com- 
menced to  work  on  shares  the  farm  in  Benton  on  which  he  now  resides 
and  owns.  Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  Mr.  Sprague's  business  life  has 
been  more  than  reasonably  successful.  He  is  regarded  as  one  of  Benton's 
substantial  men.  In  1849  Mr.  Sprague  married  Arabella,  daughter  of 
Elipha  Peckins,  a  respected  resident  of  Benton.  Three  children  were 
born  of  this  marriage,  Charles,  James  A.,  and  Edward.  Mrs.  Sprague 
died  in  May,  1886. 

Stanton,  Benjamin,  was  born  in  Gorham,  Ontario  County,  February 
24,  1798.  April  20,  1820,  he  married  Polly,  daughter  of  Benjamin 
Dean,  born  March  10,  1800.  They  settled  in  the  north  part  of  the 
town.  Their  three  children  were  Martha  E.,  George  B.,  and  Mary  J. 
None  of  them  is  now  living.  Benjamin  was  an  extensive  farmer.  He 
died  in  1846  and  his  wife  June  18,   1879. 

Lloyd,  Charles,  was  born  in  Cheshire,  England,  in  1820.  About 
1837  he  came  to  America  and  located  in  the  town  of  Benton,  where  he 
engaged  in  farming.  November  12,  1857,  ^^  married  Emily  Stanton 
Holmes,  and  they  had  one  child,  Mary  E.,  who  resides  here.  Mr. 
Lloyd  died  October  9,  1879,  and  his  wife  in  1883.  Norman  Holmes, 
son  of  Joshua,  was  born  in  1820.  He  married  Norah  A.  Stanton, 
daughter  of  Benjamin  Stanton  and  had  one  child,  Harriet  E.  He  died 
January  20,  1853. 

Svvarthout,  Heman  Chapman,  one  of  Benton's  representative  farmers, 
born  in  Barrington,  September  21,  1842,  was  the  youngest  of  the  chil- 
dren of  George  F.  and  Roena  -Swarthout.  At  the  age  of  seventeen 
Heman  started  out  for  himself  and  for  several  years  migrated  from  one 
place  to  another,  living  most  of  that  time  in  Ohio  and  New  York.  In 
1876  after  his  mother's  death  he  bought  the  farm  in  Benton  he  now 
cw;cupies.  It  embraces  over  lOO  acres  and  is  in  a  good  state  of  cultiva- 
tion. In  1866  Mr.  Swarthout  married  Eliza  Jane  Barber,  by  whom  he 
had  two  children,  both  dying  in  infancy.  His  wife  died  in  18S5  and  in 
February,  1887,  he  married  Sarah  A.  Prichard,  of  Benton. 

Tallmadge,  Milo,  was  born  in  Barkhamsted,  Litchfield  County, 
Conn.,  and  became  a  resident  of  Benton,  N.  Y.,  in  1865.  He  purchased 
first,  a  farm  near  William  T.  Remer's,  but  in  1872  he  bought  his  present 


FAMILY  SKETCHES.  569 

place.  The  children  in  Mr.  Tallmadge's  family  are:  Ellen,  widow  of 
the  late  Capt.  Martin  S.  Hicks;  Sarah,  wife  of  Henry  S.  Rood,  of  Ben- 
ton, and  Harvey  C,  who  now  manages  the  farm. 

Taylor,  James  W.,  born  in  Benton,  May  17,  1844,  was  the  youngest 
of  three  children  born  to  Alva  and  Ardalissa  Taylor.  James  was  reared 
on  a  farm  and  learned  the  trade  of  wagon- making  and  blacksmithing. 
In  1885  he  built  the  shops  at  Benton  Center,  where  is  now  his  residence 
and  place  of  business.  In  1870  Mr.  Taylor  marrietl  Harriet,  daughter 
of  Elnathan  R.  Hunt.     They  have  no  children. 

Underwood,  Horace,  one  of  the  most  widely  acquainted  men  of  Ben- 
ton, was  born  in  Jerusalem,  September  21,  1825.  When  Horace  was 
seven  years  old  the  family  moved  to  Potter,  and  when  about  sixteen  he 
started  out  to  work  by  the  month,  continuing  so  for  about  five  years. 
He  then  bought  a  farm  near  Rushville,  and  followed  that  with  the  own- 
ership of  a  number  of  others.  He  was  of  a  speculative  turn  of  mind, 
and  an  excellent  judge  of  property,  both  in  value  and  productiveness. 
In  1866  he  moved  to  Bellona  and  afterwards  lived  three  years  in  Penn 
Yan,  that  his  children  might  have  the  advantages  of  the  village  schools. 
During  this  time  Mr.  Underwood  was  keeper  in  Auburn  and  Sing  Sing 
prisons.  In  1870  he  returned  to  Benton  and  in  1871  came  to  his  pres- 
ent farm  of  230  acres.  In  1849  he  married  Rachel  R.  Warner,  of  Potter, 
by  whom  he  has  had  four  children,  two  only  of  whom  are  now  living. 
In  Potter  Mr.  Underwood  was  assessor  nine  years  and  four  years  justice 
of  the  peace.  In  Benton  he  has  been  assessor  one  and  supervisor  two 
terms.  During  the  war  he  was  enrolling  officer  in  the  provost-marshal's 
office.      Mr.  Underwood  is  a  Republican. 

Waldron,  James,  a  native  of  Jersey  City,  N.  J.,  learned  the  trade  of 
coach-making  and  came  to  Geneva,  N.  Y.,  when  a  young  man.  Here 
he  married  in  1824,  Jane,  daughter  of  James  Rice,  a  Revolutionary  vete- 
ran. In  1833  they  moved  to  Dresden  and  lived  there  for  five  years. 
He  then  moved  to  Michigan,  but  owing  to  the  malarious  character  of 
that  country  he  returned  to  Yates  County  and  purchased  what  was 
called  the  Elder  Goff  farm  where  he  lived  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
October  3,  1883.  His  wife  died  April  17,  1872.  Their  children  were 
Helen,  John,  Elizabeth,  Henry,  I'Mwin  and  Anna.      Helen   died  March 

72 


570  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

22,  1837,  aged  twelve  years.  John  died  December  5,  1846,  aged  nine- 
teen years.  Elizabeth  married  Henry  Coon  and  died  in  Washington, 
D.  C,  March  21,  1872.  Henry,  a  physician,  married  Emma  Byrnes, 
in  Washington,  located  in  Bariiesville,  Md  ,  where  he  was  stricken  with 
consumption  and  returned  to  Benton,  where  he  died  August  2,  1861. 
One  child,  Anna,  survives  him.  Edwin  married  Esther  Crosby,  of  Ben- 
ton, October  16,  1861,  and  resides  on  the  homestead.  He  is  a  breeder 
of  thoroughbred  Jersey  cattle  and  is  a  thorough,  practical  farmer. 
Anna  married  James  Williams.     They  reside  in  Orleans  County,  N.  Y. 

Town  of   Starkey. 

Andrews,  John  T.,  a  son  of  Ichabod  and  Lola  T.  Andrews,  is  a  native 
of  Greene  County,  N.  Y.,  born  May  29,  1803.  He  was  reared  on  a 
farm,  received  a  business  education  in  the  common  schools  of  the  old 
town  of  Reading.  In  1828  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business,  at 
Reading,  continuing  until  1832,  wlien  he  was  elected  sheriff  of  this 
county  in  which  capacity  he  served  three  years.  In  1835  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  Congress,  serving  one  term  with  distinction  and  honor. 
At  the  close  of  his  Congressional  term  he  again  turned  his  attention  to 
t|ie  mercantile  business,  forming  a  partnership  with  Martin  &  Vosburg 
at  Dundee.  They  carried  on  a  successful  business  for  several  years. 
Mr.  Andrews  married  in  Steuben  County,  Miss  Ann  Eliza  Andrews, 
daughter  of  Amherst  Andrews,  in  1831.  One  daughter  was  born  to 
this  union,  who  died  in  infancy.  Mrs.  Andrews  died  in  1877.  Mr.  An- 
drews is  one  of  Dundee's  most  (prominent  and  enterprising  citizens. 

Archer,  James  M.,  born  in  Bradford,  England,  June  27,  1836,  came 
to  America  in  1842  with  his  parents,  Thomas  and  Sarah,  who  settled  in 
Starkey,  where  they  resided  until  their  death.  James  M.  was  educated 
at  the  Starkej' Seminary,  and  in  i860  married  Mary  Hathaway.  Their 
only  child,  Fred,  born  July  23,  1862,  married  Florence  Allen,  of  New 
York  City,  where  he  resides,  being  in  the  employ  of  the  United  States 
Express  Company.  James  M.,  in  1857  entered  the  store  of  C.  W. 
Barnes  of  Rock  Stream,  as  clerk,  remained  until  1862,  when  he  enlisted 
in  the  14th  New  York  Heavy  Artillery,  and  was  sergeant,  quarter- 
master-sergeant, second  lieutenant,  first  lieutenant,  and   was  mustered 


FAMILY  SKETCHES.  571 

out  as  adjutant  at  the  close  of  the  war.  Returning  to  Rock  Stream  he 
entered  the  store  of  his  old  employer  as  clerk,  remaining  theie  until 
1876.  He  then  engaged  as  traveling  salesman  for  four  years,  then 
opened  a  store  at  Rock  Stream,  where  he  now  resides.  He  was  elected 
justice  of  the  peace  in  1889.  He  is  a  Republican,  and  takes  an  active 
interest  in  political  affairs. 

Barnes,  Charles  W.,  an  extensive  business  man,  and  a  highly  respected 
citizen,  was  born  January  i,  1823,  and  died  in  Rock  Stream  within  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  of  the  place  of  his  birth,  on  February  5,  18S4.  His 
father,  Enos,  was  born  in  Litchfield,  Conn.,  and  his  mother  in  Lansing- 
burg,  N.  Y.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  Enos  Barnes  went  Lunenburg,  Va., 
where  he  remained  eight  years,  studying  medicine  and  commencing 
practice  as  a  physician.  He  served  as  a  surgeon  in  the  war  of  1812, 
and  afterward  returned  to  the  north.  June  22,  18 14,  he  married  Miss 
Rebecca  Wicks.  They  came  from  Hyde  Park  to  what  is  now  Rock 
Stream,  in  1815,  the  first  of  the  following  eight  children  having  been 
born  previous  to  their  removal :  Dr.  Harry  R.  Barnes,  of  Rock  Stream  ; 
Woodruff  L.,  who  died  in  Brooklyn;  Morris  T.,  who  died  in  Watkins, 
and  whose  two  daughters,  Mrs.  A.  C.  Pike,  and  Mrs.  R.  H.  Canfield, 
and  their  mother,  Mrs.  M.  S.  Phinney,  now  reside  in  Corning,  N.  Y.; 
Delia  M.,  who  married  Dr.  J.  S.  Stevens,  of  Penn  Yan,  and  Charles  W.; 
Edmund  P.,  who  died  at  Folly  Island,  S.  C,  during  the  rebellion  ; 
Emma  H.,  who  became  the  wife  of  Julius  Bancroft  and  died  in  New 
Madrid,  Mo.;  and  Hattie  N.,  wife  of  Mr.  Otis  Whitney,  of  Oswego, 
Kan.  Dr.  Enos  Barnes  was  twice  married,  and  two  children  were  born 
of  the  second  union,  Enos  W.  Barnes,  editor  of  the  Allegany  County 
Reporter,  who  died  at  Wellsville,  N.  Y.,  in  1888,  and  Rebecca,  wife  of 
Rev.  J.  T.  Otis,  of  La  Preston,  Dak.  Charles  W.  Barnes,  after  attend- 
ing the  Penn  Yan  Academy,  at  the  age  of  fifteen  became  a  clerk  in  the 
store  then  kept  by  Alonzo  Simmons  at  Rock  Stream.  He  remained 
there  two  years  and  then  entered  the  employ  of  L.  G.  Townsend,  at  what 
was  then  called  Big  Stream  Point,  now  called  Glenora,  where  he  re- 
mained until  going  into  business  for  himself,  which  was  nine  months 
previous  to  his  attaining  his  majority.  April  18,  1853,  he  married 
Mary  S.,  daughter  of  Alonzo  Simmons.  Two  children  were  born  to 
them  :   Delia  M.,  wife  of  John  D.  Goundrey,  and  Alonzo  S.      Mr.  Barnes 


572  HISTORY  UF   YATES  COUi\'TY. 

was  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order,  but  not  of  any  religious  society. 
He  gave  freely  for  charitable  purposes,  and  for  years  gave  liberally  to 
the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Rock  Stream.  At  two  periods  of  his  life 
partners  were  associated  with  him  in  business,  Mr.  Sharp  for  a  term  of 
years,  and  subsequently  his  brother-in  law,  George  Simmons.  During 
his  long  and  prosperous  business  career  his  dealings  were  ever  honorable 
and  his  relations  with  acquaintances  were  such  that  only  death  could 
sunder  the  bonds  of  friendship  formed.  Alonzo  S.  Barnes  was  born 
October  22,  i860,  and  educated  at  Starkey  Seminary  and  Cook 
Academy,  and  in  iS88  married  Erma  L.  Miles.  He  succeeded  his 
father  in  the  mercantile  business  at  Rock  Stream. 

Baskin,  Lyman  J.,  farmer  and  attorney  at  law,  is  a  native  of  Yates 
County,  born  June  16,  1853.  He  is  a  son  of  William  R.  Baskin,  and 
grandson  of  William  Baskin,  who  settled  here  at  a  very  early  day.  The 
latter  was  born  about  1777  and  died  January  7,  1866.  The  father  of 
Lyman  J.,  was  born  February  14,  1817,  a  farmer  and  stock  dealer.  He 
married  Eliza  A.  Graves,  a  native  of  Ireland,  by  whom  he  hadsix  children, 
five  surviving  in  order  of  birth,  Lyman  J.,  Herman  C,  Estella  A.,  Wini- 
fred E.  and  Mabel  A.,  all  of  whom  received  their  education  at  Starkey 
Seminary.  The  mother  was  a  very  earnest  churchwoman.  The  children 
are  all  Episcopalians,  as  also  is  the  family  of  Lyman  J.  In  1872-73-74, 
the  latter  having  read  law  with  Hart  &  Tomlinson,  attorneys  at  law  at  El- 
mira,  foronej'ear  attended  the  law  department  of  Michigan  University, 
Ann  Arb(jr,  Mich  ,  receiving  the  degree  of  LL.B.  in  1874.  He  located  at 
Jackson,  Mich  ,  where  he  had  a  large  and  paying  practice,  while  there.  In 
1876  he  was  elected  Court  Commissioner  of  Jackson  County  on  the 
Democratic  ticket,  by  about  1,000  majority,  the  highest  vote  accorded 
to  any  Democrat  on  the  ticket  in  that  usually  Republican  county.  June 
7,  1877,  his  father,  William  R.  Baskin,  died,  and  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  returned  to  his  old  home  in  Yates  County,  resigning  the  office 
of  court  commissioner  to  which  he  had  been  previously  elected,  not 
having  served  out  the  official  term.  Since  that  time  Mr.  Baskin  has 
traveled  through  the  greater  portion  of  the  west,  and  has  been  engaged 
in  speculations  in  the  west,  where  he  now  has  investments.  He  has 
also  practiced  law  more  or  less  in  Yates  and  Schuyler  Counties,  and  is 
particularly  interested  in  grape  growing,  giving  it  his  personal  attention. 


FAMILY  SKETCHES.  573 

His  law  and  business  office  is  at  Watkins,  N.  Y.,  wliere  he  also  has  val- 
uable real  estate  interests.  In  June,  1878,  he  married  Miss  Ella  Ingalls, 
of  Watkins,  N.  Y.,  by  whom  he  has  one  daughter,  born  November  18, 
1879.  The  old  homestead,  comprising  200  acres,  one-half  mile  north  of 
Starkey  Station,  is  operated  by  Lyman  J.  Baskin,  his  brother  and 
sisters,  who,  excepting  the  elder,  are  also  engaged  in  breeding  standard 
bred  trotters  in  connection  with  farming  and  grape  growing.  Lyman 
J.  is  in  politics  a  zealous,  though  conservative  Democrat,  a  man  of  pos- 
itive and  strong  convictions,  and  a  Knight  of  Pythias. 

Captain  Joseph  Bellis,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  came  to  Harrington 
about  1 8 16,  and  was  a  captain  in  the  War  of  1812.  He  was  a  cooper 
by  trade  and  carried  on  the  business  for  many  years,  at  Harrington  and 
Eddytown.  He  married  Sarah  Fox,  of  Easton,  Pa.,  and  they  had  seven 
children,  three  of  whom  survive,  Charles,  who  resides  in  Starkey  ;  J. 
Lewis,  who  resides  at  Berlin,  Wis.;  and  George  F.,  who  was  born  at 
Harrington  April  21,  1829.  He  married  Mary  J.  Young,  of  Central 
Square,  Oswego  County,  N.  Y.,  a  direct  descendant  of  Charles  Pelton, 
of  Ithaca,  N.  Y.  They  have  three  children,  Louille,  Mark  G.,  and 
Newman.  In  1871  he  settled  in  Warsaw,  Wis.,  he  is  owner  and  builder 
of  three  blocks  there,  besides  two  hotels,  of  which  he  is  also  the  propri- 
etor. The  Arlington  and  Hotel  Bellis. 

Benedict,  Jewett,  a  farmer  and  fruit  grower  of  Starkey,  and  a  native 
of  Steuben  County,  N.  Y.,  born  June  19,  1843,  's  a  son  of  Lewis  and 
Catherine  (Hendricks)  Benedict,  both  natives  of  Sullivan  County, 
N.  Y.  The  father  was  born  in  1805.  Of  their  nine  children  four  sur 
vive  :  Mary  J.,  wife  of  Harrison  Horton  ;  Harriet  M.,  widow  of  Marcus 
J.  Hilton,  of  Bradford  County,  Pa  ;  Delia  M.,  wife  of  J.  M.  Shoemaker. 
The  father  learned  the  blacksmith  trade  and  followed  the  same  for 
thirty  years,  after  which  he  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising.  He 
died  in  1878.  The  mother  makes  her  home  with  her  son  Jewett,  and  is 
eighty-si.x  years  of  age.  Jewett  Benedict  was  educated  at  the  Dundee 
Academy.  In  185  i  he  came  with  his  parents  to  the  farm  where  he  now 
lives.  In  1862  he  joined  the  Union  army,  enlisting  in  the  One  Hundred 
and  Twentj'-sixth  New  York  Infantrj',  serving  but  a  short  time,  when 
he  was  discharged  for  disability.  In  1863  he  was  drafted,  re- enlisted 
and  served   until   the  close  of  the  war   in  1865.      November  13,  of  the 


574  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

same  year,  he  married  Julia  E.  Rogers,  a  native  of  Illinois,  born  July  I2, 
1844.  Her  father  built  the  first  steam  saw-mill  in  Chicago,  111.,  and 
made  the  first  set  of  chairs  manufactured  there.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bene- 
dict have  three  children,  Lewis  H.,  Millie  M.,  and  Fernwood.  In  1855 
he  formed  a  partnership  in  the  grocery  business  with  his  brother  Wes- 
ley, at  Dundee,  where  he  continued  until  the  fall  of  1862  when  he  sold 
out  before  entering  the  army.  After  the  war  he  engaged  in  farming 
until  1867,  when  he  moved  to  Caldwell  County,  Mo.,  remaining  until 
1870.  when  he  returned  to  New  York  to  his  old  home  and  commenced 
fruit  farming. 

]5unce,  Loomis,  was  born  in  Massachusetts,  in  1840,  and  when  nine- 
teen years  ef  age  came  with  his  father  and  settled  in  Barrington,  Conn., 
His  father,  Peter  Bunce,  was  a  farmer,  and  had  eleven  children.  Loomis 
was  a  millwright  by  trade,  and  in  company  with  John  Spicer  carried  on 
that  business,  building  many  mills  in  this  and  adjacent  counties,  also 
carrying  on  farming  extensively.  He  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Will- 
iam Holmes,  of  Steuben  County,  N.  Y.,  by  whom  he  had  two  children, 
Melvin  N.,  who  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  in  1863,  and 
Eliza,  wife  of  Hon.  Geo.  P.  Lord,  who  resides  in  Dundee.  Loomis 
Bunce  died  in  March,  1878.  He  was  twice  married,  his  first  wife  dying 
in  1867,  and  his  second  wife,  Eunice  C.  Olney,  widow  of  Rev.  D.  B. 
Olney,  in  1880. 

Conklin,  Thomas  J.,  one  of  the  wealthiest  farmers  of  Starkey,  and  a 
native  of  Yates  County,  was  born  in  Barrington,  February  20,  1826,  a 
son  of  Samuel  and  Esther  (Ferrier)  Conklin.  The  parents  settled  in 
this  county  in  1823  and  had  six  children,  three  surviving:  Mary  A., 
wife  of  John  H.  Shannon;  Sarah,  wife  of  William  T.  Beaumont;  and 
Thomas  J.  The  parents  were  members  of  the  Baptist  Church  of  Him- 
rods.  The  father,  who  was  a  stone  mason  in  early  life,  afterwards  a 
farmer,  died  in  1868,  aged  sixty-eight.  The  mother  died  in  1890,  aged 
ninety-two.  Thomas  J.  married,  in  Starkey,  April  17,  1853,  Mary  A., 
daughter  of  Martha  Titsworth,  by  whom  he  had  one  daughter.  Charity, 
born  July  22,  1855.  She  married  December  21,  1876,  B.  F.  Allen,  a 
native  of  Buffalo,  son  of  Ralph  and  Sephonia  (Jeuney)  Allen.  He  was 
born  March  9,  1848.  Mr.  Allen  is  largely  engaged  in  the  oil  and  lum- 
ber  business  in   Pennsylvania.     Mr.  Conklin  is  one  of  the    prominent 


FAMILY  SKETCHES.  575 

farmers  of  Yates  County,  and  owns  320  acres  of  land  adjoining  Dundee. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Conklin  make  their  home  with  their  daughter,  Mrs.  Allen. 

Cook,  Samuel,  proprietor  of  the  European  Hotel  at  Dundee,  is  a  na- 
tive of  Yates  County,  born  June  16,  1851,  son  of  James  and  Betsey 
(Kinney)  Cook.  He  received  a  common  business  education  at  the 
Dundee  district  school.  In  1875  he  learned  the  miller's  trade,  with 
John  Richardson,  of  Dundee,  worked  at  his  trade  until  1888,  after  which 
he  was  clerk  at  the  Wilson  Hotel,  of  Dundee,  until  1890,  wlien  he 
opened  a  hotel  of  his  own.  He  has  conducted  a  nice  and  neat  little 
house,  and  received  his  share  of  the  trade.  Mr.  Cook  married  on  June 
16,  1875,  Emma  A.  Burns,  a  native  of  Dundee,  born  May  5,  1853,  and 
daugliter  of  Thomas  and  Sarah  (Wilson)  Burns. 

Curtis,  Thomas  B.,  son  of  Roswell  and  Jeruslia  Curtis,  who  were 
boin  respectively  August  i,  1795,  and  November  3,  1794,  were 
married  October  13,  1816.  To  their  union  eight  children  were 
born:  Thomas  B.  ;  Charles,  a  resident  of  Howell,  Mich.;  Eliza,  wife 
of  William  D.  Doty,  of  South  Lyon,  Oakland  County,  Mich.;  Lester, 
of  Prairie,  Ark.;  Samuel,  living  in  Illinois;  Isabella,  wife  of  J  J. 
Hooper  (deceased) ;  Esther,  wife  of  Dr.  E.  Mosier,  of  Ann  Arbor, 
Mich.;  Caroline  M.  (deceased),  wife  of  John  T.  Williams.  Agar,  the 
grandfather  of  Thomas  B.,  moved  to  New  York  in  1796  with  ox  team 
and  cart,  the  wheels  of  which,  with  an  ancient  clock,  are  now  in  the 
possession  of  Damon,  a  nephew  of  Roswell  Curtis,  of  Exeter. 
He  also  owns  the  farm  that  belonged  to  his  grandfather.  Roswell, 
father  of  Thomas,  learned  the  car])enter  and  joiner's  trade,  which  he 
followed  during  the  early  part  of  his  life,  afterwards  turning  his  atten- 
tion to  farming.  He  died  October  29,  1869,  his  wife  died  July  24,  1869. 
Thomas  B.  Curtis  was  born  on  the  farm  where  he  now  lives,  July  28, 
18 1 7,  and  married  September  10,  1842,  Alvira,  daughter  of  William  B. 
and  Martha  (Wilson)  Briggs.  She  was  born  April  7,1820  Two  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  them,  Lydia,  wife  of  J.  E.  Teno  ;  Frances,  wife 
of  Byron  H.  Disbrow.  Mr.  Curtis  has  served  three  terms  as  justice  of 
the  peace  of  this  town  ;  two  terms  as  master  of  service,  and  several 
years  as  master  of  the  poor.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Starkej-. 

Elliott,  Edwin   L.,  of  Starkey,  a   fruit  grower  and   nurseryman,  was 


576  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

born  ill  Auburn,  February  22,  1855,  a  son  of  Smith  D.  and  Clarinda 
(Leavenworth)  Elliott.  The  father  followed  the  machinist's  trade  in 
early  life,  but  for  the  past  thirty  years  has  been  a  farmer,  being  now  in 
his  seventy- sixch  year,  and  his  wife  in  her  seventieth.  They  make  their 
home  with  tlieir  son  Hiram.  Edwin  L.  married,  August  20,  1890,  Ab- 
bie,  daughter  of  John  and  Catherine  (Marone}')  Fordham.  She  was 
born  November  16,  1869,  in  Schuyler  County,  N.  Y.,  and  is  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Mr.  Elliott  owns  a  farm  of  forty- 
two  acres  with  thirty  acres  of  fruit.  He  shipped  1,000  bushels  of 
peaches  this  year,  one  and  one-halt  tons  of  grapes,  1,500  pounds  of 
raspberries,  and  forty  baskets  of  currants. 

Elliott,  Hiram,  a  fruit  grower  of  Starkey,  born  September  19,  1857, 
in  Yates  County,  is  a  son  of  Smith  D.  and  Clarinda  (Leavenworth)  El- 
liott. (See  sketch  of  parents  elsewhere.)  He  owns  a  farm  of  sixty- 
three  acres,  with  seven  acres  of  peach  orchard,  sixteen  acres  of  vine- 
yard, eleven  acres  of  raspberries,  one  of  plums  and  pears.  His  farm 
produced  this  year  $2,440  worth  of  fruit,  and  $470  worth  of  hay,  grain, 
etc.  During  the  six  years  that  he  has  been  the  owner  of  this  place  he 
has  made  many  improvements,  the  last  of  which  was  the  erection  of  a 
fine,  large  grape-packing  house  at  his  vineyard. 

French,  Benjamin,  of  Eddytown,  this  county,  is  a  farmer,  residing  on 
the  farm  of  his  great-grandfather,  David,  who  was  born  in  New  Jersey, 
February  6,  1747.  His  wife,  Sarah  Wilcox,  of  New  Jersej-,  was  born 
October  8,  1755.  David  French  settled  on  this  farm  about  1794.  Ben- 
jamin, son  of  David,  was  born  November  7,  1776,  and  received  title  of 
his  farm  June  8,  1803.  He  married  Mary  Conklin.  He  died  on  his 
farm  November  7,  1808,  and  his  wife  February  9,  181 1.  They  had  two 
sons,  David,  who  died  in  infancy,  and  Levi,  born  January  17,  1805. 
The  latter  married,  in  this  county,  December  17,  1826,  Elizabeth 
Schenck.  He  died  November  26,  1868,  and  his  wife  March  5,  1879. 
Levi  French  was  the  first  to  set  grapes  in  Yates  County,  on  his  farm  on 
the  west  bank  of  Seneca  Lake.  He  was  noted  for  his  interest  in  fruit 
growing.  Benjamin  French,  son  of  Levi,  was  born  January  22,  1830, 
and  married  at  Framingham,  Mass.,  August  6,  i860,  Catherine  H.  Galla- 
gher. They  have  three  children,  Eliza  H.,  Hattie  B.,  wife  of  M.  Wix- 
son,  of  Washington,  D.  C,  and  Grace.      Mr.  French  has  been  trustee  of 


FAMIL  V  SKETCHES.  577 

Starkey  Seminary  for  the  past  twenty  years.     The  family  are  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  Cluirch  of  DLmdee. 

Gabriel,  Spencer  Bartlett  (son  of  Lewis),  was  born  July  27,  1835,  and 
married  Mary  Marvin,  of  Waterloo,  Seneca  County,  N.  Y.,  by  whom 
he  had  two  children,  Carrie  and  Marvin  S.  (both  deceased).  Lewis  Ga- 
briel was  a  carpenter  by  trade.  Leverett,  a  brother  of  Lewis,  married 
Harriet  Booth,  by  whom  he  had  three  children. 

Gulick,  D.  E.,  of  Starkey  Station,  was  born  in  Prattsburg,  Steuben 
County,  August  2,  1 850,  a  son  of  Egbert  and  Livonia  (Uoubledaj)  Gu- 
lick. Previous  to  1888  he  had  been  engaged  in  farming,  at  which  time 
he  purchased  the  "  Starkey  Hotel,"  where  he  has  a  nicely  arranged  and 
comfortable  hostelry,  situated  opposite  Seneca  Lake,  from  which  it 
commands  a  fair  view.  Mr.  Gulick  is  a  genial  host,  and  takes  pleasure 
in  catering  to  the  wants  of  his  guests.  He  has  a  well  appointed  livery 
stable  which  he  runs  in  connection  with  his  hotel.  He  married  in  this 
county,  December  5,  1872,  Ada  C,  daughter  of  George  S.  and  Lydia  E. 
Bailey.  Two  children  have  been  born  to  them,  Celia  and  Emma,  the 
latter  deceased. 

Hair,  Uriah,  a  farmer  and  fruit  grower,  born  in  1825,  now  lives  on 
and  operates  the  same  farm  that  was  settled  by  his  grandfather  in  1806. 
Great-grandfather  came  from  Massachusetts  after  grandfather  had  been 
here  a  few  years  and  built  him  a  log  house  on  the  farm  and  lived  here 
until  his  death.  He  never  owned  any  part  of  it.  Mr.  Hair  married  in 
1845  Julia  Smith,  of  which  union  a  daughter  was  born,  Mary,  wife  of 
William  R.  Stanton.  Mrs.  Hair  died  in  1849.  She  was  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  married  second.  Emeline  Huson. 
To  their  marriage  one  son  was  born,  Luther  M.  In  the  fall  of  1873 
Mr.  Hair  moved  to  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  where  he  engaged  in  the  grocery 
business,  remaining  but  a  short  time.  He  returned  to  his  farm  near 
Dundee,  where  he  now  resides.  He  is  an  extensive  fruit  grower,  has 
.twenty  acres  of  grape  vineyard,  forty  acres  of  raspberries,  2,600  peach 
trees,  fourteen  acres  of  apple  orchard,  1,200  plum  trees,  five  and  a  half 
acres  of  strawberries  and  two  acres  of  blackberries.  In  the  fall  of  1890 
he  shipped  thirty  tons  of  grapes.  Mr.  Hair  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
order,  Dundee  Lodge,  No.  123,  and  both  himself  and  wife  are  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
73 


578  HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUNTY. 

Harpending,  Andrew  (son  of  Samuel),  born  February  24,  18 19,  lias 
been  a  resident  of  Dundee  since  his  birth.  He  married  in  1877,  Elida 
(daughter  of  Charles  Hoyt),  born  in  Reading,  Schuyler  County,  De- 
cember 17,  1848,  by  whom  he  had  one  son,  Andrew,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy. He  kept  the  old  Harpending  House  from  1846  to  1849.  In 
1859,  after  the  death  of  his  brother  Samuel,  he  took  possession  of  the 
Harpending  House  and  kept  it  until  1880.  The  house  burned  March 
I,  1 86 1,  and  the  following  year  he  rebuilt  it  on  the  site  of  the  original 
house.  He  was  the  first  president  of  the  Dundee  State  Bank,  and  held 
that  position  until  1891,  when  he  resigned  on  account  of  failing  health. 
He  has  been  one  of  the  directors  of  the  bank  since  its  organization. 

A.  A.  Harpending,  proprietor  of  the  Harpending  House,  is  a  son  of 
Anthony  C.  and  Mary  R.  (Sutphen)  Harpending,  and  was  born  in  Dun- 
dee, Yates  County,  January  17,  185  i.  He  married  July  11,  1869,  Oc- 
tavo Griswould,  born  in  185  i.  By  this  union  two  children  were  born, 
Anthony  S.  and  John.  Mr.  Harpending  engaged  in  the  hotel  business 
in  1880. 

Harpending,  Samuel,  son  of  Peter,  was  born  at  Perth  Amboy,  N.  J., 
April  17,  1778.  His  father  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution 
and  his  motlier  died  when  he  was  \'oung,  in  consequence  of  which  he 
went  to  reside  with  his  Grandfather  Compton.  At  the  age  of  thirteen 
years  and  six  months  he  was  bound  out  to  Godfrey  Bartels,  a  hatter  of 
Germantown,  N.  J.,  having  been  to  school  only  three  months.  He  re- 
mained with  Mr.  Bartels  until  1795  when  he  was  released  from  his  inden- 
tures, and  having  acquired  a  fair  knowledge  of  the  business,  he  returned 
to  his  father,  who  carried  on  the  hatting  business.  There  he  remained  a 
short  time,  when  his  father  gave  him  a  severe  flogging,  which  he  consid- 
ered unjust,  and  being  high-spirited  and  self-willed  he  determined  to  seek 
his  fortune  as  a  journeyman  hatter.  He  stopped  in  se\'eral  towns  in  New 
Jersey  and  in  the  winter  of  1798  he  reached  Auburn,  N.  Y.,  intending 
to  secure  work  on  the  old  Cayuga  bridge  which  was  then  being  built. 
He  became  acquainted  with  Walter  Wood,  a  wealthy  lawyer  of  Aurora, 
N.  Y.,  who  was  engaged  in  manufacturing  hats,  and  there  found  em- 
ployment for  a  few  weeks.  He  was  offered  an  acre  of  land  for  every 
beaver  hat  he  could  make,  and  he  could  make  twelve  a  week.  That 
year  he  returned  to  his  native  town  and  his  father  sent  for  him  to  come 


FAMILY  SKETCHES.  579 

and  see  him.  After  working  at  his  trade  in  different  [jlaces  he  married, 
December  6,  1806,  Hannah  Cosad,  of  Somerset  County,  N.  J.,  and  the 
following  spring  he  came  to  Genoa,  N.  Y.  He  remained  there  five 
years,  carrying  on  the  hatting  business,  and  in  rSli  came  to  Dundee. 
They  took  possession  of  a  log  cabin  and  slept  there  that  night,  and  dur- 
ing the  night  a  large  snake  crawled  in  their  bed.  Mr.  Harpending 
purchased  one  acre  of  land  and  built  a  house,  which  is  still  standing  in 
Dundee.  He  then  kept  a  public  house  and  carried  on  the  hatting  busi- 
ness. That  business  he  carried  on  for  six  _\-ears,  employing  four  men. 
About  1818  he  built  a  hotel  on  the  ground  where  the  Harpending 
House  now  stands.  He  carried  on  the  hotel  till  1834.  Of  his  family 
of  eight  children  (two  daughters  and  six  sons),  Anthonj^  C,  Asbury, 
Abram,  Andrew,  and  Samuel,  all  of  whom  are  dead  save  Andrew. 
Asbury  died  April  3,  1853;  Samuel  died  in  April,  1859;  Abram  died 
April  23,  1871  ;  Anthony  C.  died  in  September,  1880.  Two  died  in 
infancy — May  A.  and  Elizabeth.  Mr.  Harpending  died  June  30,  1852, 
and  his  wife  in  1880,  aged  ninety- seven  years  and  six  months. 

Harvey,  C.  C,  M.D.,  was  born  in  Enfield,  Tompkins  County,  N  Y., 
March  28,  1848,  was  educated  at  the  common  schools,  and  was  gradu- 
ated from  the  University  of  Buffalo,  in  1877.  He  immediately  com- 
menced the  practice  of  medicine  in  Dundee,  where  he  has  since  been 
located.  Dr.  Harvey  was  president  of  the  Yates  County  Medical  Soci- 
ety in  1885,  secretary  four  years,  and  has  held  the  oflice  of  county 
coroner  since  1882,  and  surgeon  for  the  Fail  Brook  Coal  Company 
Railroad.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  State  Medical  Society.  He 
married  Sarah  M.,  daughter  of  Joseph  Horton,  of  Starkey,  in  1870. 

Hays,  David,  a  native  of  Essex  County,  N.  J.,  came  to  Starkey  about 
1804  and  settled  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  his  son  David  F.  The 
farm  never  has  passed  out  of  the  Hays  family  since.  David  H.  was 
born  June  16,  1816,  and  married  Emeline  Belcher,  by  whom  he  had 
five  children,  three  living.  One  resides  in  Penn  Yan,  Gay  ;  Janette,  wife 
of  Alvin  T.,  resides  in  Dundee;  and  Washington  D.  The  latter  was 
born  March  18,  185  I,  and  has  been  a  resident  of  the  town  ever  since. 
He  married  Louise  Henderson,  by  whom  he  had  three  children,  one 
surviving,  Fred  D.  He  married  second,  Mary  Westcott.  In  the  spring 
of  1879  he  opened   a  livery  stable  in  Dundee,  where   he  has   been  en- 


580  HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUNTY. 

gaged  ever  since.      He  has  been  constable  ten  years  and  deputy  sheriff 
six  years,  also  collector  for  two  years. 

Holden,  Nelson,  son  of  Roswell  Holden,  was  born  in  Reading,  Schuy- 
ler County,  N.  Y.,  September  26.  1822.  In  1S44  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Martha  C.  Heggie,  of  Newark  Valley,  Tioga  County,  and 
in  1845  they  settled  on  the  farm  in  Starkey  where  he  has  since  resided. 
They  have  two  children,  Theodore  F.  and  Carrie  H.  Mr.  Holden  has 
held  the  office  of  highwa}'  commissioner  for  five  years.  He  has  always 
been  a  farmer  and  fruitgrower.  Theodore  F.,  born  in  1845,  married 
Alice  E.  Hatch,  and  has  three  children.  Carrie  H.  is  the  wife  of 
Theron  T.  Dunn. 

Horton,  Theodore  M.,  born  in  Wayne,  Steuben  County,  N.  Y.,  on 
August  II,  1845,  is  the  youngest  child  of  Dea.  Thomas  Horton,  who 
was  born  at  North  Hector,  Schuyler  County,  N.  Y.,  in  March,  1800, 
and  who  in  1805  came  with  his  father  Thomas  to  Wayne.  Shortly  after 
the  family  removed  to  Pultney,  N.  Y.,  where  in  1 810  was  erected  their 
old  house  near  Pultney  village,  where  the  family  resided  for  many  years. 
Thoma.s,  jr.,  married  Rachel,  daughter  of  David  Lee,  who  early  settled 
on  land  now  a  portion  of  the  village  of  Penn  Yan.  Rachel  Lee  was 
born  in  Kent,  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y.,  on  November  17,  1802.  and 
married,  February  27,  1822,  in  Pultney,  where  her  father  had  removed 
some  years  before.  Five  sons  antl  four  daughters  were  born  to  them, 
all  of  whom  are  dead,  except  William  E.,  who  lives  in  Pultney;  Delia 
M.  (Mrs,  Rev.  A.  B.  Chace),  of  Corning,  N.  Y.;  Joseph  R.,  who  lives 
near  Keuka  Lake,  in  Harrington;  and  Theodore  M.,  a  commercial 
traveler  living  in  Dundee.  T.  M.  Horton  was  for  some  years  a  mer- 
chant at  Weston,  N.  V.,  and  selling  his  stock  of  goods  took  charge  of 
the  road  work  of  the  Elmira  Advertiser.  Afterward  he  became  con- 
nected with  Moser  &  Lyon  and  still  later  with  Lyon,  Milliard  &  Co.,  of 
Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  wholesale  stationers,  where  he  still  remains.  October 
13,  1868,  he  was  married  by  Rev.  Philitus  Olney,  to  Mary  E.,  only 
daughter  of  William  M.  Jordan,  of  Crystal  Springs,  N.  Y.  Their  two 
children  are,  Vern  M.,  born  August  25,  1871,  now  with  Wall  &  l\Iur- 
dock,  Dundee,  and  Grace  Lillian,  born  June  4,  1879,  who  died  at  Dun- 
dee. June  20,  1885.  Mr.  Horton  received  his  education  in  the  district 
schools  of  his  native  town,  and    at  Franklin    Academy  at    Prattsburgh, 


FA  MIL  Y  SKE  TCHES.  5  8 1 

N.  Y.,  graduating  from  Eastman  College  at  Poughkeepsie,  N.  V.,  in 
1863.  He  is  a  Baptist  in  religious  belief  and  a  Democrat  in  politics. 
Mr.  Horton  was  made  a  Mason  in  March,  1867,  and  in  1868  was  elected 
secretary  of  Weston  Lodge,  No.  463,  serving  in  that  capacity  two  years. 
He  has  been  elected  junior  warden,  master,  senior  deacon,  and  senior 
warden.  About  eight  years  ago  he  affiliated  with  Dundee  Lodge,  No. 
123,  F.  and  A.  M.,  and  for  four  years  served  as  senior  deacon.  In  1887 
and  '88  he  was  master  of  the  lodge.  The  Hortons  are  of  Puritan  de- 
scent, being  descendants  of  Barnabas  Horton,  who  was  born  in  Leices- 
tershire, England,  and  came  to  Southold,  L.  I.,  in  1635.  In  1638-40 
he  put  up  the  first  frame  building  erected  on  the  east  end  of  the  island. 
Six  generations  were  born,  have  lived  and  died  in  this  old  house. 

Huits,  Joseph  W.,  a  fruit  grower  of  Starke}',  located  near  Seneca 
Lake,  is  a  native  of  New  York,  born  in  Pultney,  Steuben  County,  Jan- 
uary 25,  1841,  a  son  of  Charles  T.  and  Deborah  A.  (Tomer)  Hults, 
natives  of  Steuben  County,  N.  Y.  By  that  union  nine  children,  were 
born,  seven  now  living,  viz.:  J.  W.,  Mary  E.,  wife  of  S.  S.  Hill ;  Sarah  J., 
wife  of  \y.  Dibble  ;  Martha,  wife  of  James  Austin  ;  Rosena,  wife  of  A. 
Coryell  ;  Charles  T.,  and  one  who  died  in  infancy,  and  one  died,  Fred, 
aged  seventeen.  The  fatiier  was  a  farmer  and  died  January  30,  1874. 
The  mother,  yet  living,  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
Mr.  Hults  w^s  reared  on  a  farm,  and  married,  in  Pultney,  Steuben 
County,  December  31,  1863,  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Susan 
Casterline.  She  was  born  September  23,  1844.  They  had  two  chil- 
dren, William  J.  and  Myrta,  the  latter  deceased.  Joseph  W.  owns  a 
grapeyard  of  thirteen  acres  and  some  twenty- three  acres  in  other  fruits. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  arc  members  of  Starkey  I\'Iethodist  Episcopal 
Church. 

Kline,  John,  A.M  ,  was  born  in  Berne,  Albany  Count)',  N.  Y.,  Feb- 
ruary I,  1849,  about  a  year  after  his  people  arrived  in  this  country  from 
Germany.  He  is  the  youngest  of  six  children.  When  he  was  eleven 
years  old  his  father  died  leaving  him  dependent  upon  his  infantile  re- 
sources. He  secured  work  on  a  farm  at  three  dollars  per  month,  which 
he  followed  for  four  years  when  he  engaged  with  a  hotel- keeper  in 
Schoharie  County,  N.  Y.,  as  hostler.  This  position  he  filled  so  accept- 
ably that  he  was  advanced  to  clerk  and   bar-tender,  continuing  thus  for 


582  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

two  years.  At  seventeen  years  of  age  he  became  a  clerk  in  a  dry  goods 
store  in  Middleburgh,  N.  Y.  Two  years  later  he  engaged  in  a  general 
merchandise  store  in  Rensselaerville,  N.  Y.,  as  head  salesman,  which 
position  he  held  for  two  years.  His  schooling  thus  far  had  been  limited 
and  he  now  determined  to  devote  himself  to  study.  He  entered  Starkey 
Seminary  in  Yates  County,  N.  Y.,  September,  1871,  where  he  com- 
pleted the  prescribed  course,  graduating  in  June,  1873  The  following 
September  he  entered  Oberlin  College  where  for  six  years  he  devoted 
himself  assiduously  to  his  scholastic  work.  He  left  school  for  an  occa- 
sional term  to  teach,  maintaining  at  the  same  time  his  position  in  col- 
lege. He  was  graduated  from  Oberlin  in  1879  and  received  his  degree 
three  years  later.  December  25,  1879,  he  married  Frances  A.  Bassett, 
daugiiter  of  Allen  Bassett,  of  Barrington,  N.  Y.  In  September,  1879,  he 
established  the  Dundee  Preparatory  School,  as  an  individual  enterprise 
and  maintained  it  until  the  close  of  the  school  year  in  1891. 

Lord,  Charles  B.,  son  of  Benjamin  M.,  was  born  in  Barrington,  in 
1833.  In  1857  he  married  Ellen  Chandler,  and  in  1864  he  removed  to 
Starkey,  where  he  died  in  1891.  He  was  a  farmer  and  fruit  grower. 
His  family,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  consisted  of  a  wife  and  four  chil- 
dren, two  of  whom  are  married.  Charles  Ray  and  Edith  remain  on  the 
homestead  with  their  mother. 

Lord,  Ebenezer,  a  native  of  Connecticut,  come  to  Barrtngton  about 
1825,  and  bouglit  a  large  tract  of  land,  where  he  resided  until  his  death. 
His  son,  Benjamin  M.,  was  born  in  Ballston,  Saratoga  County,  N.  Y., 
in  1801,  and  came  with  his  father  to  Barrington.  He  married  Elizabeth 
Fleming,  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  and  they  had  si.x  children,  of  whom 
Kate  is  deceased.     Benjamin  died  in  1858,  and  his  wife  in   1874. 

Lord,  Hon.  George  P.,  son  of  Benjamin  M.,  was  born  in  Barrington, 
July  23,  1832,  and  reared  on  the  farm,  graduating  from  Hobart  College 
in  1856.  He  then  went  to  Minnesota  while  it  was  a  Territory  and  fol- 
lowed surveying  and  teaching.  In  1859  he  returned  to  Yates  County 
and  engaged  in  teaching  and  farming.  The  same  year  he  married  Eliza 
Bunce,  daughter  of  Loomis  Bunce,  of  Barrington.  In  the  fall  of  i860, 
he  was  elected  school  commissioner  for  Yates  County  and  held  that 
office  six  years.      In  1870  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Legislature  and 


FA  MIL  V  SKETCHES.  583 

re-elected  in  1S71.  In  1879  he  was  elected  State  Senator  and  re- 
elected in  1 88 1,  holding  the  office  for  four  years.  In  1878  he  formed  a 
co-partnership  with  VV.  C.  and  C.  R.  Swarts  under  the  firm  name  of 
Lord  &  Swarts,  carrying  on  a  grain,  malting  and  coal  business  for  ten 
years.  In  1891  he  was  elected  president  of  the  Dundee  State  Bank, 
which  he  helped  to  organize,  and  of  which  he  has  always  been  a  direc- 
tor. He  has  been  president  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Dundee 
Preparatory  School  since  its  organization.  In  politics  Mr.  Lord  is  a 
Republican,  having  been  an  active  worker  in  the  party  for  many  years. 

Maloney,  John  M.  (son  of  James  and  Margaret),  was  born  in  Caven- 
dish, Vt.,  in  1844.  When  fourteen  years  old  he  entered  the  pension 
office  of  the  department  of  the  interior  at  Washington,  D.  C,  where  he 
remained  ten  years.  In  1869  he  graduated  from  the  medical  depart- 
ment of  the  University  of  Georgetown.  In  1870  he  settled  in  Starkey, 
where  he  has  since  practired.  Dr.  Maloney  was  coroner  of  Yates 
Co'inty  three  years,  and  has  been  health  officer  of  the  town  for  ten 
years.  He  is  now  treasurer  of  the  Yates  County  Medical  Society.  He 
has  been  several  times  elected  delegate  to  the  State  Society.  In  1869 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Josephine  Huson,  daughter  of  W.  H. 
Huson,  and  the\-  have  six  children. 

Martin,  Rev.  Edward  Winslow,  was  the  pastor  of  the  Baptist  Church 
after  its  reorganization.  He  was  originally  from  Vermont,  but  came 
to  Harpending  Corners  from  Geneva,  where  he  had  organized  the  only 
Baptist  Church  of  that  village.  His  pastorate  was  the  longest  of  any  on 
the  records  of  the  Baptist  Church  of  Dundee,  commencing  in  1830  and 
ending  in  1841.  He  was  beloved  by  his  people  and  had  the  confidence 
and  respect  of  the  community.  In  1843  he  removed  to  the  town  of 
Bath,  Steuben  County,  and  supplied  the  pulpits  of  the  Savona  and  Oak 
Hill  Churches.  He  died  July  5,  1850.  In  every  parish  of  which  he 
was  pastor  a  "  meeting- house  "  was  built. 

Millard,  Willis  H.  (son  of  Lewis  M.),  was  born  in  Starkey,  April  i, 
1845,  and  was  educated  at  the  Starkey  Seminary.  He  married  L.  Issa 
Hunt,  of  Milo,  by  whom  he  had  four  children,  Delia  M.,  Adam  Louis, 
Hugh  Robinson  and  Harriet  Lucele.  In  1868,  in  companx'  with  his 
brother  George  W.,  he  opened  a  store  for  general  merchandi.>-e  at  Milo 


S84  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

Center,  where  they  carried  on  business  for  four  years.  He  then  went 
to  Elmira,  traveling  for  J.  H.  Lyman  &  Co.,  for  six  months,  then  act 
ing  as  clerk  for  the  same  length  of  time,  then  was  for  one  year  with 
Andrews  &  Co.  He  next  went  to  Parker's  Landing,  Pa.,  engaging  in 
the  oil  business  for  eleven  years,  when  he  returned  to  Dundee  and 
formed  a  partnership  with  his  brother,  G.  W.,  in  the  drug  business, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Millard  Brothers,  continuing  four  years,  when 
G.  \V.  retired  from  the  business  on  account  of  failing  health,  Willis  H. 
having  since  conducted  the  business  alone.  He  has  been  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  fraternity  since  1870,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  M.  E.  Church,  where  he  has  been  superintendent  of  the 
Sabbath  school  since  1887,  also  class  leader  and  chorister. 

Morrill,  Prof.  Alvah  H.,  a  native  of  Grafton,  N.  H.,  born  June  7,  1848, 
is  a  son  of  William  S.  and  Minerva  T.  (Dickerson)  Morrill,  natives  of 
New  Hampshire.  The  father,  a  minister  of  the  Christian  Church,  was 
born  January  28,  182 1,  and  the  latter  February  14,  1822.  She  was  a 
member  of  the  same  church  and  died  March  29,  1875.  Two  children 
were  born  of  this  union,  a  daughter  who  died  in  infancy,  and  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch.  Alva  H.  was  educated  at  Dartmouth,  where  he 
graduated  in  1872.  On  December  3  of  that  year  he  married  Elizabeth 
L,  daughter  of  John  W.  and  Pamelia  W.  (Philbrook)  Hubbard.  She 
was  born  December  3,  1853.  Five- children  were  born  of  this  union, 
viz.:  Ethel  H.,  born  May  15,  1874;  Minerva  T.,  born  October  3  i,  1875  ; 
Herman  V.,  born  April  24,  1880;  Dwight  F.,  born  February  4,  1884; 
and  Pamelia  E.,  born  October  24,  i886.  Mrs.  Morrill's  parents  are  both 
living.  Prof  Morrill  after  graduating,  was  installed  pastor  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church  at  Rye,  N.  H.  From  thence  he  went  to  Andover,  N.  H., 
and  became  principal  of  the  Proctor  Academy  until  he  was  called  to  the 
pastorate  of  the  Christian  Church  at  Marion,  Ind.  For  the  past  thir- 
teen years  he  had  been  professor  of  New  Testament  Greek  in  the  Chris- 
tian Biblical  Institute  at  Stanfordville,  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y.  Septem- 
ber I,  1891,  he  became  principal  of  Starkey  Seminary,  Eddytown,  Yates 
County,  with  seven  assistants  and  seventy-eight  pupils.  The  winter 
term  has  130  pupils.      He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 

Ovenshire,  William,  a  farmer,  came  to  Barrington  when  the  town  was 
new.      Isaac,  son  of  William  was  born  in   Harrington  in  1822,  and  mar- 


FAMILY  SKETCHES.  585 

ried  Matilda  Snook,  a  native  of  New  Jersey.  They  had  six  cliildrcn, 
four  hving.  Isaac  died  in  1858  and  his  widow  resides  with  her  son 
James  M. 

Ovenshire,  James  M  ,  D.D.S.,  son  of  Isaac,  was  born  July  10,  1856, 
and  was  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  at  Barrington,  in  company 
with  his  brother,  Myron  H.,  for  about  three  years.  He  graduated  from 
the  Baltimore  College  of  Dental  Surgery  in  1886,  and  has  practiced  at 
Dundee  since. 

Pierce,  Abel,  was  born  in  Peru,  Berkshire  County,  Mass.,  January  18, 
1788.  He  married,  in  1817,  Nancy  Lewis,  of  the  same  town,  who  was 
born  in  Taunton,  Mass,  in  1786,  afterward  settling  in  this  town,  four 
miles  south  of  Dundee,  and  in  company  with  his  brother  bought  and 
cleared  lOO  acres  of  land.  He  was  justice  of  the  peace  two  terms.  In 
going  to  catch  his  horse  he  struck  his  foot  against  a  stone  and  fell,  rup- 
turing a  blood  vessel,  from  which  he  died  Nov.  9,  1862.  His  wife  died 
in  May,  1863.  They  had  two  children,  Adaline,  widow  of  Alexander 
Ross,  and  Horatio  L.,  who  was  born  here,  April  14,  1820,  and  has 
always  resided  in  this  town.  He  married  Dorothy  E.,  daughter  of  Ja- 
cob Y.  Carpenter,  and  has  one  child,  Sophia.  He  has  been  a  successful 
farmer.  Abner,  another  brother,  came  the  same  year  and  remained  a 
short  time,  returning  in  1836.  He  came  back  again,  however,  and 
bought  a  part  of  the  same  farm  and  other  land  with  it.  Abel  was  a 
successful  farmer  and  carpenter. 

Root,  John  W.,  a  farmer,  living  one  mile  north  of  Dundee,  is  a  native 
of  New  Jersey,  Sussex  County,  born  March  4,  181  5,  a  son  of  Michael  and 
Ann  (Waldreth)  Roof,  who  were  farmers  John  W.  Roof  learned  the 
blacksmith  trade  in  1833,  removed  from  New  Jersey  to  Starkej-,  where 
he  followed  his  trade  for  three  years.  He  removed  to  Eddy  town  and 
afterward  engaged  in  farming.  He  has  been  twice  married,  his  first  wife 
being  Rhoda  Royce,  a  native  of  this  county,  whom  he  married  in  1846, 
and  by  whom  he  had  one  son.  His  wife  died  in  1846.  He  married, 
second,  Cornelia  B.  Hemiup,  by  whom  he  had  three  children,  all  de- 
ceased. 

Royce,  David  L.,  a  citizen  of  Eddytown,  and  a  native  of  the  same, 
born   September  13,  1826,  is  a  son  of  Matthew  {^A)  and  Jane   Hender- 


586  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

son  Royce,  and  a  grandson  of  Matthew  Royce  (2d)  and  Mary  (Porter) 
Royce.  Both  were  natives  of  Connecticut,  born  in  Woodbury  County, 
in  1744,  and  immigrated  to  New  York  settling  in  Reading,  Steuben 
County,  in  1800.  Matthew  died  October  5,  1814.  The  grandmother 
died  in  the  same  county  June  24,  1810.  The  father  of  our  subject  was 
born  in  Woodbury,  Conn.,  March  10,  1775.  The  mother  was  born  June 
16,  1784,  and  their  marriage  occurred  November  3,  1799  They  had 
six  children  of  whom  two  survive  ;  Da\id  L.  and  John.  They  were 
members  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  David  L.  was  educated  at  Starkey 
Seminary,  and  married  in  Starkey,  February  25,  1863,  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Eli  and  Betsey  (Huson)  Townsend.  She  was  born  May  i  3, 
1832.  Mr.  Royce  owns  a  farm  of  sixty  acres.  He  was  appointed  post- 
master of  Eddyiown  under  Grover  Cleveland,  in  1889.  He  engaged 
in  the  mercantile  business  at  Eddytown  where  he  has  remained  to  the 
present  time.      He  is  a  Mason  of  Dundee  Lodge,  No.  123. 

Semans,  Nelson,  of  Starkey,  born  there  March  6,  18 19,  is  a  son  of 
David  and  Polly  (Starkey)  Semans,  who  were  natives  of  Maryland, 
where  they  were  married.  They  moved  to  New  York  in  18 16,  settling 
in  Tompkins  County.  In  1821  they  moved  to  Starkey,  where  they 
lived  until  their  death.  They  were  the  parents  of  ten  children,  seven  of 
whom  survive:  William,  Nelson,  Matilda,  wife  of  John  Wilson,  John  E. 
Tildon,  Benjamin  J.,  and  Emily,  widow  of  Robert  Conklin.  David 
Semans  was  a  Methodist  minister,  and  died  February  2,  1872.  His 
wife,  who  was  a  member  of  the  same  church,  died  October  17,  1870. 
Nelson  Semans  was  educated  at  Starkey,  was  reared  on  a  farm,  and 
married,  June  28,  1844,  Hannah,  daughter  of  William  R.  Briggs,  of  this 
county.  She  was  born  in  February,  1826.  They  had  five  children: 
William  D.,  Byron  H  ,  Martha  A.,  wife  of  John  H.  Stark  ;  Corey  D., 
and  Carlton  B.  (deceased).  Mr.  Seamans  owns  a  good  farm  of  100 
acres.      His  wife  is  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 

Shannan,  Lewis  M.,  a  farmer  of  Starkey,  was  born  in  Seneca  County, 
N.  Y.,  June  17,  i83l,son  of  Thomas  J.  and  Jale  (Dunn)  Shannan.  The 
father,  a  native  of  this  county,  was  born  October  24,  1810,  and  died 
March  7,  1886.  The  mother  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  born  August 
27,  18 14.  They  were  married  in  Seneca  County,  and  had  fourteen  chil- 
dren, Lewis  M.  being  the  oldest.     The  mother  is  living  with  her  daugh- 


FAMIL  Y  SKETCHES.  587 

ter,  Mrs.  Rachel  Rodgeis,  of  this  county.  Lewis  M.  was  educated  in 
Seneca  County,  N.  Y.,  and  married  in  Yates  County,  in  1858,  Hulda 
McCloud.  Of  their  three  children,  two  survive,  Emmett,  born  in  1861, 
and  Ida,  wife  of  Eugene  Henderson.  Emmett  married  Ida  Swartz,  a 
native  of  this  county,  by  whom  he  had  one  son,  Erol.  Mr.  Shannan 
owns  fifty  five  acres  of  land  one-half  mile  northeast  of  Starkey  station, 
with  thirteen  acres  of  vineyard.      His  wife  died  August  10,  1891. 

Shannon,  Harrison,  son  of  Daniel  and  Lydia  (Raplee)  Harrison  was 
born  in  Starkey,  November  28,  18 16,  and  was  educated  at  Dundee.  He 
married,  December  27,  1838,  Marrinda  Lewis,  daughter  of  Joseph  C. 
Lewis,  a  pioneer  of  Starkey.  .She  was  born  July  16,  1818,  and  bore 
him  two  children,  Mary,  wife  of  Spencer  R.  Harpending;  and  Emmitt, 
born  June  24,  1845,  died  December  6,  1845.  Mr.  Shannon  owns  a 
large  farm  and  in  18S0  built  the  Dundee  elevator.  He  has  been  a  lib- 
eral donator  to  the  Baptist  Church,  to  which  society  at  different  times 
he  gave  $35,000,  also  $10,000  to  Cook  Academy.  He  built  the  Baptist 
Church  of  Dundee,  at  a  cost  of  $1  5,000,  and  has  been  an  active  member 
of  the  church  for  many  years. 

Shannon  Daniel,  a  native  of  Sussex  County,  N.  J.,  born  in  1787, 
was  twice  married,  first  to  Betsey,  daughter  of  Captain  Wade,  of  Sus- 
sex County,  N.  J.,  by  whom  he  had  five  children.  He  married  .second, 
Lydia  Raplee,  by  whom  he  had  fourteen  children,  eleven  sons  and  three 
daughters.  Eighteen  of  the  children  lived  to  adult  age.  Daniel  died 
in  1871,  and  his  wife  in  1874.  He  was  connected  with  the  New  Jersey 
Iron  Works  previous  to  coming  to  this  county.  He  was  one  of  the 
pioneers  in  Starkey,  buying  a  large  tract  of  land,  which  he  divided 
among  his  children  at  his  death.  He  was  a  boat  builder,  and  also  built 
the  first  woolen- mill  in  the  county.  He  was  a  member  of  the  church. 
He  was  an  active  business  man  and  a  valuable  citizen  in  the  early  set- 
tlement of  the  county.  Of  the  fourteen  sons  not  one  used  tobacco  or 
intoxicants. 

Skiff,  Alonzo,  a  farmer,  of  Starkey,  born  in  this  county  September  9, 
1826,  is  a  son  of  Abner  and  Lorinda  (Noteware)  Skiff,  natives  of  Con- 
necticut, the  father  born  in  1800,  and  the  mother  in  1806.  They  were 
married  in  Connecticut,  and   moved  to  New  York  in    1823,  settling  in 


588  HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUNTY. 

Beartown,  this  county.  They  were  the  parents  of  seven  children, 
Alonzo  being  the  oldest  son.  The  father  was  a  farmer  and  died  in  1855, 
the  mother  dying  in  1868.  Mr.  Skiff  was  educated  at  Starkey  Semin- 
ary, and  married  November  13,  1848,  Mahala  Gabriel,  by  whom  he  had 
two  children,  Eugene  .ind  Plummer.  Mr.  Skiff  owns  and  lives  on  the 
"  Log  City  Farm  "  of  106  acres,  which  he  bought  in  1864. 

Smith,  Hon.  Clark  E.  (son  of  David  and  Nancy),  born  in  Starkey, 
March  8,  1842,  was  educated  at  the  [jublic  schools  and  Dundee 
Academy,  and  until  twenty- two  years  of  age,  was  engaged  in  farming. 
In  1864  he  opened  a  store  in  Dundee  in  company  with  Chalion  Headly, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Smith  &  Headly,  continuing  until  1866.  In 
the  same  year  he  formed  a  partnership  with  George  VV.  Kingsley,  the 
firm  name  being  Smith  &  Kingsley.  They  continued  in  the  mercantile 
business  until  about  1873,  when  it  was  again  changed  to  Smith  & 
Headly,  remaining  so  until  1875,  when  Mr.  Smith  opened  a  store  alone, 
and  continued  until  1885.  He  was  town  clerk  for  five  or  six  years,  was 
elected  supervisor  of  Starkey  and  held  that  office  six  years.  He  was 
elected  to  the  State  Legislature  in  1884  and  1885,  and  since  that  has 
retired  from  business.  He  married  in  1866,  Mary  A.  Headly,  and  had 
one  son,  William,  who  died  from  a  shot  wound  received  from  a  toy 
pistol,  when  eleven  years  of  age. 

Smith,  John  J.,  came  to  Starkey  about  181 2,  and  settled  on  a  farm 
near  Dundee,  where  he  had  six  children,  all  sons,  three  of  whom  are 
living,  two  in  Wisconsin,  and  one  in  Watkins,  N.  Y.  David  was  born 
about  1804,  and  died  in  1854,  He  was  a  farmer  and  married  Nancy 
Plummer,  by  whom  he  had  five  children,  two  of  whom  survive,  Hon. 
Clark  E.,  and  John  J.      Both  reside  in  Dundee. 

Sprowls,  Daniel,  a  farmer,  living  three  miles  northeast  of  Dundee,  was 
born  in  Yates  County,  January  21,  18 16,  a  son  of  James  and  Susan 
Concelius  Sprowls,  natives  of  Sussex  Count)',  N.  J.  They  moved  from 
New  Jersey  to  New  York  in  181 1,  locating  in  this  county,  and  had 
seven  children,  Daniel  being  the  sixth  and  now  the  only  living  child. 
His  parents,  who  were  farmers,  died  in  this  county  in  1854.  Daniel 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Starkey,  and  married,  March  12, 
1S40,  Rebecca  Suppler,  a  native  of  Yates  County,  boni  April  15,   1818, 


FAMILY  SKETCHES.  589 

who  bore  him  two  children,  Maij',  the  wife  of  Jolin  L.  Beardslee,  and 
Albert  T.,  who  died  aged  sixteen  years.  Mr.  Sprowls  owns  160  acres 
of  fine  land,  and  has  an  elegant  and  commodious  residence,  which  he 
built  in  1870. 

Stilson,  Dr.  George  L.,  was  born  in  Groton,  N.  Y.,  September  9, 
185  I.  When  twenty-five  years  of  age  he  commenced  the  stud)'  of  Vet- 
erinary Science  with  Dr.  Waldow  Lyons,  of  Watkins,  N.  Y.,  with  whom 
he  remained  about  four  j'ears.  He  commenced  practice  as  a  Vet- 
erinary in  Dundee,  in  1879,  and  has  since  continued  here  in  that  profes- 
sion.     He  married  Hattie  R.  Holden,  of  Harford,  N.  Y. 

Tetor,  Robert,  a  native  of  Columbia  County,  N.  Y.,  resided  in  Lyons, 
Wayne  County,  from  1835  until  1841,  when  he  moved  to  Sodus,  where 
he  lived  till  1855,  and  then  removed  to  Williamson.  In  1864  he  re- 
turned to  Sodus,  and  in  1868  moved  to  Starkey,  this  county,  where  he 
died  June  7,  1882.  He  married  Catherine  Steegar,  by  whom  he  had 
eight  children,  of  whom  seven  are  living,  and  six  reside  in  Yates  County, 
and  one  in  Tompkins  County.  Mrs.  Tetor  died  September  14,  1884. 
Of  their  children,  Norman  resides  in  Dundee  ;  Sylvanus  is  a  farmer  and 
small  fruit  grower  near  Dundee  ;  Mary  is  married  and  lives  in  Freeville  ; 
George  resides  near  Dundee  on  a  fruit  farm  ;  Hattie  is  married,  and  her 
sister  Phcebe  lives  with  her  on  a  fruit  farm,  near  Dundee  ;  and  Robert 
resides  near  Dundee  on  a  small  place. 

Titsworth,  Hiram,  was  born  in  New  Jersey,  November  9,  178S,  and 
was  drafted  in  the  war  of  181 2.  He  married  Charity  Swartz,  of  New 
Jersey,  in  18 12,  and  settled  near  Dundee,  where  he  resided  until  his 
death.  He  had  five  children,  two  of  whom  survive,  Margaret,  wife  of 
William  Green,  and  Baltus.  The  latter  was  born  December  4,  1814, 
and  has  always  resided  in  this  town.  In  1835  he  married  Betsey  Mil- 
lard, by  whom  he  had  three  children,  one  surviving,  Ella,  wife  of  George 
Millard,  residents  of  Syracuse.  They  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  Mr.  Titsworth  owns  the  homestead  farm  where  his  father  set- 
tled, the  foundation  of  the  old  chimney  of  the  log  house  still  standing. 
Dr.  Millard,  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  came  to  Starkey  about  1823. 
He  was  a  farmer  and  had  a  family  of  ten  children,  of  whom  one  is 
deceased,  and  three  are  residents  of  Dundee,  Mrs.  Titsworth,  Mrs. 
Raplce  and  Mrs.  Barnes. 


S90  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

Townsend,  Eli,  came  to  Dundee  about  1827,  and  married  Betsey 
Huson,  born  in  1785,  by  whom  he  had  six  children.  He  died  in  1885 
having  been  a  large  farmer  and  miller  at  Glenora.  His  wife  survives 
him.  The  only  son  living,  William,  was  born  April  29,  1S27,  and  has 
lived  most  of  hjs  life  in  Starkey.  He  is  a  ship  carpenter  by  trade  and 
has  worked  in  New  Orleans  and  other  cities.  He  was  postmaster  at 
Glenora,  under  Cleveland,  and  deputy  postmaster  under  Major  G.  W. 
Budd,  for  seven  years.  In  1878  he  built  the  store  which  he  now  occu- 
pies. In  1853  he  was  in  the  mercantile  business  and  boat  building 
under  the  firm  name  of  H.  P  Sleeper  &  Co.,  remaining  four  years.  He 
married,  January  31,  1863,  Julia  Weller,  daughter  of  judge  Noble 
VVeller,  of  Chemung,  N.  Y. 

Wilson,  George  N.,  was  born  in  Hillsdale,  Columbia  County,  N.  Y., 
February  8,  18 13.  In  1822,  his  father,  Solomon,  moved  to  Barring- 
ton,  where  he  resided  most  of  the  time  until  his  death  on  Jul}'  20,  i860. 
His  wife,  Mary,  died  October  28,  1858.  George  N.  received  his  educa- 
tion in  an  old  school-house  in  Barrington,  with  the  exception  of  a  short 
time  at  select  school,  and  when  fifteen  years  old  learned  the  shoemak- 
er's trade  with  Miles  Terrill.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  went  to  Ohio, 
where  he  worked  at  his  trade  for  two  years,  then  opened  a  shop  at  Bath, 
Steuben  County,  N.  Y.,  remaining  but  a  short  time.  He  was  for  sev- 
erel  years  journeyman  shoemaker,  and  then  returned  to  Barrington  to 
care  for  his  aged  parents,  carrying  on  business  there,  and  devoting  all  his 
spare  time  to  study,  teaching  school  two  terms.  In  1S48  he  mar- 
ried Elsie  A.  Murlin,  who  died  February  7,  1878.  He  married  second, 
in  1879,  Catharine  Sirrine,  of  Trumansburg,  N.  Y.  Mr.  Wilson  was 
appointed  loan  commissioner  for  Yates  County  by  Gov.  Reuben  E. 
Fenton,  and  held  the  office  six  years.  He  was  supervisor  of  Barrington 
one  term.  It  1 861  he  was  called  to  Jackson,  Mich.,  to  take  charge  of 
the  shoemaking  department  of  the  State  prison.  In  1864  he  entered 
the  employ  of  Stone  &  Stewart,  publishers,  of  Philadelphia,  and  was 
commercial  traveler  for  about  six  years,  since  which  time  he  has  retired 
from  active  life. 

Willis,  Dr.  F.  L.  H.,  a  man  of  culture  and  intellectual  ability  and  a 
fine  public  speaker,  came  to  Yates  County  from  New  York  city  twenty- 
one  years  ago.      He   purchased  a  fine  estate  at   Rock  Stream  Point  on 


FAMIL  Y  SKETCHES.  591 

Seneca  Lake,  near  Glenora,  one  of  the  most  beautiful  points  on  tlie  lake, 
and  the  doctor  has  erected  here  an  elegant  summer  cottage.  Dr.  Willis 
is  a  native  of  Boston  and  was  educated  at  Harvard  University  and  at 
the  Homoeopathic  Medical  College  of  New  York  city,  where  he  gradu- 
ated in  1865.  He  had  previously  been  a  settled  clergyman  of  the 
Liberal  School  of  Theology.  Soon  after  his  graduation  he  was  called 
to  the  chair  of  materia  medica  in  the  Woman's  Medical  College  of  New 
York,  which  he  filled  for  several  years,  and  at  the  same  time  secured  a 
lucrative  practice.  Failing  health  obliged  him  to  abandon  this  field  of 
operations.  For  three  years  he  was  unable  to  do  any  service  in  the 
profession  to  which  he  was  so  much  attached.  On  his  return  from 
Europe,  in  1870,  he  became  a  resident  of  Yates  County,  and  has  identi- 
fied himself  with  its  interests,  maintaining  full  citizenship  here,  but  has 
passed  his  winters  in  Boston,  New  York  or  Rochester.  He  married 
Love  M.,  daughter  of  the  late  Henry  Whitcomb,  esq.,  of  Hancock, 
N.  H.,  a  lady  of  culture  and  diversified  accomplishments,  and  well 
known  as  a  talented  writer.  She  is  the  author  of  the  following  beauti- 
ful religious  hymn,  that  has  found  a  place  in  the  hymnals  of  almost 
every  religious  denomination  in  the  countr\' : 

Father  !  hear  the  prayer  we  offer  ;  Not  beside  the  clear,  still  waters. 

For  sweet  peace  we  do  not  cry,  Do  we  pray  thou  wilt  us  guide, 

But  for  grace  that  we  may  ever  But  we'd  smite  the  flinty  boulder. 

Live  our  lives   courageously.  Whence  the  living  spring  may  glide. 

Not  within  the  fresh,  green  pastures.  If  we  go  where  flowers  of  summer 
Will  we  ask  that  we  may  he  ;  Still  the  rugged  path  adorn. 

But  the  steep  and  rugged  pathway.  Let  us  weave  them  into  garlands, 
That  we  tread  rejoicingly.  Though  each  one  should  bear  a  thorn. 

Be  our  strength  in  every  weakness. 

In  our  doubt  be  thou  our  guide. 
Through  each  peril — through  each  danger, 

Draw  us  nearer  to  thy  side. 

Dr.  and  Mrs.  Willis  have  but  one  child,  Ldith,  the  wife  of  Dr.  S.  H. 
Linn,  of  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  a  distinguished  surgeon,  late  of  St.  Peters- 
burgh,  Russia.  She  has  inherited  largely  the  intellectual  gifts  and 
accomplishments  of  her  parents,  and  is  a  poet  of  rare  sweetness  and 
grace.  Her  name  is  frequently  seen  in  the  journ.ils  and  magazines  of 
the  day.  She  has  already  published  two  volumes  of  her  poems,  and  be- 
ing young  in  life,  will,  should  she  live,  doubtless  make  a  decided  im- 
pression upon  the  literature  of  the  ne.xl  quarter  century. 


592  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

Wixon,  C  N.,  a  farmer  and  fruit  grower  of  Starkey,  and  a  native  of 
Steuben  County,  N.  Y.,  was  born  June  12,  1830,  a  son  of  Shubel  and 
Charlotte  (Dekay)  Wixon.  His  parents  were  natives  of  Cayuga  County, 
N.  Y.,  and  came  to  Steuben  County,  in  1820  and  were  the  parents  of 
ten  children,  nine  of  whom  survive.  The  father  was  a  successful  farmer 
and  died  in  1862;  the  mother  died  in  1882.  Mr.  Wixon  married  in 
Steuben  County,  in  1854,  Cornelia  E.,  daughter  of  William  Prentiss. 
Six  children  were  born  of  this  union,  of  whom  three  survive,  Harriet, 
wife  of  Henry  W.  Fisher,  now  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.;  Fred  C,  principal  in 
the  high  school  at  Ottumway,  la.;  and  Nellie  E.  Mr.  Wixon  moved  to 
this  county  in  1865  and  in  1868  he  moved  to  New  York  city,  remain- 
ing there  until  the  spring  of  1876,  when  he  returned  to  his  farm  in 
Yates  County,  which  consists  of  seventy-two  acres,  with  thirty  acres  of 
grape-vines.      He  shipped  in  the  fall  of  1890,  twenty -five  tons  of  grapes. 

Young,  H.  J.,  was  born  in  Wellsboro,  Pa.  He  taught  school  in  Dun- 
dee, N.  Y.,  three  years,  and  graduated  from  Cook  Academy  in  1876, 
after  which  he  carried  on  the  boot  and  shoe  business  in  Dundee  five 
years.  He  has  been  insurance  agent  since  1879,  town  clerk  nine  years, 
assistant  postmaster  since  1888,  and  is  assistant  cashier  of  the  Dundee 
State  Bank,  having  held  that  position  since  February,  1889.  He  has 
been  clerk  of  the  board  of  supervisors  for  three  years.  He  married 
Emma  K.  Galloup,  of  Ovid,  N.  Y.,  and  has  three  children. 

Town  of  Jerusalem. 

Babcock,  Arnold,  was  born  in  Reading,  Steuben  County,  in  1831. 
His  father,  Oliver  Babcock,  was  born  in  Massachusetts,  and  his  mother, 
Chloe  Weller,  in  Washington  County,  N.  Y.  They  came  to  Yates 
County,  in  1834.  In  185  i  Arnold  Babcock  married  S.  Cornelia  Steb- 
bins,  of  Rensselaerville,  Albany  County,  by  whom  he  has  four  children, 
viz.:  Hattie  E.,  wife  of  J.  V.  Masten,  of  Second  Milo  ;  Dr.  Marcus  E.,  of 
Branchport;  Dewitt  T.,  a  farmer  of  Jerusalem;  and  Minnie  H.,  who 
lives  at  home.  During  the  early  part  of  his  life  Arnold  Babcock  was 
engaged  in  farming  and  lumbering.  In  1867,  however,  he  began  the 
cultivation  of  grapes  on  the  west  shore  of  the  west  branch  of  Lake 
Keuka,  where  he  now  resides. 


FAMILY  SKETCHES.  593 

Baldwin,  Orin  R.,  son  of  Alfred  and  Moriali  (Cowan)  Baldwin,  was 
born  in  Italy,  N.  Y.,  July  22,  1845.  He  was  educated  at  the  common 
schools,  and  after  obtaining  his  majority,  removed  to  Big  Rapids,  Mich., 
and  remained  for  about  twenty  years.  He  then  came  to  Jerusalem  in 
1 88 1,  and  has  been  farming  ever  since.  In  politics  he  has  been  a  Dem- 
ocrat. He  married  Lydia,  daughter  of  Daniel  Parker,  of  Big  Rapids, 
Mich.,  and  they  have  two  children,  Gertrude  J.  and  Alfred  D. 

Belknap,  James  A.,  son  of  Briggs  Belknap,  was  born  in  Newbury, 
Orange  County,  N.  Y.,  March  16,  1816,  and  came  with  his  father  to 
Benton  County  when  he  was  a  young  man,  he  remaining  there  until 
twenty-five  years  of  age,  attending  district  school  during  the  winter 
months.  Mr.  Belknap  came  to  this  town  about  1841  and  bought  a  tract 
of  land,  having  at  the  time  no  money.  With  energy  and  determina- 
tion he  paid  for  it,  and  now  owns  a  model  farm  of  i  50  acres  with  about 
twenty  acres  in  grapes  and  peaches.  He  has  been  a  Republican  ever 
since  that  party  came  into  existence.  He  and  his  family  are  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Branchport.  June  16,  1842,  he  married 
Submit,  daughter  of  Clark  Green,  of  this  place,  by  whom  he  had  the 
following  children:  Mary  E.,  who  married  Morrison  L.  Chase;  Ade- 
line, who  married  Melvin  J.  Davis;  Frances  A.,  and  Charles  G.  Mrs. 
Belknap  died  March  19,  1884. 

Benedict,  C.  C.son  of  William  N.  and  Huldah  A.  (Green)  Benedict, 
was  born  December  24,  1842,  in  Jerusalem,  was  educated  at  the  com- 
mon schools,  and  lived  with  his  father  on  the  farm,  working  also  at  the 
wagon- making  business,  until  his  father's  death  in  1878.  He  then  built 
a  factory  for  the  manufacture  of  fruit  baskets,  in  which  he  has  had 
great  success.  He  also  owns  a  fine  fruit  farm,  which  is  in  fine  cultiva- 
tion. In  politics  he  is  a  Republican.  Though  not  a  member  of  any 
church,  his  family  attend  and  are  members  of  the  Universalist  Church 
at  Branchport,  N.  Y.  His  first  wife  was  Nancy  H.  Slingerton,  of  this 
town,  whom  he  married  in  February,  1873.  She  died  in  1878,  leaving 
one  daughter,  Helen  I.  He  married  second,  Samantha  J.  Potter,  and 
by  this  marriage  has  one  child,  Ethel,  aged  seven  years. 

Bishop,  Robert  C,  son  of  John  H.  and  Lydia  A.  (McCann)  Bishop, 
was  born  March  19,  1847,  '"  this  town  and  was  educated  at  Penn  Yan 


594  HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUNTY. 

Academy.  After  finishing  his  education  he  taught  school  throughout 
this  part  of  the  State  for  fourteen  terms,  but  his  health  failing  him  he 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  at  which  he  worked  for  a  few  years.  He 
then  bought  a  fruit  farm,  which  he  has  brought  to  a  fine  state  of  culti- 
vation. Mr.  Bishop  is  independent  in  politics.  He  was  elected  justice 
of  the  peace  in  1885,  and  served  for  four  years,  and  also  elected  super- 
visor for  1892  by  the  People's  party.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church  at  Bluff  Point,  and  has  been  an  active  member 
of  the  Sunday-school. 

Bishop,  Seth  B.,  son  of  John  H.  and  Lydia  A.  (McCann)  Bishop,  was 
born  February  29,  1852,  in  this  town.  He  was  educated  at  the  com- 
mon schools  and  Penn  Yan  Academy.  After  leaving  school  he  learned 
the  carpenter's  and  afterward  the  wagon- maker's  trade  which  he  still 
continues  at  Bluff  Point.  He  was  appointed  postmaster  under  Presi- 
dent Cleveland  and  served  for  four  years.  He  is  now  acting  as  deputy 
postmaster.  Mr.  Bishop  married,  first,  Lorinda  Wilcox,  of  this  town, 
who  died  fourteen  years  later.  He  married,  second,  Clara  A.  Graham. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat. 

Botsford,  Samuel,  son  of  Elijah  and  Margaret  (Scott)  Botsford,  was 
born  in  this  town  in  1809,  and  was  educated  at  the  common  schools  of 
that  day.  He  was  a  farmer  and  taught  school  during  the  winter 
months.  A  Republican  in  politics,"  he  was  prominent  in  town  and 
county  affair?,  was  supervisor  of  Jerusalem  for  four  terms,  and  clerk  of 
Yates  County  one  term.  Mr.  Botsford  married  Esther  C,  daughter  of 
Levi  and  Mariah  Spangler,  of  this  town,  and  they  have  four  children  : 
Frank,  who  married  Myrtle  (who  died  June  26,  1890),  daughter  of  Dr. 
J.  C.  Wightman,  of  Branchport,  N.  Y.;  Walter  (deceased);  Mary,  who 
married  George  D.  Vail,  of  this  town,  and  Dr.  Wade  H.  Botsford,  who 
lives  at  Dresden,  N.  Y.  Frank  now  owns  the  old  homestead  and  car- 
ries on  farming  and  fruit  growing.      His  mother  lives  with  him. 

Boyd,  Robert  McDowell,  born  in  1811,  married  Mary  H.,  daughter  of 
Elisha  Luther,  in  1840,  and  lived  on  the  Friend's  Tract,  lot  44,  Guern- 
sey Survey,  in  Jerusalem.  His  wife  died  in  1866,  aged  forty  fi\e. 
Their  children  were,  Sidney  (deceased),  Barrett  A.,  Martha,  Tompkins 
W  ,  Charles,  Albert,  Ellen  M.,  and  Fred.      Albert  Bo\  d  was  born  April 


FAMIL  V  SKETCHES.  595 

14,  1854,  was  educated  at  the  district  schools,  and  has  been  a  farmer 
and  fruit  grower.  He  was  in  partnership  with  his  father-in-law,  under 
the  firm  name  of  Paris  &  Boyd,  in  the  manufacture  of  fruit  baskets,  for 
several  years,  but  sold  out,  and  now  devotes  his  time  to  farming  and 
fruit  raising.  He  owns  a  fine  farm  near  Branchport.  In  politics  he  is 
a  Republican.  He  married  Hattie,  daughter  of  David  H.  Paris,  of 
Branchport  on  May  14,  1879,  and  their  children  are  Mabel,  Willie, 
David,  Helen  and  Mary  (twins),  and  Florence  Irene. 

Brown,  Hon.  Everett,  son  of  J.  Warren  and  Rosalia  Brown,  was  born 
in  Italy,  N.  Y.,  on  October  19,  1850,  but  came  to  Jerusalem  with  his 
parents  when  a  child,  where  he  attended  school  in  his  early  years,  going 
afterward  to  Penn  Yan  to  attend  the  academy.  His  occupation  has 
been  that  of  a  farmer  and  fruit  grower.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican, 
having  been  very  prominent  in  his  town,  county  and  State.  Mr.  Brown 
was  presidential  elector  at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  in  1888,  and  was  elected  rep- 
resentative to  the  Assembly  of  New  York  in  1890,  and  again  in  1891. 
He  is  a  member  of  Milo  Lodge,  F.  A.  M.,  and  Minnesetah  Lodge,  No. 
234,  K.  of  P  ,  of  Penn  Yan.  December  25,  1870,  he  married  Mary  E. 
Cairnes,  of  Jerusalem,  N.  Y.,  and  their  children  are  Nellie  May  and 
Rosalia. 

Brown,  George  H.,  son  of  Richard  A  and  Judith  (West)  Brown,  was 
born  March  3,  1841,  and  was  educated  at  the  common  schools  and 
Penn  ,Yan  Academy.  Mr.  Brown  is  a  farmer  and  fruit  grower.  He 
married  a  daughter  of  Isaac  Palmanteer,  of  Steuben  County,  N.  Y., 
and  their  children  are  Mary  J.,  Addie  M.,  Franklin  D  ,  and  George  H., 
jr.      Mr.  Brown  is  a  Democrat  in  politics. 

Brown,  J.  Warren,  was  born  in  Jerusalem,  June  16,  1826,  and  was 
educated  at  the  common  schools  of  that  time.  He  possessed  great' nat- 
ural ability  and  endowments,  and  these  were  enriched  by  learning,  and 
years  of  experience.  In  politics  a  Republican,  he  always  took  an  active 
interest  and  part  in  the  affairs  of  the  town  and  county.  He  has  held  the 
following  offices  in  this  town  :  Supervisor,  town  superintendent  of 
schools,  and  school  commissioner  of  Yates  County.  Mr.  Brown  was 
modest  and  unobtrusive,  dignified  and  courteous  in  manner,  and  was 
well  known  throughout  the  county.    He  married  Mrs.  Rosalia  A.  Payne, 


596  HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUNTY. 

Jul)'  14,  1850,  and  they  had  two  sons,  Everett,  who  married  Mary  E., 
daughter  of  Charles  Cairns,  of  this  town  ;  and  Frank,  who  married  a 
daughter  of  John  H.  Bishop,  of  Jerusalem. 

Bush,  Dr.  Wynans,  was  born  in  Florida,  N.  Y.,  in  1799,  a  son  of 
William  T.,  and  grandson  of  Adjutant  William  Bush,  who  served  in  the 
Revolutionary  army.  Dr.  Bush  graduated  in  the  medical  colle<,'e  in 
Barclay  street,  New  York  City.  In  1824  he  married  Julia  Ann  Loomis, 
of  Coventry,  Conn.  In  1825  they  removed  to  Vienna  now  (Phelps), 
where  Dr.  Bush  began  practice  as  a  physician.  In  1832  they  removed 
to  Branchport,  where  he  remained  until  his  death,  March  14,  18S9, 
in  his  9Qth  year.  Their  children  were  Elliott  N.,  who  was  killed  at 
Guntown,  Miss  ,  while  in  command  of  his  regiment  :  Henry  M.,  who 
died  at  Montgomery,  Ala.,  in  P'ebruary,  1889;  Irene,  wife  of  Prof  S. 
W.  Clark,  the  noted  teacher  and  author  of  grammars,  living  now  at 
Spencerport,  N.  Y.;  Caroline,  was  married  at  Branchport  to  Rev.  H.  H. 
Jessup,  D.  D.,  went  to  Beirut,  Syria,  and  dying  on  the  home  voyage  in 
1863,  was  buried  at  Alexandria,  Egypt ;  Ellen,  wife  of  R.  W.  Hopkins, 
of  Practsburgh,  N.Y.;  Harlan  Page  ;  Frances,  wife  of  Rev.  E.  H.  Stratton, 
of  Branchport,  N.  Y  ;  Robert  P.,  and  Julia  G.,  the  latter  being  Mrs.  S. 
C.  Bradlev,  of  Kings  F"erry,  N.  Y  All  the  sons  of  Dr.  Bush  were  sol- 
diers in  the  Union  army.  Harlan  P.  Bush  was  born  in  1837,  and  re- 
ceived his  education  at  the  district  schools  and  Cortland  Academy.  In 
politics  he  has  always  been  a  Republican.  Mr.  Bush  has  been  a  teacher 
for  a  number  of  years,  was  school  commissioner  from  1881  to  18S4,  and 
is  also  a  successful  farmer  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  i  5th  New  York  En- 
gineers, and  was  present  at  the  surrender  of  Lee.  He  married  Sanian- 
tha  L.  Ingram,  in  1863,  and  their  children  are  F"red  W._  Warner  C, 
Ralph  E  ,  Irene,  Charlotte  L.,  and  Mabel.  Robert  P.  Bush  is  a  physi- 
cian of  Horseheads,  and  is  now  serving  his  seventh  term  as  member  of 
Assembly  from  Chemung.      He  is  Speaker  of  the  House. 

Campbell,  Thomas  V\'.,  son  of  James  B  and  Nellie  (Houghtaling) 
Campbell,  was  born  in  this  town,  May  22,  1856,  and  was  educated  at 
the  common  schools  and  Starkey  Seminary,  after  which  he  taught 
school  for  about  six  years.  He  now  owns  a  large  farm  in  the  western 
part  of  the  town.      In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and  was  justice  of  the 


FAMILY  SKETCHES.  597 

peace,  and  justice  of  sessions  two  terms  each,  and  was  elected  super- 
visor at  the  last  election.  Mr.  Campbell  is  a  contributor  to  the  Penn 
Van  papers.  In  1882  he  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Oscar  Conley,  of 
this  town,  and  they  have  one  child,  Edna,  eight  jears  of  age. 

Carvey,  Samuel  P.,  son  of  William  and  Elizabeth  H.  Carvey.  was 
born  in  Goshen,  Orange  County,  N.  Y.,  July  19,  1814.  In  1821  he 
came  with  his  parents  to  Milo  Center,  this  county,  with  a  team,  where 
they  remained  for  two  years,  and  then  removed  to  Jerusalem.  Samuel 
P.  lived  with  his  father  until  he  reached  his  majority.  He  never  at- 
tended school  after  twelve  years  of  age.  He  hired  out  to  one  of  the 
neighbors  for  thirteen  dollars  a  month,  and  afterwards  cut  cord  wood 
for  twenty-five  cents  per  cord.  His  first  purchase  of  land  was  made  in 
the  town  of  Italy,  for  which  he  paid  five  dollars  per  acre.  About  this 
time  he  learned  the  trade  of  cooper,  working  at  it  for  thirteen  years, 
using  the  timber  on  his  land,  which  was  the  only  way  he  had  of  secur- 
ing the  necessaries  of  life  at  that  time.  By  his  energy  and  perseverance 
he  now  owns  517  acres  of  land,  all  in  a  good  state  of  cultivation.  He 
has  always  voted  with  the  Democratic  party.  Mr.  Carvey  married 
first,  Hannah,  daughter  of  Giles  Robison,  of  Springport,  N.  Y.,  and  their 
children  were  Emily  J.,  Charles  (deceased),  and  Lewis.  Mrs.  Carvey 
died  March  31,  1848.  F"or  his  second  wife  he  married  Phear,  daughter 
of  Abram  Youngs,  of  this  town,  and  his  children  by  this  union  are 
John,  Emma,  Wilcox,  Judson,  and  Alice. 

Casterline,  John  V.,  was  born  in  Sussex  County,  N.  J.,  September  23, 
1839,  where  the  first  seven  years  of  his  life  were  passed.  In  1846  he 
came  to  New  York  State  with  his  parents,  locating  in  the  town  of  Pult- 
ney,  Steuben  County,  where  he  resided  until  1863,  when  he  came  to 
Bluff  Point.  In  the  autumn  of  1863  he  united  in  marriage  with  Nancy 
A.  Dykman.  One  child  was  born  to  them,  Ida  L  ,  who  is  now  the  wife 
of  S.  H.  Vrooman,  of  Penn  Yan.  After  the  death  of  his  wife,  Mr.  Cas- 
terline again  wedded,  this  time  Miss  Bertha  Haight.  Two  daughters 
were  the  fruit  of  this  union.  After  his  second  bereavement  he  married 
Sarah  Fulkcrson,  of  Big  Flats.  Three  more  daughters  have  been  added 
to  the  family  circle,  Stella  B  ,  Susie  C,  and  Nellie  S.  In  the  spring  of 
1891,  Mr.  Casterline  and  family  united  with  the  Free  Baptist  Cluuch  at 
Keuka  College.      He  is  a  most  successful   fruit  grower  and   now  owns  a 


598  HISTORY  UF   YATES  COUNTY. 

fine  fruit  farm  on   the  east  branch  of  Lake  Keuka.      In  politics  he  is  a 
staunch  Democrat. 

Champlin,  Elisha,  son  of  Rowland  and  Mary  (Ingram)  Champlin, 
was  born  in  this  town,  October  20,  1843,  was  educated  at  the  district 
schools  and  has  been  a  farmer  all  his  Hfe.  He  resides  on  a  portion  of 
the  homestead,  a  fine  farm  in  the  western  part  of  this  town.  Mr. 
ChampHn  has  always  voted  the  Democratic  ticket.  He  married  Sarah, 
daughter  of  William  and  Melissa  (Genung)  Sisson,  of  Italy,  N.  Y.,  and 
they  have  had  two  children,  Mary  S.,  who  died  aged  thirteen,  and  Charlie 
Gardner  Champlin. 

Champlin,  Rowland,  son  of  George  VV,  and  Araminta  (Henderson) 
Champlin,  was  born  March  21,  1847,  ^"'^  was  educated  at  the  common 
schools.  He  has  been  a  farmer  all  his  life.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republi- 
can. He  enlisted  in  January,  1864,  in  Company  A,  Fiftieth  New  York 
Engineers,  and  went  to  Washington,  D.  C,  and  from  there  to  City 
Point,  Va.  He  was  mustered  out  June  13,  1865.  He  married  Sarah  J., 
daughter  of  Thomas  Dinehart,  of  Potter,  N.  Y.,  and  they  have  had  three 
children,  Ella,  George  (deceased),  and  Peter  Champlin. 

Cole,  Erastus,  son  of  Erastus  and  Lois  (Dickson)  Cole,  was  born 
April  29,  1820,  in  this  town,  was  educated  at  the  common  schools,  and 
has  always  been  a  farmer.  He  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  Henry 
Larzelere,  and  had  four  children,  viz.:  Mary  ;  Ella,  who  died  in  De- 
cember, 1859;  George  H.  and  Ward  L.  Mr.  Cole  has  a  fine  fruit  and 
vineyard  farm  in  this  town.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican.  He  and 
his  family  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Kinney's 
Corners,  of  which  he  is  one  of  the  trustees. 

Comstock,  Family,  The. — Achilles,  son  of  Samuel  Comstock,  was  born 
in  Connecticut,  in  1757.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolution  and  one 
of  the  Rangers  employed  in  the  irregular  warfare  of  the  borders,  which 
was  fought  with  thrilling  excitements.  The  Tories  and  refugees  were 
accustomed  to  drive  away  the  cows  and  other  stock,  and  this  property 
was  carefully  watched  to  save  it  from  pillaging  bands.  To  thwart  these 
bands,  led  to  many  daring  adventures  and  narrow  escapes,  in  which  Mr. 
Comstock  was  a  participant.  After  the  close  of  the  war  Achilles  mar- 
ried Sarah,  daughter  of  Elnathan  Botsford,  sr.,  and  they  had  one  son, 


^FAMIL  y  SKETCHES.  599 

Israel,  and  two  daughters,  Apphia  and  Martha.  The  family  came  to 
the  New  Jerusalem  in  1767,  in  company  vvitli  the  Botsford  family. 
They  made  a  purchase  in  1799  of  400  acres  on  the  north  side  of  the 
Friend's  estate  in  Jerusalem,  which  was  a  strip  of  land  two  miles  long 
and  100  rods  wide.  Their  title  to  this  land  was  involved  in  the  long 
litigation  which  commenced  in  i8ii  and  ended  in  1828,  and  wliich 
caused  them  much  trouble  and  anxious  suspense  as  well  as  expenditure 
of  money.  Mr.  Comstock  was  a  prominent  citizen,  and  most  of  the 
time  in  the  early  years  from  1803  to  1815,  held  some  office  in  the  town. 
He  was  an  early  adherent  of  the  Methodists  and  his  wife  was  a  member 
of  the  Friend's  Society.  He  died  in  1832,  aged  seventy- five  years,  a 
much  respected  citizen.  His  wife  died  in  1845,  aged  sevent)'-nine,  an 
exemplary  and  devoted  Christian.  Their  daughters  belonged  to  the 
sisterhood  of  the  Friend's  Society.  Israel  Comstock  was  born  in  War- 
jngton,  Litchfield  County,  Conn.,  in  1794.  In  1800  he  removed  with 
his  father  to  Jerusalem,  and  on  the  same  farm  where  he  died,  over  sixty- 
five  years  later.  He  distinctly  recollected  his  first  visit  to  Penn  Yan, 
which  then  had  but  two  houses  in  it,  probably  in  1798  or  1799.  He 
for  many  years  held  various  town  offices,  the  duties  of  which  he  dis- 
charged with  integrity  and  fidelity.  He  was  always  a  liberal  and  pro- 
gressive man,  and  at  the  time  of  his  deatii  was  president  of  the  Yates 
County  Historical  Society.  He  was  deeply  interested  in  the  objects  of 
that  organization,  and  resolutions  expressive  of  high  respect  for  his 
memory  were  published  by  the  society.  Few  men  were  better  ac- 
quainted with  the  men  who  filled  a  place  in  the  events  which  transpired 
in  our  early  annals,  and  his  many  contributions  were  always  welcomed, 
as  an  addition  to  the  history  of  times  now  fading  fast  from  the  minds  of 
men.  For  thirty- four  years  he  was  a  consistent  member  of  the  Metho- 
dist Church  and  most  of  the  time  an  official  and  leading  member.  His 
integrity  was  the  key  to  his  whole  character,  for  it  produced  that  scru- 
pulous fidelity  to  his  trust  and  industrj-  in  its  discharge  which  caused 
him  to  be  respected  and  honored  by  his  fellow  citizens.  He  married  in 
1 82  I,  Jane,  daughter  of  Thomas  Sutton,  of  Jerusalem.  She  was  born 
in  Eversham,  Burlington  County,  N.  J.,  February  25,  1799.  She  lived 
on  the  farm  where  they  first  settled  about  sixty- two  years,  and  her  life 
covered  mostly  the  entire  history  of  this  county,  from  the  time  it  was  an 


6oo  HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUNTY. 

unbroken  wilderness.  She  endured  all  the  hardships  and  privations  in- 
cident to  a  new  country,  and  being  possessed  of  a  strong  mind  and  good 
judgment,  she  took  a  deep  interest  in  everything  calculated  to  benefit 
her  family  or  society  in  general.  She  was  for  sixty-two  years  a  faithful 
and  consistent  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Israel 
Comstock  died  in  Januarj',  1866,  aged  seventy-one  years,  and  Jane,  his 
wife,  died  October  2,  1884,  aged  eighty-six  years.  They  had  three  chil- 
dren, Botsford  A.,  John  J.,  and  Sarah  S.  Botsford  A.  Comstock  was 
born  on  the  homestead,  November  12,  1823,  and  is  well  known  through- 
out the  county.  He  held  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  in  his  native 
town  for  twenty  years.  He  was  justice  of  sessions  in  this  county  in 
1 885-86.  His  public  career  in  his  native  town  has  been  most  creditable. 
He  had  confided  to  him  the  most  delicate  duties  in  the  settlement  of 
estates.  In  these  matters  of  importance  his  judgment  and  advice  has 
been  much  sought  and  has  secured  the  highest  respect.  For  fifty  years 
he  was  an  active  and  influential  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  of  Potter,  and  was  steward  and  leader  for  thirty- four  years. 
He  (Hed  September  11,  1886,  aged  sixty-three  years.  John  J.  Com- 
stock, second  son  of  Israel  was  born  July  30,  1826,  and  is  an  honored 
and  respected  citizen,  occupying  an  important  position  in  the  town 
in  which  he  lives.  He  resides  on  part  of  the  old  homestead.  He 
married  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Robert  Miller,  of  Pultncy,  and  their  chil- 
dren are  Robert  J.,  John  A.,  George  P.,  and  Wilbur  F.  The  latter  two 
are  married.  Sarah  S.  Comstock  lives  on  her  farm  in  Potter,  and  also 
occupies  part  of  the  homestead  farm  in  Jerusalem. 

Comstock,  John  J.,  son  of  Israel  and  Jane  (Sutton)  Comstock,  was 
born  July  30,  1826,  in  Jerusalem,  N.  Y.,  was  educated  in  Penn  Yan 
Academy,  and  has  been  a  farmer  in  this  town  ever  since.  He  has  been 
a  Republican  ever  since  the  party  was  organized,  and  has  been  commis- 
sioner of  highways  for  three  terms,  and  in  1887  was  elected  justice  of 
the  peace  and  still  holds  that  office.  His  family  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  is  one  of  the  oldest  members  of  the 
Milo  Lodge,  F.  and  A.  M.,  at  Penn  Yan,  N.  Y.  He  married  Mary 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Susan  (Wagner)  Miller,  of  Pultney, 
N.  Y.  Their  children  are  Robert  I.,  born  March  15,  1855;  John  A., 
born  March  26,  1858;  George  B.,  born  March  26,  1862  ;  and  Wilber 
F.,  born  November  21,  1863. 


FA  MIL  V  SKE  TCHES.  60 1 

Corey,  Leman,  son  of  Christopher  and  Abigail  (Washburn)  Corey, 
was  born  in  Italy,  N.  Y.,  August  10,  1831,  and  after  the  common  schools 
received  his  education  at  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.  After  leaving  college  he 
returned  to  the  farm,  where  he  has  been  very  successful,  both  in  Italy 
and  Jerusalem.  In  1877  he  purchased  what  is  known  as  the  Squier 
farm,  on  the  boundary  line  between  Italy  and  Jerusalem,  which  was 
owned  by  his  wife's  fatljer,  Nathaniel  Squier.  Mr.  Corey  married,  Sep- 
tember 3,  1856,  Hannah,  daughter  of  Nathaniel  and  Phebe  (Wells) 
Squier,  of  Jerusalem,  N.  Y.,  and  their  children  are  Harriet  D.,  Olivia, 
who  married  Dr.  John  Arden  Conley,  of  Middlesex,  X,  Y.;  Carrie  P., 
and  Charles  H.  S.  Corey.      In  politics  Mr.  Cory  is  a  Democrat. 

Culvei:,  Franklin,  son  of  William  and  Phebe  (Swift)  Culver,  was  born 
April  12,  18 16,  in  Ledyard,  Cayuga  County,  N.  Y.,  was  educated  at  the 
common  schools  of  that  lime  and  came  with  his  parents  to  this  town  in 
1836,  and  has  been  a  farmer  all  his  life.  In  politics  a  Democrat,  he 
has  been  commissioner  of  highways  one  term,  and  assessor  of  this  town 
four  years.  He  married  Harriet,  daughter  of  Capt.  John  Phelps,  of 
Bradford,  Steuben  County,  N.  Y.,  and  they  had  ten  children:  Angeline 
and  Mary  Jane  (deceased);  John,  who  married  Mary  Cummings; 
Amanda  M.,  who  married  Hiram  Cole  ;  Julia,  who  married  Benjamin 
Eggleston  ;  Frank,  Harriet,  and  William  (deceased);  P'red,  and  Vin- 
cent, who  married  Carrie  Race.  First  wife  died  in  1868;  married  Al- 
meda  Hewitt,  widow  of  Lucius  Hewitt,  in  1871. 

Davis,  Edgar  E.,  son  of  Joseph  and  Rachel  (Corwin)  Davis,  was  born 
April  12,  1839.  He  has  three  brothers:  Miles  A.,  who  lives  at  Havana, 
N.  Y.;  Melvin  J.,  and  George  D.,  who  lives  in  this  town.  Edgar  was 
educated  at  the  district  schools,  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  but  after- 
wards went  to  farming  and  has  been  a  farmer  ever  since.  In  politics 
Mr.  Davis  is  a  Republican,  and  he  has  been  assessor  of  Jerusalem  for 
three  years.  He  married  Frances  L  ,  daughter  of  Cyrus  Sherwood,  of 
this  town,  and  their  children  are;  Plorence  L.,  Clarence  C.  N.,  John 
Clinton,  and  Harriet  Jane,  all  of  whom  are  living. 

Davis,  Watkin,  is  a  descendant  from  Thomas  and  Eleanor  Davis;  they 
were  born   in  Wales  and  ^ame  to  America  in    1800.     They  settled  at 
Newport,  Herkimer  County,  N.  Y.,  with  their  family  of  three  sons  and 
76 


6o2  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUATY. 

two  daughters.  Thomas,  the  father  of  our  subject,  came  to  Benton,  Yates 
County,  N.  Y.,  in  1814.  He  married  Irene  Perry,  a  widow,  born  in 
1774,  whose  maiden  name  was  Watkins  and  who  was  also  a  native  of 
Wales.  They  settled  on  a  farm  about  one  mile  west  of  Penn  Yan, 
wliere  they  were  original  settlers.  Their  children  were  Hannah,  James 
T.,  Stephen  N.,  Mary  J.,  Watkin  and  Eleanor.  Watkin  Davis  was  born 
March  31,  i8ig  and  was  educated  at  the  commpn  schools  of  that  time 
and  was  brought  up  on  the  farm  and  has  been  a  successful  farmer  in 
the  town  of  Jerusalem.  He  also  owns  a  fine  orange  grove  in  Deleon 
Springs,  Volusia  County,  Florida,  wliere  he  spends  the  wintei  months. 
He  has  been  a  breeder  of  short-horn  Durham  cattle.  In  politics  he  has 
always  been  an  ardent  supporter  of  the  Republican  party  and  has  been 
su]jervisor  of  Jerusalem  two  terms  and  justice  of  the  peace  for  about 
twelve  years.  He  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church  of 
Penn  Yan,  N.  Y.  Mr.  Davis  married  for  his  first  wife,  Emeline  Beard 
F"ebruary  10,  1847,  ^""^  ihcy  had  three  children,  Ida,  born  December 
27i  1857,  married  Clark  C  Dildine,  of  Hammondsport,  N.  Y.;  James 
Watkin,  born  May  23,  1862  ;  John  Stephen,  born  March  14,  1864,  mar- 
ried Lavina  P.,  daughter  of  John  Powell,  of  Rock  Island  Count\',  Ills., 
and  they  have  one  son,  Watkin  Powell  Davis;  Emeline,  died  Marcii  20, 
1885.  Mr.  Davis  married  for  the  second  time,  Mary  E,  widow  of 
Major  Biers,  of  this  town,  April  6,  1887 

Dean,  Albert  E.,  son  of  Benjamin,  who  married  for  his  first  wife 
Eliza  Randolph;  they  had  four  children:  Sarah  M.,  Elizabeth,  Jep- 
tha,  and  Mary  J.,  and  for  his  second  wife  he  married  Fannie  Marriner, 
of  Benton,  N.  Y.,  and  they  had  four  children  ;  Amanda  M.,  William  M., 
Albert  E.,  and  Persis.  Albert  E.  was  born  January  30,  1844,  in  Tor- 
rey,  N.  Y.  He  was  educated  at  the  common  schools  and  at  Penn  Yan 
Academy.  After  leaving  school  he  went  to  work  on  a  farm  in  Li\  ing- 
ston  County,  N.  Y.,  and  remained  there  until  he  enlisted  in  the  service 
of  his  country  December.  1862.  He  entered  Company  I,  One  Hun- 
dred and  Forty-eighth  Regiment,  and  was  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
He  «as  at  the  battles  of  Fortress  Monroe,  Drur\''s  Bluff,  Cold  Harbor. 
Petersburg,  and  was  at  Richmond  at  the  time  of  General  Lee's  surren- 
der. He  was  mustered  out  in  1865  at  the  chase  of  the  war.  Returning 
to  this  town  he  purchased   a  farm  which  he  has  greatly  improved.      He 


FAMILY  SKETCHES.  603 

is  a  Republican  in  politics.  Mr.  Dean  married  Sarah  Jane,  daiifjhter  of 
Davis  Bergstresser,  of  Potter,  N.  Y.,  and  they  have  three  children  : 
Nora  J.,  Charles  and  Lizzie,  all  living. 

Dean,  Julius  Z.,  son  of  Alexander  and  Lois  (Griswold)  Dean,  was  born 
in  Italy,  N.  Y.,  July  9,  183  i,  and  was  the  eldest  of  the  children  of  whom 
the  others  were:  Ezra  V.,  Sarah  M.,  Abraham  V.  (deceased),  Dianthum 
M.,  Elizabeth  and  Loie  A.  Julius  was  educated  at  the  common  schools. 
He  has  been  a  farmer  all  his  life,  and  in  politics  is  a  Republican.  He 
and  his  family  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church  of  Branchport,  N.  Y. 
Mr.  Dean  married  Harriett,  daughter  of  Chester  Tinney,  of  this  town, 
Januarj'  i,  1855.  Their  children  are  Alice  Alida,  who  married  James 
Corwin  ;  Carrie  E.,  who  married  Edwin  Squier  ;  and  Minnie  M.,  who 
lives  with  her  parents. 

Enos,  John  A.,  is  a  descendant  on  the  maternal  side  of  Abie!  Car- 
penter, who  served  in  the  Revolutionary  War  and  was  at  the  battle  of 
Bunker  Hill  ;  on  the  paternal  side  of  Alexander  Enos,  of  Connecticut. 
He  is  the  son  of  Newton  and  Mercy  Enos,  and  was  born  in  Canton, 
N.  Y.  At  an  early  day  they  settled  at  Hoosick  Falls,  N.  V.,  remaining 
there  a  few  years,  they  removed  to  Whitestown,  N.  Y  They  had  eight 
sons  and  three  daughters,  John  A.,  being  the  eldest  ciiild.  He  lived 
with  his  father  until  eighteen  years  of  age,  then  went  as  an  apprentice 
to  a  tanner  and  currier  at  Marcellus,  N.  Y.  While  he  was  there  Gen- 
eral La  Fayette  and  his  son  came  to  that  place  and  young  Enos  shook 
hands  with  the  distinguished  guests.  From  there  Mr.  Enos  came  to 
Jerusalem,  N.  Y.,  and  bought  a  farm  on  which  he  still  lives.  He  has 
been  a  very  successful  farmer.  In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat.  He  mar- 
ried, first,  Mary  Ann,  daughter  of  Hull  Sheppard,  of  Skaneateies,  N.  Y.; 
she  died  in  1880.  They  had  two  sons,  Isaac  Newton,  who  died  when 
six  years  old,  and  George  A.,  who  died  in  1880,  aged  forty-eight  years. 
For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Enos  married  Mariah,  daughter  of  Albert 
Cowen,  of  this  town.  « 

Finnigan,  John,  son  of  Barney  and  Ann  (Farrel)  Finnigan,  was  born 
in  Pultney,  N.  Y.,  was  educated  at  the  common  schools,  and  lived  on 
the  farm  until  the  war,  when  he  enlisted  in  Co.  I,  34th  N.  Y.  Regt.  in 
April,  1861.      He  was  in  tlie  Army  of  the  Potomac  under  Gen.  McClcl- 


6o4  HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUATY. 

Ian,  and  was  in  the  battles  at  Antietam,  Fredericksburg,  wh^re  he  was 
wounded  in  the  left  arm,  Fair  Oaks  and  Savage  Station.  He  was 
mustered  out  of  the  service  in  1863.  After  his  term  expired  he  went 
to  Salamanca,  N.  Y.,  and  engaged  in  the  lumber  business,  remaining 
there  two  years.  He  then  came  to  this  town  and  opened  a  blacksmith 
shop  at  Kinney's  Corners,  but  soon  after  engaged  in  farming  and  fruit 
raising  in  this  town,  in  which  he  has  been  successful.  Mr.  Finnigan 
was  elected  supervisor  for  one  term,  and  is  the  present  overseer  of  high- 
ways in  this  place.  He  married  Rebecca,  daughter  of  John  C.  Fitz- 
water,  of  this  town,  and  they  have  two  children,  Ella  and  Carrie.  In 
politics  Mr.  Finnigan  is  a  Democrat. 

Gelder,  John,  a  native  of  Yorkshire,  England,  came  to  Geneva,  N.  Y., 
about  1835.  He  resided  there  five  years,  then  settled  in  Jerusalem, 
where  he  lived  until  his  death,  in  188 1.  Of  his  six  children  four  sur- 
vive; John  jr.,  was  born  in  1838  and  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of 
Benona  Pearce,  by  whom  he  had  four  children,  two  of  whom  are  living, 
Jennie  E.  and  Edwin  B.  Mr.  Gelder  has  a  farm  of  140  acres,  and  a 
grape  vineyard  of  twenty  acres.  He  has  served  as  assessor  one  year. 
Mr.  Gelder  owns  the   farm  where  his  father  settled  over  fifty  years  ago. 

Haire,  Robert,  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  the  town  of  Starkey, 
Yates  County,  and  made  the  first  clearing  on  the  farm  where  he  settled. 
He  was  the  father  of  ten  children  ;"one  son,  Ezra,  born  in  181 2,  was  a 
native  of  that  town.  He  married  Eliza  A.  Tomer,  of  Pultney,  and 
moved  to  a  farm  in  Jerusalem,  where  he  died.  •  They  had  four  children, 
two  of  whom  survive,  Elwyn  and  Mary,  wife  of  E.  G.  Clark.  Ezra  died 
in  1874  and  his  wife  in  1858.  Elwyn  Haire  was  born  July  31,  1846, 
and  married  Malinda  Chase,  of  this  town,  by  whom  he  had  four  children, 
Walter  L.,  Ann  Eliza,  Jennie  R.,  and  Vernon  VV.  Klwyn  and  wife  are 
members  of  the  M.  E.  Church  at  Branchport,  of  which  church  Mr. 
Haire  is  steward,  having- served  in  that  capacity  since  1874. 

Harris,  _famcs  K.,  son  of  John  and  Abigail  (Brown)  Harris,  the 
youngest  of  eleven  children,  was  born  December  8,  1845,  '"  this  town, 
was  educated  in  the  district  schools  of  Jerusalem  and  has  been  a  farmer 
all  his  life.  In  politics  he  is  an  Independent.  He  married  M.iry, 
daughter  of  Moses  and  Honor  Hartwell,  of  this  town,  and  the\-  lu-e  on 


FAMIL  Y  SKETCHES.  605 

the  Haitwell  homestead  in  the  northern  part  of  the  town,  and  liave  two 
children,  Grace  E,  and  Ciiarles  E.,  both  h'ving, 

Hayes,  George  G.,  son  of  Cephas  and  Ilezekiah  (Edson)  Hayes,  was 
born  December  25,  1819,  in  Prattsburgh,  N.  Y.  His  education  was  at 
the  common  schools.  At  the  age  of  twenty  he  began  farming  and 
lumbering  at  Prattsburgh,  After  a  few  years  he  removed  to  Geneva, 
N.  Y,,  but  remained  there  only  a  year,  returning  to  his  native  town 
where  he  remained  four  years,  and  from  there  he  removed  to  Italy,  N. 
Y.,  and  bought  a  farm  of  500  acres  and  brought  tlie  greater  part  of  it  to 
cultivation.  In  1871  he  removed  to  Jerusalem,  near  Penn  Yan,  and 
bought  a  small  frin't  farm,  where  he  is  enjoying  his  later  days  in  retire- 
ment. In  politics  Mr.  Hayes  is  a  Republican.  His  first  wife  was 
Lucinda  Burke,  who  lived  about  four  years.  He  married  second, 
Eleanor  Robson,  who  died  aged  sixty-one  jears.  By  this  union  there 
were  three  sons,  Warren  H.,  a  successful  architect,  residing  in  Minneap- 
olis, Minn.;  Charles,  died  aged  sixteen,  and  George  R.,  who  lives  in 
York.  Fa.  For  his  third  wife  Mr.  Hayes  married  Jennie,  daughter  of 
Thomas  Gelder,  of  Italy,  N.  Y.,  and  they  have  two  children,  Bertha 
Salena,  and  Guy  G.  Hayes. 

Heck,  George  W.,  son  of  George  and  Margaret  (Hoffstater)  Heck, 
was  born  December  28,  1839,  in  this  town.  He  was  educated  at  the 
common  schools  and  worked  on  the  farm  until  the  outbreak  of  the  war, 
when  he  enlisted  March  10,  1864,  in  Co.  F,  179th  N.  Y.  Vols.  He  was 
in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  under  Gen.  Burnslde's  command,  and  par- 
ticipated in  the  engagement  at  Petersburg,  at  the  mine  explosion, 
Reams's  Station,  Poplar  Spring  Grove  and  Hatcher's  Run.  He  was 
mustered  out  June  8,  1865,  at  Alexandria,  Va.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
G.  A.  R.  post  at  Penn  Yan,  N.  Y.  He  is  now  owner  of  a  fine  fruit  farm 
on  Bluff  Point.  He  has  always  been  a  Republican  in  politics  and  has 
been  assessor  of  this  town  for  a  number  of  years,  holding  this  office  at 
the  present  time.  He  married  Rosalinda,  daughter  of  John  Sheppard, 
of  this  town,  and  they  have  one  child,  Nellie  G. 

Hobart,  George  VV.,  son  of  Walter  P.  and  Rachel  (Clark)  Hobart,  was 
born  April  13,  1844,  in  Potter,  N.  Y.,  was  educated  at  the  common 
schools,  and  enlisted  at  Penn  Yan,  August  30,  1862,  in  the  Forty- fourth 


6o6  HISTORY  UF  YATES  COUNTY. 

Regiment  New  York  Infantry.  He  participated  in  the  battles  of  Fred- 
ericksburg, Chancellorsville,  Rappahannock  Station,  Mine  Run,  Gettys- 
burg, the  Wilderness  and  Laurel  Hill.  At  the  latter  place  he  was 
wounded  in  the  head  and  hip  joint  on  May  8,  1864,  and  was  also 
wounded  in  the  thigh  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  on  July  2,  1863.  Mr.  Hobart 
has  been  supervisor  of  this  town  for  one  term,  and  for  two  terms  has 
been  commander  of  Post  93,  G.  A.  R.,  at  Penn  Van,  N.  Y.  He  mar- 
ried, October  4,  1869,  Sarah  Adelaide,  daughter  of  James  T.  Davis, 
and  their  children  are  Mary  Lucile,  Grace  Aneata,  Castella  Nette,  and 
Julia.  Mr.  Hobart  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  both  he  and  his 
family  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church  of  Yatesville,  N.  Y.  He  is 
one  of  the  successful  farmers  of  Jerusalem. 

Hurd,  William  T.,  son  of  Aaron  and  Lucy  (Thomas)  Hurd,  was  born 
in  Reading,  N.  Y.,  December  13,  1835.  He  was  educated  at  the  com- 
mon schools  and  Dundee  Academy.  After  leaving  school  he  came  to 
Jerusalem  and  remained  a  short  time.  He  then  went  to  Watkins, 
N.  Y.,  and  erected  a  planing-mill  and  box  factory,  remaining  about 
three  years.  Mr.  Hurd  then  returned  to  this  town  and  purchased  a 
farm  of  130  acres  in  the  western  part  of  the  town.  This  he  converted 
into  a  model  farm.  In  politics  Mr.  Hurd  is  a  Republican,  and  has  al- 
ways taken  an  active  part  in  the  affairs  of  his  adopted  town,  having 
been  supervisor  of  Jerusalem  in  the  years  1875-76  and  1882.  Mr. 
Hurd  is  a  self  made  man,  and  one  of  sterling  integrity.  He  and  his 
family  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church  of  Branchport.  He  married 
Phebe,  daughter  of  William  P.  and  Betsey  A.  (Townsend)  Hibbard,  a 
native  of  this  town.  Their  children  were  Fred  H.,  who  died  aged  four 
years;  Herbert,  who  died  aged  two  years ;  Schuyler  H.,  Gertrude  P., 
William  P.,  and  Hattie  L.  Hurd  The  last  four  are  living  with  their 
parents. 

Kinyoun,  Benjamin,  son  of  Elisha  and  Charlotte  (Knickerbocker) 
Kinyoun,  was  born  February  10,  1822,  in  Pine  Plains,  Dutchess  County, 
N.  Y.  He  came  to  this  town  in  1843,  and  settled  on  Bluff  Point,  where 
he  has  been  a  successful  farmer  and  fruit  grower.  He  owns  210  acres 
of  highly  cultivated  land.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican.  He  married 
LucyH.,  daughter  of  John  and  Lucy  (Stanley)  Mangas,  who  was  born 


FAMIL  ]  ■  SKETCHES.  607 

in  Lenawee  County,  Michigan,  July  -28,  1830.  Their  children  were 
Charles  B.,  Mary  E.,  who  died  aged  twenty-four;  Eugene  E.,  Homer 
L.,  Eva,  who  died  aged  four;   Leroy  M.,  Edward  F.,  and  John  Dorsey. 

Larzelere,  William  B.,  son  of  Henry  and  Rebecca  (Durham)  Larze- 
lere,  was  born  January  27,  1831,  in  Jerusalem,  N.  Y.  He  was  educated 
at  the  common  schools,  and  lived  with  his  father  until  he  was  twenty- 
one  years  of  age,  when  he  went  to  Wisconsin.  After  returning  to  his 
native  State,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  F,  One  Hundred  and  Seventy-ninth 
New  York  Regiment,  which  went  into  the  Virginia  campaign,  and  was 
under  command  of  General  Burnside.  His  company  was  in  the  front 
at  the  siege  of  Petersburg,  and  after  three  days'  fighting  and  the  mine 
explosion,  which  occurred  July  30,  1864,  there  were  but  nine  men  left 
of  this  company,  which  a  few  months  before  had  mustered  eighty-three 
men.  Mr.  Larzelere  was  at  the  battles  of  Cold  Harbor,  Reams's  Station, 
Va.,  Poplar  Spring  Grove,  Hatcher's  Run,  the  final  taking  of  Petersburg, 
and  the  surrender  of  Lee's  army  near  Appomattox.  He  was  mustered 
out  June  8.  1865,  at  Alexandria,  Va.  Returning  to  Ontario  County, 
N.  Y.,  he  then  bought  a  farm,  where  he  remained  ten  years.  Selling 
his  farm,  he  removed  to  Kansas,  but  meeting  with  misfortune,  he  soon 
returned  to  his  native  State,  and  in  1879  came  to  Jerusalem  again,  pur- 
chasing a  vineyard  farm  of  thirty- two  acres.  Mr.  Larzelere  married 
Sarah  A.,  daughter  of  Robert  P.  and  Frances  (Belknapp)  Sheppard,  of 
Italy,  N.  Y.,  and  their  children  are  Helen  M.,  Florence  A.  (deceased), 
Herman  G.  and  Herbert  L.  (twins),  who  now  reside  in  Rochester,  N.  Y.; 
and  Adelia  May. 

Mace,  Jerome  B.,  son  of  John  and  Lydia  (Tripp)  Mace,  was  born 
September  29,  1845,  Jerome  B,  being  the  sixth  child.  His  brothers 
and  sisters  were  Hiram  G..  John  C,  Cyrus  (deceased),  James  R.,  Leroy 
and  Caroline.  Jerome  was  educated  at  the  common  schools,  was 
brought  up  on  the  farm  and  has  always  followed  the  farmer's  life,  in 
which  he  has  been  successful.  In  politics  he  is  a  Repulican.  January 
30,  1876,  he  married  Mar\'  Eva,  daughter  of  Nathaniel  G.  and  Mary 
(Bitley)Hibbard,  of  this  town,  and  tiiey  have  one  ciiild,  Howard  J.,  born 
March  30,  1878. 

Martin,  George  VV.,  son  of  Garret  and  Laura  (Clark)  Martin,  was 
born    June  6,  1825,  in   this   town,    and    was   educated    at    the   common 


6o8  HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUNTY. 

schools.  He  has  been  a  farmer  and  fruit  grower  all  his  life.  In  poli- 
tics a  Republican,  Mr.  Martin  has  been  commissioner  of  highways  of 
this  town  two  terms,  1877-78.  He  married  Emily,  daughter  of  Oren 
Stebbens,  of  Potter,  N.  Y.  Their  children  are  E.  Clark,  Charles  E. 
(deceased),  and  Oren  S. 

Merritt,  La  Fayette,  son  of  John,  was  born  in  Dutchess  County,  N. 
Y.,  in  1825,  and  the  same  year  his  father  came  to  the  town  of  Jerusa- 
lem, and  purchased  a  large  tract  of  land,  converting  it  into  a  valuable 
farm,  a  portion  of  which  is  still  in  the  Merritt  family.  Of  nine  children, 
only  one  brother.  Van  Rensselaer,  is  living,  a  resident  of  Missouri,  and 
two  sisters,  Mrs.  Teats  and  Mrs.  Davis,  of  Penn  Yan,  are  living.  In 
1859,  Mr.  Merritt  married  Hannah  Bennett,  of  Milo.  By  this  marriage 
there  was  one  son,  Elmer,  who  resides  with  his  mother  on  the  farm.  Mr. 
Merritt  was  honest,  honorable  and  kind.  He  had  a  lively  sense  of  the 
beautiful  and  orderly,  as  one  could  see  by  a  visit  to  his  farm  and  fruit 
orchard.  He  had  first  refused  to  cultivate  the  grape,  because  they 
were  converted  into  wine,  but  when  the  market  bought  them  for 
table  use,  he  began  their  cultivation.  When  it  was  proposed  to  found 
a  college  on  the  lake,  he  was  one  of  its  enthusiastic  supporters.  In  1836 
he  joined  the  Wesleyan  Church,  of  Penn  Yan,  and  was  a  member  until 
the  church  disbanded.  Some  time  afterwards  he  united  with  the  M.  E. 
Church,  of  which  he  was  a  member  when  he  died. 

Miller,  John  A.,  son  of  Smith  M.  Miller,  was  born  in  Poundridge, 
Westchester  County,  N.  Y.,  March  9,  1835.  When  eight  years  of  age, 
his  father  moved  to  Pultney,  Steuben  County,  N.  Y.  In  1850,  John 
A.,  came  to  Branchport,  and  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade  of  D.  H. 
Bennett,  and  has  been  a  resident  of  the  town  ever  since.  He  married 
Elizabeth  A.  Durham,  of  this  town,  and  has  six  chilren  living.  He  has 
carried  on  the  blacksmithing  business  since  1856. 

Mills,  J.  C,  M.  D,,  for  twenty-five  years  the  leading  photographer  of 
Penn  Yan,  was  born  in  Orange  County,  in  1823.  At  an  early  age  his 
parents  moved  to  Onondaga  County,  where  he  entered  the  Central 
Medical  College,  of  Syracuse,  and  graduated  from  the  same  in  1849. 
For  fifty- two  years  in  connection  with  his  other  business,  he  was  a 
prominent  and  successful   physician.      In  1859  he  came  to  Penn  Yan, 


FAMILY  SKETCHES.  609 

and  having  a  knowledge  of  the  daguerrean  business,  opened  a  gallery 
for  that  purpose,  daguerreotypes  and  ambrotypes  being  the  only  pic- 
tures made  in  those  days,  outside  of  the  large  cities.  Dr.  Mills  was  the 
first  to  introduce  photographs  to  the  people  of  Yates  County.  He  re- 
tired from  the  business  in  1882;  he  last  few  years  of  his  life  being 
spent  in  Florida,  where  he  died  A[)ril  11,  1891. 

Paris,  Jacobs.,  son  of  James,  sr.,  and  Nancy  (Billington)  Paris,  waS' 
born  February  5,  1828,  in  Palatine,  Montgomery  County,  N.  Y.,  and 
went  to  Wheeler,  Steuben  County,  in  1833,  remaining  there  until  Feb- 
ruary, 1845,  when  he  came  to  Branchport,  N.  Y.  Young  Paris  was 
educated  at  the  common  schools  of  that  time.  He  enlisted  in  Co  A, 
50th  N.  Y.  Engineer  Corps,  August  31,  1864,  remaining  in  the  service 
until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  stationed  at  Washington,  D.  C, 
most  of  the  time.  He  then  returned  to  this  town,  and  has  been  a  dealer 
in  general  merchandise,  and  a  carpenter,  for  about  six  years.  He  is  at 
present,  general  agent  for  Conklin  &  Ellsworth,  coal  merchants,  at 
Branchport,  N.  Y.  In  politics  he  has  always  been  a  Republican.  He 
has  been  a  supporter  of  the  Universalist  Church  at  Branchport,  N.  Y. 
Mr.  Paris  married  on  September  25,  1855,  Eliza  A.,  daughter  of  Simeon 
Danes,  of  this  town,  and  they  had  one  child,  Fremont,  born  November 
2,  1856,  who  was  drowned  January  2,  1872. 

Peckins,  James,  son  of  Davis  and  Experience  (Pierce)   Peckins,   was- 
born  in  Shrewsbury,  Mass.,  in    1800,  and   later  came  to  this  town,  set- 
tling on  a  farm.      Here  he  married   Matilda,  daughter  of  Edward  and 
Mahaliah  Brownell,  of  this  town.     She   was  born  in  Johnstown,  N.  Y., 
in  1804,  and  with  her  parents  came  to  this  town   when  twelve  years  of 
age.      By  occupation  a  farmer,  Mr.  Peckins  was  also  poormaster  of  this- 
town  for  one  or  two  terms.      He  was  a  Republican  in   politics,  and  he 
and  his  family  were  members  of  the  Wesleyan  Methodist  Church.      Mr. 
Peckins  died  April  11,  1874.      His  wife  is  still  living  on  the  homestead. 
Their  children  were    George   B.,    Edward    L.,    Olive    L.,  Benjamin    K. 
(deceased),  Sabrian,  Mary  Amanda  (deceased),  James  B  ,   and  Oscar  F. 
(deceased). 

Pepper,  James,  son  of  William  and   Mariah  (Mee)   Pepper,  was  born 
in  Wymeswold,  Leicestershire,  England,  February  28,  1841.     He  came 
77 


6io  HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUNTY. 

to  Benton,  N.  Y.,  in  1863,  and  remained  there  about  four  years.  He 
then  came  to  this  town,  and  in  1874  bought  100  acres  on  Bluff  Point, 
where  he  has  been  a  successful  fruitgrower.  In  politics  he  is  a  Repub- 
lican. His  family  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church  at  Blufl  Point.  He 
married  first  Mary  Joynes,  of  Nottingham,  England,  and  their  children 
were  Annie,  who  married  Cyrus  J.  Thayer;  James  H.,  w!io  married 
Myrtie  E.  Cole;   Alonzo,  Jessie  E.  and  Mabel.      Mrs.  Pepper  died  June 

20,  1875,  and  for  his  second  wife  Mr.  Pepper  married  Celestia  Campbell, 
of  Jerusalem. 

Perry,  Samuel,  son  of  Amos  and  Abigail  (Clark)  Perry,  was  born  in 
Jerusalem,  October  6,  1824,  received  his  education  at  the  common 
schools  and  lived  with  his  fatlier  until  twenty- two  years  of  age,  at 
which  time  he  came  into  possession  of  a  farm  through  his  father,  and 
since  that  time  has  added  to  his  original  purchase,  until  he  now  owns 
103  acres  near  Penn  Yan,  making  a  fine  farm.  Mr.  Perry  has  taken  no 
active  part  in  politics,  though  he  has  nearly  always  voted  the  Demo- 
cratic ticket,  the  exceptions  being  when  he  cast  his  vote  for  Lincoln  and 
Grant.  He  married  June  i,  1850,  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Peter  J.  Dine- 
hart,   of  Potter,  N.  Y.      They  had  one'daughter,  Ann  Eliza,  born  April 

21,  1852,  and  died  aged  eleven  years  and  eleven  months. 

Plaisted,  Daniel,  jr.,  son  of  Daniel  and  Elizabeth  (Perry)  Plaisted,  was 
born  in  Milo,  N.  Y.,  June  15,  1857, -educated  at  Penn  Yan  Academy 
and  remained  on  the  farm  with  his  father  until  1879.  Young  Plaisted 
came  to  this  town  and  purchased  a  fine  farm,  with  vineyards  and  other 
fruits.  He  married  December  15,  1S79,  Ada  M.,  daughter  of  Charles 
E.  Brown,  of  Independence,  Allegheny  Co.,  N.  Y.  They  have  one 
child,  Ernest  C,  born  May  11,  1884. 

Purdy,  Frank  H  ,  sou  of  Isaac  and  Sarah  (Stewart)  Purdy,  was  born 
in  this  town,  April  19,  1839.  He  received  his  education  at  the  com- 
mon schools  and  Penn  Yan  Academy,  after  which  he  returned  to  the 
fai  ui,  where  he  has  been  very  successful  in  the  raising  of  fruit,  especially 
grapes,  of  which  he  has  a  fine  vinejard  on  the  road  from  Penn  Yan  to 
Branchport.  In  politics  he  is  a  Farmers'  Alliance,  was  elected  as  the 
first  president  of  Yates  County  Farmers'  Alliance,  re-elected  and  holds 
that   position   at  present.      Mr.    Purdy   and    wife   attend   the   St.   Luke's 


FA  .1//Z  Y  SKE  TCHES.  6 1 1 

Episcopal   Church,    at   Branchport.      He  married   November  3,     1863, 
Emma  C.  Husted,  of  Potter,  N.  Y. 

Purdy,  Isaac  S.,  was  born  in  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y.,  moved  with 
his  family  to  this  county  in  1827,  and  settled  in  the  western  part  of  the 
town  of  Jerusalem.  He  married  Ann,  daughter  of  Thomas  Owen,  of 
Westchester  County,  N.  Y.  His  son  Joseph,  was  born  March  13,  1825, 
in  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y.,  but  came  with  his  parents,  when  two  years 
old,  to  this  county.  He  had  one  brother,  Thomas  O.,  and  one  sister, 
Sarah  A.  They  remained  on  that  farm  about  six  years,  then  sold  out 
and  removed  to  the  eastern  part  of  the  .same  town  in  1833,  where  they 
have  since  resided.  Isaac  S.  Purdy  died  February  14,  1876,  and  Ann 
his  wife  on  April  10,  of  the  same  year.  Mr.  Purdy  was  educated  at  the 
Penn  Yan  schools  and  has  always  been  a  farmer.  He  is  a  Republican 
in  politics,  and  has  been  supervisor  two  terms,  i  880—8 1 ,  and  also  inspec- 
tor several  times.  His  family  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church  at 
Penn  Yan.  He  married  Margaret  E.,  daughter  of  Thomas  Bennett  of 
Benton,  N.  Y.,  and  their  children  are  Ella  ;  John,  who  married  Jessie 
Mac  Kay,  of  Penn  Yan  ;  Ida  G.,  married  William  C.  Mills,  of  Chicago  ■ 
Thomas  B.  (deceased);  Mary  C,  of  Brooklyn  ;  George  O  ;  Ann;  Agnes- 
Isaac  Seymour;   Charles  M.;   and  Henry  Clinton. 

Rose,  Edward  N.,  son  of  R.  Selden  and  Frances  Theresa  (Cammann) 
Rose,  was  born  in  this  town  May  i,  1856,  was  educated  at  the  common 
schools  of  the  town,  and  has  always  been  a  Democrat  in  politics.  He 
has  held  the  office  of  supervisor  two  terms  and  town  clerk  one  term 
although  the  town  is  Republican  by  a  large  majority.  Mr.  Rose  lives 
with  his  mother  on  the  old  homestead. 

Sanderson,  John,  son  of  James  and  Mary  Ann  (Williams)  Sanderson 
was  born  in  County  Cavan,  Ireland,  July  6,  1838,  and  came  to  this 
country  April  30,  1859,  settling  in  Bath,  N.  Y.  He  enlisted  in  August 
1862,  in  the  i6ist  N.  Y.  Regt.,  and  participated  in  the  following  en- 
gagements: Store  Plains,  Port  Hudson,  Donaldsonville,  Sabine  Pass 
Sabine  Cross- Roads,  Pleasant  Hill,  Spanish  Fort  and  Mobile.  During 
his  last  year  in  the  army  he  was  made  sergeant-major  of  the  regiment 
and  never  missed  a  day's  duty  during  his  entire  ser\'ice.  He  received 
his  discharge  September  20,  1865.      He  then  came  to  this  town   and 


6i2  HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUNTY. 

purchased  a  vineyard  of  fifteen  acres  on  the  west  branch  of  Keiika  Lake, 
which  he  has  brought  to  a  fine  state  of  cultivation.  He  married  EHza, 
•daughter  of  Lewis  Longwell,  of  Urbana,  N.  V.,  and  their  children  were 
as  follows:  James  B.,  Oliver  R.,  and  Edward  L.  His  first  wife  died 
April  14,  1875,  and  ^e  married,  secondly,  Emily  L.  Razy,  of  this  town, 
and  by  this  union  there  are  five  children,  Marion,  Ida  J.,  Margaret, 
Anna  R.,  and  John  R. 

Shearman,  Urial  W.,  son  of  Bartlesoii  and  Hannah  (Potter)  Shearman, 
was  born  in  this  town  Maj'  7,  1847.  He  had  one  sister,  Josephine 
{deceased),  who  married  Charles  E.  Hewey,  and  one  brother,  Charles  S., 
who  died  aged  nine  years.  Mr.  Shearman  has  always  been  Republican 
in  politics.  He  resides  on  the  old  homestead  in  what  is  known  as 
■"Shearman's  Hollow".  He  married  first,  Frances  Watkins,  by  whom 
lie  liad  one  child,  Willie  A.  He  married  second,  Harriet  Corey,  of  this 
Town. 

Sherwood,  Cyrus,  son  of  Daniel  and  Jane  (Chase)  Sherwood,  was 
born  June  26,  1827,  in  this  town,  was  educated  at  the  common  schools. 
When  a  young  man  he  was  engaged  in  getting  out  heavy  timber  for 
ship  building,  following  that  occupation  for  about  twenty-seven  years. 
He  enlisted  in  August,  1862,  in  Co  A,  126th  Regt.  N.  Y.  Vols.,  and 
went  to  Harper's  Ferry,  Va.,  where  he  was  captured  and  sent  to  Chicago, 
but  was  soon  exchanged  and  then  Went  to  Union  Mills,  Va.,  and  was 
mustered  out  at  Bailey's  Cross  Roads,  Va.  Returning  thence  to  this 
town,  he  has  been  a  farmer  ever  since.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics. 
He  married  Jane,  daughter  of  Jesse  C.  Grant,  of  Thurston,  Steuben 
•County,  N.  Y.,  in  185  i.  Their  children  are  Frances  L.,  who  married 
Fldgar  li.  Davis;  Chapman  1).,  who  married  Maggie  S.,  daughter  of 
Matthew  Henderson,  they  have  one  son,  James  H  Sherwood,  born 
July  10,  1886;  Carrie  E.  (deceased),  who  married  Frank  L.  Johnson, 
bj'  whom  he  had  one  child,  Cyrus  Johnson. 

Sill,  Henry  Rose,  son  of  Samuel  and  Susan  (Rose)  Sill,  was  born  in 
•Geneva,  N.  Y.  His  mother  died  when  he  was  four  years  of  age,  and 
his  uncle,  Henry  Rose,  of  this  town,  adopted  and  educated  him  at 
Geneva,  N.  Y.  Mr.  Sill  then  returned  and  remained  on  the  farm  with 
his  uncle  until  Mr.  Rose  died.      Mr.  Sill   now  owns   the  old  homestead. 


FAMIL  Y  SKE  TCHES.  6 1 3 

which  is  one  of  the  finest  farms  in  Jerusalem,  and  is  stocked  with  fine 
graded  horses  and  cattle.  He  is  a  Republican,  was  elected  supervisor 
two  terms,  1889  and  1890,  and  has  alwaj's  taken  an  active  part  in  the 
affairs  of  this  town.  He  is  a  member  of  Milo  Lodge  F.  A.  M.,  of  Penn 
Yan,  N.  Y.  May  5,  1880,  he  married  Mary  Ida,  daughter  of  Charles 
Stebbins,  of  Branchport,  N.  Y.,  and  their  children  are  Henry  Rose, 
Elizabeth  Nelson,  and  Mary  Cornelia.  Mr.  Sill  and  hisfamilj'  are  mem- 
bers of  St.  Luke's  Episcopal  Church  of  Branchport,  N.  Y. 

Sisson,  Jonathan,  one  of  the  sons  of  George  Sisson,  of  the  Friend's 
society,  was  a  cavalry  soldier  under  Aaron  Remer,  in  the  War  of  18 12, 
for  which  he  received  a  warrant  of  160  acres  of  land.  He  married 
Catharine  Vosbiner,  of  Milo.  In  1827  they  removed  to  Jerusalem,  and 
both  died  in  1857,  he  at  the  age  of  seventy  three  and  his  wife  aged 
seventy.  Their  children  were  William,  George,  Joshua,  David,  Harri- 
son and  Bethany.  William  married  Melissa,  daughter  of  William 
Genung  ;  George  is  a  resident  of  Addison,  N.  Y.;  Joshua  died  in  1867, 
unmarried,  at  the  age  of  forty  six  ;  David  married  Charlotte,  daughter 
of  Zachariah  Coons,  of  Jerusalem.  He  died  in  California  in  1850,  leav- 
ing one  daughter,  Bethany,  who  married  James  A.  Cole,  and  has  two 
children,  Fred  G.  and  Glennis  B.  Harrison  Sisson,  born  in  1829,  mar- 
ried in  1852,  Charlotte,  widow  of  his  brother  David.  They  have  one 
son,  David  H.,  who  married  Sarah  P.  Miller,  and  has  four  children, 
Jeptha  P.,  Irene  M.,  Harry  G   and  Clarence  D 

Smith,  Eberle  E.,  son  of  Morgan  and  Annis  (Johnson)  Smith,  was 
born  May  5,  1843,  at  Penn  Yan,  N.  Y.,  was  educated  at  the  common 
schools,  and  lived  with  his  father  until  about  twenty- four  years  of  age. 
His  father,  Morgan  Smith,  came  to  Jerusalem  and  purchased  a  farm  o) 
168  acres  ill  the  western  part  of  the  town,  when  Eberle  was  ten  years 
of  age.  Twenty-four  years  ago  the  latter  bought  the  farm  of  200  acrts 
of  Chester  Stoddard  (now  deceased).  In  1881  he  bought  the  farm  of 
168  acres  of  his  father,  near  his  first  purchase,  but  not  joining,  making 
368  acres.  Mr.  Smith  has  always  been  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  he 
is  now  a  member  of  the  I""armers'  Alliance.  While  not  a  member  of 
any  religious  denomination,  both  he  and  his  family  attend  the  Baptist 
Church  at  Italy  Hill.  October  17,  1867,  he  married  Alice  A.,  daugh- 
ter of  Chester  Stoddard,  of  this  town.  Their  children  are  Chester  M., 
Grace  S.,  Edna,  and  Edwin  and  P^ben  (twins),  the  latter  deceased. 


6 1 4  HIS  TORY  UF   YA  TES  CO  UJV  T  Y. 

Squier,  Nat,  son  of  Ezra  and  Helen  (Kennedy)  Squier,  was  born  De- 
cember lo,  1859,  in  Italy,  N.  Y.,  was  educated  at  the  common  schools 
and  at  Franklin  Academy,  at  Prattsburg,  N.  Y.  Soon  after  finishing 
his  education  he  began  teaching  school,  and  for  three  years  he  has  been 
principal  of  Branchport  School.  He  also  owns  a  fine  fruit  farm  at  Lar- 
zelere  Corners,  in  this  town.  He  is  a  Prohibitionist  in  politics.  Mr. 
Squier  married  Margaret  A.,  daughter  of  Perry  and  Jane  (Munger)  Ad- 
ams, of  this  town,  and  they  have  four  children  :  Perry  Albert,  Lloyd, 
Ezra,  and  Henry. 

Stever,  Joseph  G.,  son  of  James  and  Desire  (Goodsell)  Stever,  was 
born  May  4,  1842,  in  this  town,  was  educated  at  the  district  schools  and 
under  the  tutorship  of  Prof.  N.  W.  Ayer,  of  Penn  Yan,  N.  Y.  After 
leaving  school  he  went  on  to  the  farm  and  has  been  very  successful  in 
that  industry.  In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat.  He  married  Mary, 
daughter  of  Andrew  Coryell,  of  Pultney,  N.  Y.,  March  27,  1S72.  Mrs. 
Stever  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Branchport,  N.  Y. 

Stever,  Leonard,  son  of  James  and  Desire  (Goodsell)  Stever,  was  born 
March  24,  i83l,in  Columbia  County,  N.  Y.,  and  came  to  this  town 
when  eighteen  months  old.  He  was  educated  in  the  district  schools  and 
Franklin  Academy  at  Prattsburgh,  N.  Y.  He  lived  with  his  father 
until  twenty-four  years  of  age,  then  went  to  Pultney,  Steuben  County, 
N.  Y.,  and  purchased  a  farm  for  himself,  remaining  there  two  years, 
then  traded  his  farm  for  one  in  the  southern  part  of  this  town  and  after 
residing  there  two  years  sold  this  farm.  Most  of  his  time  up  to  the 
year  1868  was  spent  on  the  Samuel  S.  Ellsworth  farm  until  the  pur- 
chase of  the  farm  where  he  now  lives,  which  is  in  a  fine  state  of  cultiva- 
tion. He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics.  Both  he  and  his  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Universalist  Church  of  Branchport,  N.  Y.  He  married  Su- 
san, daughter  of  Robert  and  Susan  (Wagener)  Miller,  of  Pultney,  N.  Y. , 
and  their  children  are  Laura  Jane,  born  November  15,  1856,  married 
Jasper  C.  Shull,  of  Branchporl  ;  Elbert  Miller  Stever,  born  March  31, 
1864,  married  Lena  E.  Paris,  October  30,  1889,  and  in  the  mercantile 
business  with  his  father-in-law,  in  Branchport;  Fred,  born  July  28, 
1866,  lives  with  his  parents. 

Sturdevant,  Harlan  Page,  son  of  Joseph  G.  and  Rebecca  (Mahan) 
Sturdevant,  was  born  March  I,  1838,  in  Prattsburgh,  N.  Y.,  was  educated 


FAMILY  SKE TCHES.  6 1 5 

at  the  common  schools  and  Prattsburgh  Academy  and  was  brought  up 
on  a  farm,  learning  the  lumber  business  with  his  father.  When  the  war 
broke  out  he  enlisted  in  Company  E,  One  Hundred  and  First  Regi- 
ment New  York  Infantry,  and  went  on  garrison  dutj'  at  Washington, 
D.  C.  He  was  with  General  Kearney's  Division  in  the  Virginia  cam- 
paign, and  was  captured  at  Chancellorsville,  and  kept  about  ten  days; 
was  exchanged  and  went  back  to  his  regiment,  but  was  captured  a  sec- 
ond time  June  i,  1864,  and  taken  to  Andersonville  and  Millen,  where 
he  was  held  prisoner  until  November  20.  His  term  of  enlistment 
had  expired  during  his  imprisonment,  and  he  was  mustered  out  in  New 
York  City,  January  30,  1864.  He  then  came  home  and  for  occupation 
purchased  an  interest  in  the  vineyard  lands  on  the  east  side  of  Bluff 
Point,  with  G.  \V.  Nichols  and  Rev.  Stephen  Vorhis,  owning  now  two- 
thirds  of  this  beautiful  vineyard,  which  comprises  fifty- two  acres.  Mr. 
Sturdevant  is  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.  at  Pultney,  N.  Y.  He  and  his 
family  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church  of  Wayne,  N,  Y.  February 
15,  1886,  he  married  Ella  A.  Williams,  a  widow  and  daughter  of  An- 
son Hill  She  had  one  child  by  her  first  husband,  Guy  Williams,  and 
bj'  her  second  marriage  has  a  daughter,  Celia  A.  Sturdevant. 

Timmerman,  Ransford  C,  son  of  Jonas  and  Catharine  (Cramer)  Tim- 
merman,  was  born  April  15,  1840,  at  St.  Johnsville,  Herkimer  County, 
N.  Y.  In  1849  he  went  to  Jasper,  Steuben  County,  N.  Y.,  and  was  ed- 
ucated at  the  district  schools  of  that  place.  He  enlisted  at  Rome, 
N.  Y.,  in  Company  I,  Eighty-first  Regiment  New  York  Volunteers,  on 
November  28,  1861,  and  went  into  the  army  of  the  Potomac  with  Gen. 
George  B.  McClellan  in  command.  Participated  in  the  Peninsular 
campaign,  was  taken  sick  at  Yorktown,  recovered  and  rejoined  the  reg- 
iment on  McClellan's  retreat  from  Fair  Oaks  From  there  he  went 
into  South  Carolina,  under  command  of  General  Hunter,  to  join  in  the 
siege  of  Charleston,  thence  back  to  Newbern,  N.  C,  where  he  took  part 
in  the  Ternton  raid,  N.  C,  and  the  battle  at  Northwest  Landing,  Va. 
While  there  he  re-enlisted  for  three  years  or  until  the  close  of  the  war 
in  the  same  company  and  regiment  For  a  short  time  afterwards  he 
was  in  the  army  of  the  James  under  General  Butler,  but  was  transferred, 
and  was  in  the  battle  of  Cold  Harbor,  Va  ,  and  on  June  3,  1864,  he  lost 
his  left  arm.     He  was  then  sent  to  the  hospital  at  Alexandria,  \'a.,  and 


6i6  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

from  there  to  Fort  Schuyler,  East  River,  New  York  city,  where  he  was 
mustered  out  October  26,  1864.  He  afterward  spent  one  year  in  the 
quartermaster's  department  at  Elmira.  He  came  to  this  town  in  1865 
and  has  been  engaged  in  farming  and  fruit  growing.  In  politics  he  is 
a  Republican.  He  is  a  member  of  Henry  C.  Lyon  Post,  No.  535, 
G.  A.  R.  At  Pultney,  N.  Y.,  November  7,  1865,  he  married  Agnes  E., 
daughter  of  John  Mitchell,  of  Branchport,  N.  Y.,  and  their  children  are 
Lee  M.  (deceased),  Grace  A.  and  Harold  M. 

Todd,  Benajah,  son  of  Meli  and  Lydia  (Ovenshire)  Todd,  was  born 
March  17,  1829,  in  Barrington,  N.  Y.  One  year  later  he  came  to  this 
town  with  his  parents.  He  was  educated  at  the  common  schools  and 
has  been  a  farmer  all  his  life.  In  politics  he  was  a  Republican.  He  and 
his  family  were  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Branch- 
port,  and  he  was  one  of  the  trustees  for  many  years.  June  10,  1849, 
he  married  Ann  Jennette,  daughter  of  Gilbert  Lamb,  and  they  had  one 
daughter,  Emma  A.,  who  married  Phineas  Tyler,  of  Branchport,  a  sol- 
dier in  the  late  Rebellion,'  who  lost  an  arm  at  the  battle  of  the  Wilder- 
derness.  They  had  one  adopted  son,  Charles  H.  Beaden  Todd,  who 
married  Lucinda  Shepard,  and  also  a  granddaughter,  Anna  M.  Tyler, 
whom  they  reared.  She  married  John  L.  Lafler,  and  they  reside  on  the 
farm  with  Mrs.  Todd.      Benajah  Todd  died  May  2,  1885. 

Townsend,  Charles  E.,  son  of  Charles  J.  and  Catherine  (Castner) 
Tovvnsend,  was  born  April  9,  1848,  in  Torrey,  and  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools  of  the  town.  He  enlisted  in  the  general 
service  of  the  United  States  at  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  February  7,  i866, 
and  went  to  Richmond,  Va.,  where  he  was  in  the  paymaster's  service 
for  about  eighteen  months.  He  then  went  to  Mississippi  and  was 
mustered  out  at  Grenada,  that  State,  February  7,  1869.  He  returned 
to  this  county  and  was  appointed  keeper  of  the  Yates  County  alms- 
house, which  position  he  filled  at  different  times  for  nine  years  and  is 
the  present  incumbent.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican.  He  married 
February  22,  1871,  Nancy  E.,  daughter  of  VV.  J.  Smith,  of  Dresden,  N. 
Y. ,  and  their  children  are  Maude  E.,  Fred  W.  and  Ada  M.,  who  died 
aged  fifteen. 

Townsend,  Joseph  R.,  was  born  in  Jerusalem,  Ontario  County,  N.  Y., 
in  the  year  181 5.      In  the  year  1843   h^  united  in   marriage  with   Miss 


FA  MIL  V  SKE  TCHES.  6 1 7 

Eliza  Runner,  of  Jerusalem,  Yates  County,  N.  Y.  By  this  union  three 
children  were  born  to  them.  The  only  surviving  child  is  J.  Wilbur, 
who  was  born  March  24,  1848.  In  the  year  of  1871  he  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Delight  C.  Andrus,  of  Jerusalem,  Yates  County,  N.  Y., 
born  March  4,  1851.  By  this  union  five  children  were  born  to  them, 
viz.;  Hermon  R.,  born  in  1872  ;  Florence  E.  and  Flora  L.,  born  in 
1875;  Myrtie  A.,  born  in  1877,  and  Addie  C,  born  in  1879.  In  the 
year  1888  death  entered  the  home  of  Mr.  Townsend,  tearing  from  his 
embrace  his  companion  with  whom  he  had  commenced  the  voyage  of 
life  seventeen  years  before.  Mrs.  Townsend  was  deeply  mourned,  not 
only  by  her  family,  but  also  by  a  wide  circle  of  friends  and  acquaint- 
ances. She  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Branch- 
port,  a  consistent  Christian,  a  devoted  wife,  and  loving  mother.  In 
1890  Mr.  Townsend  married  Belle,  sister  of  his  former  wife.  Belle  was 
born  in  1857  ;  she  is  a  consistent  Christian,  a  member  of  the  Metliodist 
Church  at  Branchport.  She  is  a  devoted  wife,  a  kind  and  affectionate 
mother;  one  child  born  to  them  who  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Townsend 
owns  a  fine  farm  of  150  acres.  The  family  are  members  of  the  M.  E. 
Church  of  Branchport. 

Van  Tuyl,  William  F.,  son  of  Silas  H.  and  iMariah  F.  (Randolph) 
Van  Tuyl,  was  born  October  23,  1838,  was  educated  at  the  common 
schools  and  select  school  in  Penn  Yan,  under  the  tutorship  of  Prof 
N.  W.  Ayer,  and  after  finishing  his  education  he  taught  school  in  differ- 
ent places  for  about  fifteen  years.  He  was  school  commissioner  of  Yates 
County  from  1876  to  1882.  Mr.  Van  Tuyl  was  one  of  the  first  to  de- 
velop the  grape  product,  planting  his  vineyard  in  1861  on  Lake  Keuka, 
and  he  has  lived  to  see  it  one  of  the  leading  industries  of  the  county. 
Mr.  Van  Tuyl  is  a  Republican  in  politics.  In  the  year  1867  he  married 
Miss  Sarah  M.  Dean,  and  their  children  are  J.  Ernest  and  Nellie  G. 
They  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

W'atkins,  John  E.,  son  of  Abraham  and  Mary  (Wilcox)  Watkins,  was 
born  in  Gorham,  Ontario  County,  N.  Y.,  November  13,  1851,  was  ed- 
ucated at  the  district  schools,  except  one  term  at  the  Penn  Yan  Academy. 
His  father  came  to  this  town  in  the  spring  of  1853,  and  bought  a  farm 
in  the  western  part    of  the  town,  which  John   E.  now  owns.      He  has 

73 


6 1 8  HIS  TORY  OF  YA  TES  CO  UA  T  Y. 

always  affiliated  with  the  Republican  party.  He  lias  served  four  years 
as  justice  of  the  peace,  one  term  as  supervisor  of  Jerusalem,  and  is  now 
superintendent  of  the  poor  of  Yates  County.  He  married  Knima, 
daughter  of  Loren  Thomas,  of  this  town,  and  they  have  four  children, 
Charles  M.,  Edward  T.,  Mina  S.  and  Marj-  E.,  all  living  at  home. 

Wheeler,  Philip,  jr.,  was  born  in  Jerusalem,  N.  \.,  March  5,  1845 
and  is  the  oldest  son  in  a  family  of  six  children  of  Pliilip  and  Maria 
(Van  Gelder)  Wheeler.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Columbia  Count}', 
N.  Y.,  his  mother  was  a  native  of  Sullivan  County,  N.  Y.,  and  his  other 
children  were  Charles,  who  died  aged  nineteen  ;  Mary,  wife  of  Earl 
Allen,  of  Filmore,  N.  Y.;  Jane,  wife  of  Frank  Dickens,  of  Dalton,  N.  Y.; 
George,  a  resident  of  Jerusalem ;  and  Gertrude,  wife  of  George  H. 
Mosher,  of  Oakland,  N.  Y.  Mr.  Wheeler  received  only  a  common 
school  education  and  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years  was  apprenticed  to 
learn  the  trade  of  carpenter.  He  has  during  his  life  followed  that  trade 
in  connection  with  contracting  for  buildings  He  married  Sarah  M., 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Bmily  (Tyler)  Walker.  They  have  two  chil- 
dren, viz.:  Charles  Henry,  a  graduate  of  Syracuse  University,  and 
Nellie  F.  In  politics  a  Republican,  he  has  served  as  highwaj-  com- 
missioner for  a  number  of  terms. 

Wightman,  J.  C,  M.D.,  son  of  James  W.  and  Esther  A.  (Cole) 
Wightman,  was  born  Julj-  16,  1829,  at  Rushville,  Ontario  County,  N. 
Y.  He  began  his  education  at  the  district  schools  and  Rushville  Acad- 
emy, from  there  he  went  to  the  Madison  University,  remaining  one  year, 
and  at  Lima  Seminary  one  year.  He  then  had  a  private  tutor.  Prof 
Boyd,  from  Edinboro,  Scotland.  After  that  he  went  to  the  American 
Medical  College  of  Cincinnati,  and  at  the  end  of  three  years  graduated 
from  that  institution,  after  that  he  attended  different  hospitals,  trying  to 
learn  all  he  could  of  his  profession,  also  one  year  at  the  Geneva  Medical 
College,  N.  Y.  The  doctor  came  to  Branchport  in  1857  and  began  the 
piactice  of  his  profession,  and  has  lived  here  ever  since,  where  he  has 
successfully  built  up  a  large  practice.  Februarj'  20,  1857,  '^^  married 
Pllizabeth  M.,  daughter  of  Simon  S.  Merrill,  of  Rushville,  N.  Y.  Their 
children  are  Myrtie  Maud,  born  November  28,  1857,  who  married  Frank 
Botsford.  She  died  June  26,  1890;  Fannie,  born  August  11,  1864, 
married  Edwin  E.  Evans;  Merrill  J.,  born  January  20,  1866,  died  May 
13,  rS75. 


FA  MIL  V  SKE  TCHES.  6 1 9 

Williams,  Hosea,  son  of  Prince  and  Luna  Williams,  was  born  in  Hart- 
ford, Conn.,  July  20,  1792,  whence  they  moved  to  Exeter,  N.  Y.,  when 
he  was  a  lad  and  where  he  married  Sally  Lea  Wescott.  She  was  born 
August  9,  1793,  the  date  of  her  marriage  being  February  11,  1819. 
They  had  one  child,  Emily,  who  married  James  Hartshorn.  Mrs.  Wil- 
liams died  January  13,  1823,  and  he  married  second,  on  February  26, 
1824,  Hiley  Hartshorn,  born  November  26,  1799,  moving  to  Yates 
County  in  1834,  and  to  the  farm  whereon  he  died  on  the  9th  of  Novem- 
ber, 185  I,  and  where  also  Mrs.  Williams  died  November  26,  1879.  The 
children  by  this  marriage  were  as  follows  :  Sarah,  born  January  5,  1826, 
died  March  8,  1845;  Adaline,  born  December  6,  1828,  died  October 
8,  1830;  James,  born  March  3,  1831;  Editha,  born  August  2,  1833, 
died  November  9,  i860;  Lucy,  born  December  10.  1835,  died  August 
13,  1854;  Sherman,  born  June  16,  1838,  married  Salena  Abbott  on 
June  16,  1879,  and  they  have  one  son,  Abbott  Clark;  Abbie,  born 
July  10,  1845.  James  and  his  sister  Abbit-  live  on  the  old  homestead, 
neither  being  married,  and  they  have  a  model  farm  of  122  acres,  over- 
looking Keuka  Lake.  Mr.  and  Miss  Williams  are  not  members  of  any 
church,  but  are  ever  ready  to  help  the  needy  and  deserving.  In  politics 
Mr.  Williams  has  voted  with  the  Prohibitionists  for  the  last  ten  years, 
as  he  is  a  firm  believer  in  temperance  in  all  things  William  H.  Harts- 
horn had  one  son,  William  Lloyd  Garrison  Hartshorn,  born  December 
18,  185  I,  died  August  26,  1883,  his  life  having  been  passed  at  his  home 
in  the  city  of  Flint.  Mich. 

Town  of  Tokrev. 

Birkett,  Henry,  son  of  Thomas,  was  born  in  Cumberland,  England, 
June  10,  1827,  where  he  spent  the  first  twenty  )ears  of  his  life.  His 
energy  and  activity  impelled  him  to  emigrate  to  America  at  that  early 
age.  December  21,  1859,  he  married  Matilda,  daughter  of  William 
Deisher,  of  Waterloo,  N.  Y.,  and  made  his  first  permanent  residence  on 
a  farm  in  the  town  of  Torrey.  He  had  previously  owned  a  share  in  the 
flouring  mills  at  Dresden.  After  three  years'  experience  at  farming, 
which  occupation  was  not  congenial  to  his  tastes,  he  sold  the  farm,  and 
in  company  with  his  nephew,   Nathaniel  Willis,  again   purchased   the 


620  HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUNTY. 

flouring  mills.  After  a  short  term  of  partnership  he  purchased  Mr.  Wil- 
lis's interest  and  conducted  the  business  alone  to  the  close  of  his  life. 
He  was  also  an  extensive  dealer  in  lumber.  He  conducted  a  larye  busi- 
ness in  his  mills,  and  a  much  larger  business  in  grain.  He  was  a  quick 
and  rapid  thinker,  and  his  judgment  was  seldom  at  fault.  He  was  kind 
and  courteous  and  in  his  large  dealings  he  had  an  extensive  acquaint- 
ance with  leading  business  men,  who  counted  his  death  as  a  public 
calamity.  He  suffered  losses  by  fire  and  otherwise,  but  left  his  family 
a  liberal  competence.  His  name  always  lieaded  the  lists  in  the  cause 
of  charity  and  benevolence.  He  was  in  sympathy  with  the  Episcopal 
Church,  and  was  an  active  and  influential  Free  Mason.  He  died  May 
24,  1884.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Birkett  had  five  children,  who  are  now  living, 
and  two  (twins)  who  died  in  infancy.  William  M.  Birkett,  oldest  son  of 
Henry  Birkett,  was  born  \w  Dresden,  June  1 1,  1861,  and  was  educated  in 
his  father's  business.  At  his  father's  death,  he  and  his  brotlier,  Clar- 
ence T.,  conducted  the  business  for  the  estate  until  1886.  Then  these 
brothers  conducted  the  business  the  ensuing  year  (1887),  with  the  firm 
name  of  Henry  Birkett's  Sons.  In  the  summer  of  1887  the  present  firm 
of  Birkett  Bros.  &  Co.  was  organized.  They  are  conducting  a  large 
milling  business,  are  extensive  dealers  in  grain,  and  also  wholesale  and 
retail  dealers  in  lumber  of  all  kinds.  In  connection  with  the  flouring 
mills  they  have  a  large  planing  and  lumber  dressing  mill.  William  M. 
Birkett  is  the  only  member  of  the  firm  who  resides  in  Dresden,  and  the 
business  is  under  his  supervision.  He  is  a  man  of  energy  and  a  relia- 
ble citizen.  November  26,  1884,  he  married  Clara  Jessup,  of  Penn 
Yan,  N.  Y.,  and  owns  a  fine  residence  on  Seneca  street. 

Botsford,  W.  H.,  M.D.,  was  born  in  Branchport,  January,  28,  1865. 
He  began  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  J.  C.  Wightman,  of  Branch- 
port,  continuing  with  him  one  year.  He  then  studied  for  two  years  in 
the  University  of  Michigan,  at  Ann  Arbor,  and  for  two  years  in  the 
College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  at  Baltimore,  from  which  he  grad- 
uated in  1887.      He  now  enjoys  a  lucrative  practice. 

Brown,  James,  a  native  of  Scotland,  emigrated  to  America  with  his 
parents  in  his  boyhood.  The  family  first  settled  in  Livingston  County. 
In  1803  or  1804  James  purchased  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Benton,  built 
him  a  log  cabin,  and  soon  after  married   Maiy  Barnes,  of  Benton.      He 


FAMILY  SKETCHES.  621 

died  on  the  place  in  18 18.  The  widow  survived  until  1845.  They 
reared  five  sons  and  two  daughters.  Alexander,  the  youngest,  suc- 
ceeded his  father  on  tiie  homestead,  married  Elizabeth  Wilkie,  and  died 
in  1S59.  His  widow  now  resides  in  Geneva.  John  VV.  Brown,  born 
October  13,  1809,  remained  with  his  parents  until  he  attained  his  ma- 
jority. He  was  a  natural  meciianic  and  commenced  his  business  life  as 
a  carpenter  and  builder.  Many  of  the  fine  residences  in  Benton  and 
Torrey  are  specimens  of  his  skill.  He  married  Eliza  A.  Meeker,  of 
Benton,  and  resided  near  Bellona  until  1878,  when  he  removed  to 
Michigan,  where  he  died  in  1888.  His  wife  died  January  i,  185S.  They 
had  nine  children,  four  daughters  and  five  sons.  Only  one  of  the  five 
sons  resides  in  Yates,  William,  born  August  16,  1833.  July  4,  1855,  he 
married  Elizabeth  Mittower,  and  in  January,  1859,  removed  to  the 
homestead  of  his  wife's  father.  Mr.  Brown  is  a  Democrat  and  a 
worthy  and  reliable  citizen.  He  is  a  member  of  Seneca  Lodge  No.  308, 
F  and  A.  M.,  and  is  now  serving  his  eleventh  year  as  Worthy  Master. 

Brundage,  Dr.  George  W.,  was  born  September  15,  1822,  at  Lodi, 
Seneca  County,  N.  Y.,  and  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  Alfred  Sears,  of 
Townsend.  He  graduated  from  the  Geneva  Medical  College  in  1846, 
and  settled  in  Dresden  in  1847,  where  he  has  practiced  ^'^  profession 
ever  since.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Yates  County  Medical  Society,  also 
the  Central  New  York  Society.  He  has  been  a  resident  of  Dresden 
several  years.  He  married  Caroline  L.,  daughter  of  William  Goundry, 
and  they  have  one  child,  Caleb  D.,  who  is  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
business.  Dr.  Brundage  joined  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  1 851,  of 
which  church  he  has  been  an  elder  since  1854. 

Clark,  James  M.,  was  born  March  19,  1834,  in  Milo  (now  a  part  of 
Torrey),  was  reared  a  farmer  and  received  a  good  education  at  Starkey 
Seminary.  At  the  age  of  twenty- two  he  purchased  the  farm  of  260 
acres  on  which  stood  the  log  meeting-house  of  the  Friends,  erected  in 
1790.  Here  he  resided  twenty-one  years.  He  also  practiced  land  sur- 
veying. In  1878  he  removed  to  Dresden,  where  he  now  resides,  being 
engaged  as  carpenter  and  builder.  His  townsmen  elected  him  super- 
visor of  Torrey  in  1 872  and  again  in  i  874.  1  le  has  al.so  served  as  just- 
ice of  the  peace.      March  18,  1874,  he  married  Nancy  A.  Swarthout,  of 


622  HISTORY  UF   YATES  COUNTY. 

Milo,  and  they  have  a  son,  A.  J.,  born  March  20,  1875,  and  a  daughter, 
May,  born  May  5,  1877. 

Dains.  CorneHus  A.,  son  of  Daniel  \V.  and  Nancy  Dains,  was  born  in 
the  town  of  Milo,  July  i,  1856,  received  a  common  school  education. 
In  1859  his  parents  removed  to  Dresden,  where  he  has  always  resided. 
In  1875,  when  nineteen  years  of  age,  he  was  postmaster  at  Dresden, 
under  Grant's  administration,  an^d  held  that  office  until  December  i, 
1885.  He  was  re-appointed  under  President  Harrison,  June  12,  1889, 
which  position  he  has  held  since.  In  1886  he  married  Belle  Alden,  of 
Wellsville,  Allegany  County,  N.  Y.  He  was  town  clerk  of  Torrey  nine 
years,  and  has  been  in  mercantile  business  since  1875.  He  has  one 
child,  Clement  Alden,  born  April  9,  1887. 

Dains,  George  Y.,  son  of  Jesse,  who  came  to  this  county  with  his  father 
Jesse,  among  the  first  settlers,  from  Connecticut.  George  Y.  was  born 
December  16,  18 10,  in  the  town  of  Milo,  when  it  belonged  to  Ontario 
County.  He  has  always  been  a  resident  of  the  county.  In  1840  he 
married  Eliza  Headley,  daughter  of  Samuel,  and  settled  in  the  town  of 
Milo.  They  resided  here  until  1884,  when  they  left  the  farm  and 
moved  to  Dresden.  Their  four  children  were  Harriet  E.,  Mary,  Ste- 
phen C,  and  Theron  S  ,  all  living.  Mary,  who  resides  in  Ontario 
County,  town  of  Gorham,  is  the  wife  of  John  W.  Washburn.  Harriet  E. 
married  Jerome  Penney  and  resides  in  Reading,  Schuyler  County. 
Samuel  Headley,  came  to  Milo  from  Morris  County,  N.  J.,  about  1821. 
He  was  a  blacksmith  and  farmer,  and  had  a  family  of  six  children.  Tiie 
only  child  living  is  Eliza,  wife  of  George  Y.  Dains,  residing  in  Dresden. 
Mr.  Headley  died  in  1847  or  1848,  aged  eighty-four  years.  His  wife 
died  eighteen  months  previous,  aged  seventy-five.  They  died  on  the 
farm  where  they  first  settled,  and  both  were  members  of  the  Free  Will 
Baptist  Church. 

Denniston,  Daniel,  was  born  February  3,  1758,  and  died  February  3, 
1824,  aged  si.\-tysi,x  years.  Maj.  Daniel  Denniston  served  in  the  Rev- 
olutionary war  as  major  for  seven  years  and  died  in  New  York  city. 
He  married  Elizabeth  Keinstead,  a  Holland  Dutch  lady  of  rank,  and  a 
cousin  to  the  queen  of  Holland.  The  marriage  certificate  of  Elizabeth 
Keinstead,  widow  of  Maj.  Daniel  Denniston,  is  in  the  war  department 
at   Washington.      She  was  born   May  14,  1767,  and  died  May  8,  1861, 


FAMIL  Y  SKETCHES.  623 

aged  ninety-four.  She  was  the  motlier  of  fourteen  children,  of  whom 
Mrs.  Ellen  Bush,  of  Geneva,  was  the  youngest.  All  are  now  deceased. 
Edward,  the  eleventh  child,  was  born  on  Long  Island,  in  1800.  When 
fourteen  years  of  age  he  came  to  Western  New  York,  located  near 
Geneva,  and  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  which  he  p;jrsued  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  He  then  purchased  a  farm  on  City  Hill  where  he  resided 
until  his  death,  June  18,  1875.  About  1826  he  married  Mary,  daughter 
of  Nicholas  Jones,  of  Benton,  and  they  had  eight  children,  seven  of 
whom  are  living.  The  widow  and  mother  still  survives,  aged  eighty- 
five  years,  and  resides  with  her  youngest  son,  Johnson  J.  Denniston,  in 
Penn  Yan.  Perry  Denniston,  the  oldest  son,  born  in  Seneca,  N.  Y., 
September  15,  1831,  was  a  successful  farmer,  until  he  entered  the  mer- 
cantile business  in  Dresden,  N.  Y.,  in  1871,  which  he  pursued  until 
1887.  March  25,  1859,  Mr.  Denniston  married  Anna  M.  Meek, 
daughter  of  Charles  Meek,  of  Dresden.  They  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  are  liberal  contributors  to  its  financial 
interests. 

Denniston,  Johnson  J.,  son  of  Edward  Denniston,  was  born  in  Torrey, 
July  12,  1845,  spent  his  boyhood  on  his  father's  farm,  and  received  a 
business  education  in  Eastman's  College,  at  Poughkeepsie.  In  1864,  at 
the  request  of  his  parents,  he  took  charge  of  his  father's  farm  and  at  the 
latter's  death  in  1S75,  he  purchased  the  homestead  of  the  heirs.  Mr. 
Denniston  is  a  prominent  man  in  town  afifairs.  He  held  the  position  of 
supervisor  in  1888  and  again  in  1889  and  served  as  highway  commis- 
sioner in  1886.  He  is  a  regular  attendant  at  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
of  which  his  wife  is  a  member.  December  12,  1875,  he  married  Anna 
A.  Dunlap,  of  Victor,  Ontario  County,  N.  Y.  They  iiave  two  daughters, 
Maud  D.  and  A.  Lulu. 

Downey,  Robert,  came  to  Torrey  in  i  800,  from  Antrim,  Pa.,  and  set- 
tled on  the  farm  now  owned  by  his  son  David.  He  marritd  Rachel 
Sutherland,  and  died  October  27,  1832,  aged  sixty  eight  years.  His 
wife  died  December  13,  1832,  aged  fifty-six  years.  They  had  eight 
children,  four  sons  and  four  daughters,  viz  :  William,  David,  Eleanor, 
Jane,  Robert,  John,  Elizabeth,  and  Mary.  David  Downey,  son  of 
Robert,  who  is  the  sole  survivor,  was  born  March  10,  1S03,  and  lias  al- 
wavs  resided  on  the  farm.      He  married  Caroline  Norman,  and  had  four 


624  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

children,  Robert  N.,  William  W.,  George  S.,  and  David,  jr.  William 
died  ill  1861.  David  has  always  been  a  farmer,  and  held  the  office  of 
assessor  six  years.  His  wife  died  January  19,  1870.  Mr.  Downey  is 
an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  Church,  of  which  he  has  been  a  member 
for  many  years.  David  Downey,  jr.,  was  born  on  the  Downey  farm, 
February  13,  1840,  where  he  has  always  resided.  He  married  Sarah  A. 
Wheeler,  daughter  of  Sumner  Wheeler,  and  has  had  seven  children,  five 
of  whom  survive.  He  is  a  farmer  and  grape  grower,  of  which  he  has 
four  acres 

Dox,  Abraham,  born  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  June  7,  1777,  was  reared  a 
merchant.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  years  he  entered  the  store  of  Dud- 
ley Walsh,  of  Albany,  and  remained  there  until  1804,  when  he  was  en- 
trusted with  the  management  of  a  branch  store  in  Geneva,  N.  Y.  Soon 
after  he  bought  the  store  of  Mr.  Walsh  and  conducted  the  business  alone 
until  1824,  when  he  removed  to  Benton,  now  a  part  of  Torrey,  and  pur- 
chased a  flouring-mill,  clothing  mill  and  tannery.  In  1826  his  mills 
were  burned,  and  he  gave  his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits  until  his 
death,  in  August,  1862.  He  was  a  representative  in  the  State  legisla- 
ture in  18 1 2.  The  same  year  he  organized  and  drilled  a  company  of 
100  men  at  his  expense,  took  them  to  the  front  and  was  obliged  to 
leave  them  to  attend  the  legislature.      He  was  an  old  line  Whig. 

Hazard  Family,  The. — The  Hazar.d  family  in  America  is  uf  Welsh 
origin,  and  descended  from  Thomas  Hazard  who  emigrated  from  Wales 
in  1769,  and  settled  in  Rhode  Island.  Jonathan  J.  Hazard,  jr.,  who 
was  the  progenitor  of  the  Hazards  of  Yates  County,  was  the  fifth  gen- 
eration from  Thomas  Hazard.  He  served  in  the  Revolutionary  war 
and  was  taken  prisoner  by  the  enemy.  He  was  a  sea  captain  later  in 
life  and  died  on  the  ocean.  His  wife  was  Tacy  Burdick.  His  son, 
George  V.  Hazard,  married  Marian,  daughter  of  John,  and  a  relative  of 
Judge  William  Potter.  They  settled  on  a  farm  on  City  Hill,  about 
1800,  and  were  in  the  Friend's  settlement  He  eventually  died  at  the 
age  of  sixty-five  years,  at  Dresden.  His  son,  Jonathan,  married  Elouis- 
etta  F".,  daughter  of  Russel  Brown,  a  pioneer  of  Torrey.  He  was  a 
farmer  and  met  his  death  while  bathing  in  the  canal.  Their  children 
were  George  R.,  Adaline  A.,  and  Harriet  M.  George  R.  Hazard,  born 
June  18,  1841,  married  Gertrude  Teft,  of  Torrey,  and  is  now  the  genial 


FA  MIL  V  SKE  TCHEH.  6  2 ; 

proprietor   of  Dresden    Hotel,   situated   on    the   site  of  the   first   hotel 
erected  in  the  village  of  Dresden. 

Hurley,  Daniel  B  ,  was  born  in  Reading,  Schuyler  County,  N.  Y., 
March  14,  1842.  August  10,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Company  A,  One  Hun- 
dred and  Forty- first  New  York  Infantry,  and  was  honorably  dis- 
charged as  corporal  June  24,  1865,  at  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was 
with  General  Sherman  from  Chattanooga  to  Savannah,  and  participated 
in  over  twenty  engagements.  He  resides  in  a  pleasant  home  in  the 
village  of  Dresden,  where  he  has  lived  for  the  past  twenty-five  years. 
January  10,  1866,  he  married  Hannah  Petrie,  of  Dix,  Schuyler  County, 
and  they  have  one  daughter,  Carrie. 

Legg,  Joshua,  came  to  Torrey  from  Medway,  Mass.,  in  1773,  and  set- 
tled on  the  farm  now  owned  by  his  grandson,  Caleb  J.  Legg.  Joshua 
came  to  this  county  in  company  with  John  Plimpton.  They  had  four 
yoke  of  oxen  and  two  wagons.  The  road  was  through  a  wilderness,  and 
they  were  the  first  settlers  in  the  town  of  Torrey.  Joshua  had  eight  chil- 
dren, and  all  resided  and  died  in  this  county.  Carlton  Legg,  son  of 
Joshua,  was  born  on  the  farm  and  married  Rachel  Plimpton,  by  whom  he 
had  three  children,  Moses  A.,  Aaron  E.,  and  Caleb  J.,  who  was  born  May 
18,  1806,  and  has  always  resided  on  the  homestead  farm.  He  married 
Elizabeth  Henderson,  daughter  of  Richmond  Henderson,  and  they  have 
had  six  children,  four  of  whom  now  survive.  Caleb  Legg  was  for  eight- 
een years  extensively  engaged  in  buying  and  selling  grain  and  farming. 
He  was  one  of  the  charter  members  of  the  Dresden  Masonic  Lodge, 
was  several  times  elected  justice  of  the  peace,  and  held  the  office  of  side 
judge  several  terms.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  hale  and  hearty,  and 
have  lived  together  since  December  25,  1828.  Three  children,  Hen- 
derson, Nelson  and  Charles  reside  in  Torrey  ;  Henrietta,  wife  of  Marvin 
Kipp,  resides  in  Benton.  Caleb  Legg  was  the  inventor  of  Legg's  corn 
husker  and  shelter,  which  is  now  used  all  over  the  United  States. 

Meek,  Charles,  son  of  James  and  Mary  A.  (Gillhofun)  Meek,  was  born 
in  Lodi,  Seneca  County,  N.  Y  ,  June  23,  1809,  and  came  with  his  par- 
ents to  Mile,  now  in  Torrey,  in  i8io.  He  was  reared  a  farmer,  and 
taught  to  work.  He  received  a  common  school  education,  and  began 
life  for  himself  about  the  age  of  twenty-one.      He  first  purchased   ten 

7!l 


626  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

acres  of  land  adjoining  the  homestead,  paid  for  it,  and  soon  after  pur- 
cliased  lOO  acres  ofifhis  father's  farm.  His  father  died  about  1835  and 
he  then  bought  the  remainder  of  the  homestead  (fifty  acres)  of  the  heirs. 
He  made  this  his  home  until  about  1856,  when  he  purchased  two  otlier 
farms,  and  on  them  he  erected  a  fine  set  of  buildings,  and  remo\'ed  to 
it.  He  still  owns  300  acres  of  excellent  land.  In  1864  he  removed  to 
his  elegant  home  in  Dresden,  and  to  secure  an  investment  became  the 
proprietor  of  a  general  store,  vvhicli  he  conducted  the  ensuing  six  years. 
Mr.  Meek  has  been  a  busy  man,  and  a  man  of  sterling  integrity,  who  by 
his  financial  ability  has  amassed  a  fine  fortune.  He  has  been  a  worthy 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  for  nearly  three  score 
years,  and  has  been  for  years  its  efficient  trustee  and  steward.  Janu- 
ary 26,  1832,  he  married  Diana  Travis,  of  Milo.  They  had  eight  chil- 
dren. Those  now  living  are  George  Meek,  a  farmer  in  Milo;  Susan  E. 
(Mrs.  D.  C.  Denniston),  whose  husband  is  a  merchant  in  Dresden;  Ann 
F.  (Mrs.  Perry  Denniston),  whose  husband  was  late  a  merchant  and 
farmer  residing  in  Dresden  ;  Mrs.  Jennie  M.  Jones,  who  is  residing 
with  her  father,  and  Theodore  H.  Meek,  a  farmer  living  in  Cayuga 
County;  N.  Y. 

Mittower,  John,  came  to  Torre_\'  from  Maryland  in  iSoi,  settling  in 
the  north  part  of  the  town  on  the  lake  road.  There  he  had  a  famil}'  of 
five  children,  three  sons,  Andrew,  John  and  Abram  ;  and  two  daugh- 
ters, Elizabeth  and  Margaret.  Andrew  moved  to  Ohio.  John  and 
Abram  reside  on  the  homestead.  Abram  married  Catharine  Merical, 
by  whom  he  had  seven  children.  He  died  August  8,  1846,  and  his 
wife  on  May  4.  1876.  Three  of  the  children  are  living,  viz.:  Mary  A., 
wife  of  John  Bachman,  who  resides  in  Michigan  ;  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
William  Brown,  who  resides  in  Torrey  ;  and  George  The  latter  was 
born  December  2  1,  1826,  and  married  Sarah  E.  Thompson,  by  wiioni 
he  had  two  children,  Aaron  G.  and  Alfred  J  ,  both  of  whom  reside  in 
Torrey.  George  Mittower  has  been  a  carpenter  and  joiner,  and  held 
the  office  of  constable  three  years.  He'has  always  resided  in  Turrey. 
John  Mittower,  jr.,  was  drafted  and  went  to  Buffalo  in  1812.  John,  sr., 
died  in  October,  1817.  Nancy  Mittower,  daughter  of  John,  married 
Clinton  King,  and  had  one  child,  Libbie,  wife  of  Charles  A.  Smith. 
Clinton  King  died  November  9,  1879       His  wife  died  October  1  1,  1875. 


FAMILY  SKETCHES.  627 

Charles  A.  Smitli,  son  of  Albert  L.,  was  born  April  10,  1856,  and   has 
been  a  resident  of  Torrey  since  1863. 

Mittower,  Martin,  son  of  Abram.  was  born  in  Torrey,  and  married 
Susan  Norman.  They  had  seven  children.  Mr.  Mittower  died  in  1868, 
and  his  wife  in  1874.  Five  of  the  children  are  living,  the  only  one  re- 
siding in  Torrey  being  S.  Dudley,  who  was  born  near  the  old  home- 
stead, July  16,  1848,  and  has  always  resided  in  Torrey.  He  married 
Irene  C,  daughter  of  Zera  Swarthout,  by  whom  he  has  two  children, 
Frank  D.  and  F.  Mary.  He  is  a  farmer  and  has  fifty  acres  on  Seneca 
Lake. 

Mittower,  Samuel,  son  of  Abram,  was  born  in  1828.  He  married 
Mary  A.  Vandevender,  and  had  three  children,  Sarah  and  Delia  (both 
deceased),  and  Harvey  W.,  who  resides  on  the  homestead.  The  latter 
married  Helena  Tanner,  and  has  two  children,  Wendell  and  Mary.  He 
is  a  fruit  grower.  His  father,  Samuel,  tiied  in  November,  1880,  and 
his  mother  in  1864. 

Norman,  Solomon,  born  February  8,  176 1,  in  Cleveland,  Yorkshire, 
Eng.,  came  to  America  in  early  manhood.  He  located  first  at  Geneva, 
where  he  was  engaged  as  overseer  of  a  gang  of  slaves.  In  1803  he 
purchased  of  William  Spring,  of  Northumberland  County,  Pa.,  the  Nor- 
man homestead  at  three  dollars  per  acre;  now  owned  by  his  grandson, 
Amos  A.  Norman.  December  7,  1806,  he  married  Susanna  Charles,  of 
Geneva.  He  was  a  gentleman  of  the  old  school,  well  educated,  held 
town  offices,  and  the  invention  of  the  first  grain  drill  is  attributed  to 
him.  He  remained  on  this  farm  until  about  1840  when  he  went  to  Illi- 
nois, where  he  died  May  i,  1846.  Mrs.  Norman  died  July  18,  1826. 
They  were  the  parents  of  twelve  children.  His  youngest  child,  Harvey 
W.  Norman,  was  born  February  18,  1825,  and.  succeeded  his  father  on 
this  homestead.  He  was  prominent  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  an 
F.  and  A.  M.  He  was  a  Republican,  holding  the  office  of  supervisor 
and  other  town  offices.  November  12,  1846,  he  married  Nancy  A. 
Van  Deventer,  who  was  born  September  9,  1825.  He  died  July  21, 
1879.  Their  children  were  Minard  A.,  born  September  3,  1848,  mar- 
ried Hattie  M.  Hazard,  of  Torrey,  in  1867,  was  a  farmer  and  mason, 
and  died   May  9,   1883;  and  Amos  A.,  born  July  i,  1850.     Amos  A. 


628  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

Norman  is  a  farmer  and  fruit  grower  on  the  homestead.  He  is  a  prom- 
inent RepubUcan  and  has  been  honored  with  several  town  ofifices.  in- 
cluding supervisor.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  has 
been  many  years  worshipful  master  of  Seneca  Lodge,  No.  308.  He  has 
been  twice  married;  March  18,  1875,  he  married  Olive  A.  Brown,  who 
died  January  13,  1876.  They  had  one  child,  deceased.  February  6, 
1878,  he  married  Mary  E.  Marlow,  to  whom  four  children  have  been 
born,  viz.:  Harry  W,,  born  April  11,  1880;  Maud  A.,  born  September 
28,  1881  ;  William  A.,  born  December  31,  1882;  and  Stephen  D.,  born 
September  2,  1884. 

Olmstead,  George  M.,  son  of  P'rancis,  was  born  December  16,  1831, 
at  Adams  Basin,  N.  Y.,  in  1832.  His  father  moved  to  Attica,  N.  Y., 
where  he  resided  until  1852,  when  he  moved  to  the  town  of  Torrey,  and 
settled  on  the  town  line  between  that  town  and  Benton,  where  he  and 
his  wife  died  in  1872.  Four  of  their  eight  children  are  living.  Eliza- 
beth J.  (Mrs.  Levi  Black),  George  M.,  and  Edward  D.,  who  reside  in 
Penn  Yan,  and  Henry  F.,  who  resides  in  Evanston,  HI.  George  P. 
carried  on  farming  with  his  father  until  the  death  of  the  latter  in  1S72. 
The  son  now  owns  the  homestead.      He  has  never  married. 

Patteson,  VViiliam  M.,  son  of  William  and  Jane  (Sheppard)  Patteson, 
and  grandson  of  Charles  C.  Sheppard,  of  Penn  Yan,  and  Edward  Pat- 
teson, of  Philadelphia,  was  born  in  Galva,  Henry  County,  111.,  April  7, 
1863.  He  received  his  education  at  Phillips  Academy,  and  early  en- 
gaged in  agriculture  and  fruit  growing.  Mr.  Patteson  married  Cornelia 
S.  Fehrmann,  of  Plainfield,  N.  J  ,  April  21,  1886.  They  have  one 
daughter,  Louise  M.,  born  July  30,  1887,  and  one  son,  William  Shep- 
pard, born  June  30,  1  8go. 

Prosser,  John,  son  of  David,  and  a  native  of  Wales,  immigrated  to 
America  when  quite  young.  They  settled  first  in  New  Jersey  but 
finally  came  to  Yates  County.  John  married  Permelia  Conklin,  and 
settled  in  Dresden.  He  followed  the  trade  of  carpenter  and  joiner,  and 
died  in  1834,  leaving  a  widow  and  four  sons.  Mrs.  Prosser  became  the 
wife  of  John  A  McLean,  and  died  at  the  age  of  seventy  years.  David 
Prosser,  oldest  son  of  John,- married  and  removed  to  Montana,  where  he 
now  resides,  and    has    four   sons   and   a  daughter.      Albert  G.  and    An- 


FAMILY  SKETCHES.  629 

drew  J.  (twins),  sons  of  John  Prosser,  born  April  i  i,  1824,  and  are  the 
only  members  of  the  family  residing  in  Yates  County.  Albert  G.  Pros- 
ser married  Temma  Vandeventer,  in  October,  1848.  Mr.  Prosser  is  a 
dealer  in  coal,  wood,  lime  and  salt,  and  is  also  with  S.  D.  Graves,  pro- 
prietor of  a  vineyard.  Mr.  Prosser  is  a  highly  respected  citizen  and  has 
served  his  town  as  assessor  and  collector.  He  had  an  adopted  daughter, 
the  child  of  the  deceased  sister  of  Mrs.  Prosser,  whom  they  took  into 
their  family  at  the  age  of  eighteen  months.  She  became  the  wife  of 
Robert  S.  Frink,  of  Auburn,  and  died  June  i,  1890. 

Remer,  John  S.,  son  of  Abraham  V.,  was  born  in  Torrey,  September 
26,  1836.  He  married  Mary  Woolever,  of  Torrey,  by  whom  he  had 
two  children,  Hettie  and  Louie.  His  wife  died  in  1881,  and  he  married 
second,  Hattie,  widow  of  Myndart  Norman.  Mr.  Remer  has  been  en- 
gaged in  milling  business  since  nineteen  years  of  age,  and  has  been 
miller  at  Dresden  Mills,  since  1866.  He  began  his  trade  on  March  31, 
1856,  in  this  mill  with  Amos  C.  Leach. 

Reynolds,  William,  came  to  Yates  County,  from  Orange  County, 
N.  Y  ,  some  time  before  1812.  He  was  a  blacksmith.  In  1812  he  en- 
listed in  the  army  as  a  musician  and  died  in  the  service.  He  married 
Miss  Sutherland,  who  was  the  mother  of  one  son,  Jesse,  and  a  daughter, 
Polly.  Jesse  Reynolds,  born  about  1804,  at  an  early  age  worked  out 
on  a  farm.  At  the  age  of  about  twenty  years  he  engaged  with  Judge 
Samuel  S.  Ellsworth  in  the  distilling  business,  continuing  in  this  occu- 
pation for  some  ten  or  twelve  years,  when  he  became  a  farmer.  He 
married  Cynthia  Carroll,  of  Dutchess  County,  and  they  had  twelve 
children,  eight  of  whom  grew  to  maturity.  Four  are  residing  in  Yates 
County.  James  F.  Reynolds,  born  in  Jerusalem,  January  9,  1838.  has 
spent  a  large  part  of  his  life  in  teaching.  He  is  now  a  carpenter  ;  has 
served  as  justice  of  the  peace,  and  at  present  holds  the  office  of  justice 
of  sessions  of  Yates  County  Courts.  January  30,  1862,  he  married 
Harriet  P.,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Harriet  Ayres,  of  Milo.  They  have 
had  four  children  :  George  Fred,  Nellie  M.,  and  Wilbert  and  Wilmer 
(twins). 

Speelm.m,  David,  a  native  of  Maryland,  came  to  the  town  of  Seneca, 
Ontario   County,  N.    Y.,   in    1801,    with    his   father    David.     The    next 


630  HISTORY  UF   YATES  COUNTY. 

spring  they  purchased  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Benton,  and  David,  sr., 
died  in  1803.  His  wife  died  in  1842.  They  had  three  sons  and  four 
daughters.  David,  jr.,  married  Elizabeth  Mittower,  daughter  of  John 
Mittower,  and  settled  in  Benton,  remaining  until  1836,  when  he  sold 
his  farm  and  bought  the  farm  now  owned  by  his  son,  Levi.  He  had 
three  children,  Nancy,  Magaret,  and  Levi.  He  wps  a  farmer,  and  after 
1836  resided  in  Torrey.  He  died  April  12,  1864,  and  his  wife  died 
November  30,  1857.  David,  jr.,  was  born  in  1781.  He  was  drafted  in 
June,  1815,  and  went  to  Buffalo,  remaining  there  several  months.  In 
1827  he  joined  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  was  an  active  member  un- 
til his  death.      His  wife  joined  at  the  same  time. 

Speelman,  Levi,  son  of  David  and  Elizabeth  Speelman,  was  born  in 
Benton,  October  27,  1809,  and  has  never  been  a  resident  outside  of  this 
county.  In  1839  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mary  Freeman, 
daughter  of  R.  L.  Freeman,  and  since  1836  he  has  resided  on  the  same 
farm.  He  had  three  children,  Charles  M.,  who  resides  in  Penn  Yan  ; 
Byron  F. ,  who  died  in  1879  ;  and  Mary  E.,  wife  of  Avery  C.  Dean,  and 
resides  in  Torrey.  Charles  Speelman  married  Deboiah  A.,  daughter 
of  Daniel  Dean.  Nancy  Speelman  was  fatally  burned,  by  falling  into 
the  fireplace  (it  is  supposed  while  fainting)  and  died  January  24,  1826. 
Margaret  married  George  Garner,  and  settled  in  Pultney,  Steuben 
County,  but  later  moved  to  Oakland-  County,  Mich.,  where  they  now 
reside. 

Smith,  John  W.  2d,  born  in  Brighton,  Sussex  County,  Eng  ,  January 
I,  1847,  emigrated  with  his  parents,  George  and  Eliza  Smith,  to  Can- 
ada where  he  resided  until  1867,  when  he  came  to  Torrey,  this  county. 
Mr.  Smith  is  a  farmer,  lumberman,  manufacturer  of  drain  tile  and  pro- 
prietor of  a  steam  threshing  machine.  He  is  a  Republican,  is  deservedly 
popular  with  both  parties,  and  has  served  his  town  as  supervisor  for 
several  years.  April  13,  188 1,  he  married  Carrie  M.  Buckland,  of  Dres- 
den, and  immediately  settled  in  their  present  home  with  Mrs.  Smith's 
father,  William   Buckland.     They  have  one  surviving  daughter,  Annis. 

Smith,  William  J.,  son  of  Isaac  and  Nancy  (Stevenson)  Smith,  was 
born  at  Salem,  Washington  County,  N.  Y.,  in  1823.  He  married,  in 
1843  Margaret  Van  Cleef  of  Seneca    Falls,  where  they  settled  and  re- 


FAMILY  SKETCHES.  631 

mained  until  1861,  when  they  removed  to  Dresden,  Yates  County, 
N.  Y.,  where  he  still  resides.  Mr.  Smith  was  a  miller  by  trade,  but  on 
coming  to  Dresden  he  at  once  engaged  in  grape  culture,  and  now  has 
a  fine  vineyard  of  ten  acres  His  son,  George  C,  of  whom  we  write, 
was  born  at  Seneca  Falls,  December  21,  1844,  and  came  to  Dresden 
with  his  father  in  1861.  February  10,  1863,  he  enlisted  in  Company  E, 
One  Hundred  and  Ninety-second  New  York  Volunteers,  and  at  once 
went  to  the  front  with  his  regiment  in  the  Arm}'  of  the  Potomac,  and 
fought  under  Generals  Hancock,  Mead,  and  Grant,  participating  in  the 
battles  of  Antietam,  Gettysburg,  Winchester,  the  Wilderness,  and. many 
others.  He  escaped  without  even  a  scratch,  and  was  honorably  dis- 
charged at  the  close  of  the  war  in  1865.  He  then  traveled  through 
most  of  the  Western  States,  and  finally  settled  at  Dixon,  Lee  County, 
111.,  in  the  fall  of  187 1  He  then  engaged  in  joiner  work,  and  May  1 1, 
1872,  he  married  Grace,  daughter  of  H  C.  Dudley,  esq.,  and  a  lineal 
descendant  of  Sir  Guilford  Dudlej',  of  English  fame.  He  prosecuted 
his  trade  under  the  direction  of  Col.  T.  Morgan,  an  unusually  com- 
petent mechanic,  and  a  large  contractor  and  builder,  until  1880.  ffe 
then  established  a  business  of  his  own.  In  1884  he  returned  to  Dres- 
den and  bought  a  home  on  Seneca  street  adjoining  his  father,  where  he 
is  successfully  conducting  his  business  of  contractor  and  builder.  Some 
of  the  finest  new  buildings  in  Dresden  are  samples  of  his  skill  and  also 
several  in  Penn  Yan.     They  have  two  sons  and  two  daughters. 

Vermilyea,  Isaac,  was  born  in  Jefferson,  Schoharie  County,  N,  Y.,  on 
May  7,  1816,  a  son  of  Benjamin  and  Chloe  Vermilyea.  About  1818 
his  parents  moved  to  Prattsburg,  Steuben  County,  where  Isaac  resided 
until  1865.  He  then  moved  to  Torrey,  where  he  has  since  resided. 
He  married  Margaret  Smith,  of  Wheeler,  N.  Y.,  and  they  have  one  son, 
Herbert  S  ,  who  is  a  farmer.  Isaac  Vermilyea  has  been  a  farmer,  but 
is  now  engaged  in  grape  growing  more  especially,  having  seven  acres 
devoted  to  this  culture.  He  owns  a  farm  of  twenty-five  acres.  Both 
he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church  of  Penn  Yan.  He 
helped  to  organize  the  Dresden  Grange,  was  a  charter  member,  and 
was  master  one  year.  He  joined  the  Baptist  Church  at  Prattsburg  over 
fifty-five  years  ago,  and  has  been  an  active  member  ever  since.  He 
was  justice  of  the  peace  in  Prattsburgh  eight  years,  and  assessor  six 
years.      Isaac  Vermilyea  died  August  21,  1891. 


632  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY 

The  Youngs  family  of  America  is  of  English  origin,  and  descended 
from  Rev.  John  Youngs,  who  came  from  Suffolk,  England,  and  settled 
in  Suffolk,  Long  Island,  about  1640.  Benjamin  F.  Youngs,  one  of  the 
eighth  generation,  was  born  in  1790,  on  Long  Island,  on  the  oJd  do- 
main of  his  father  (who  owned  a  square  mile),  where  he  resided  until 
1850.  He  then  removed  to  Yates  County  and  became  the  proprietor 
of  the  Mosher  mill,  about  a  mile  east  of  Penn  Yan.  In  1863  he  moved 
to  Dresden,  where  he  died  in  1865.  About  18 16  he  married  Sarah 
Wiggins,  of  his  native  county,  and  had  seven  children,  two  sons  and 
five  daughters.  Their  oldest  son,  Seth,  was  born  May  13,  1833.  He 
received  a  good  common  school  education,  and  is  a  skillful  mechanic 
and  a  cabinet-maker,  and  now  engaged  in  manufacturing  artificial  stone 
at  Dresden.  June  i,  1859,  he  married  Arabella  Sprague,  who  died 
June  II,  1S89.  They  had  one  son,  Edward  F.  Youngs,  who  is  sta- 
tion agent,  telegraph  operator  and  postmaster  at  West  Camp,  Ulster 
County,  N.  Y. 

Town  of  Barrington. 

Bailey,  Joseph  S  ,  a  farmer  and  fruit  grower,  was  born  in  Barrington, 
Yates  County,  November  27,  1846,  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Martha 
(Wright)  Bailey,  natives  of  Yates  and  Putnam  counties,  N.  Y.,  who  were 
married  in  Yates  County,  February  28",  1847.  The  mother  was  born  June 
22,  1814.  They  had  seven  children,  of  whom  two  are  now  living:  Joseph 
S.  and  Martha  Ann,  the  latter  the  wife  of  G.  W.  Finton.  The  father 
came  to  Yates  County  in  1833.  Mrs.  Bailey  survives  her  husband.  Both 
were  members  of  the  Baptist  Church.  Joseph  S.  married  in  1868  Sarah 
E.,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Margaret  (DeGraw)  Pitcher.  She  was  born 
September  28,  1849.  There  were  three  children  by  this  marriage,  John 
C,  Edwin  J.  Bailey  and  Lyman  VV.  Bailey.  Mrs.  Bailey's  mother,  born 
in  Tyrone,  N.  Y.,  July  15,  1818,  wasa  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Elizabeth 
Knapp,  and  was  married  to  Samuel  Pitcher  in  1842.  Mr.  Bailey  was 
elected  assessor  of  the  town  of  Barrington  in  1888  and  served  one  term. 
He  owns  150  acres  of  land,  of  which  seven  acres  are  in  a  vineyard. 
Himself,  wife,  and  oldest  son  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church  in  Bar- 
rington.     He  served  three  terms  as  trustee  of  that  church. 


FA  MIL  V  SKE  TCHES.  635 

Bellis,  Amos,  born  in  Easton,  Pa.,  is  a  farmer  in  Barringtoii,  born 
December  18,  1822,  and  a  son  of  Peter  and  Elizabeth  (Taylor)  Bellis. 
His  father  was  a  native  of  Easton,  Pa.,  his  mother  having  been  born  in 
New  Jersey.  They  were  married  in  Easton,  where  ten  children  were 
born  to  them,  six  surviving,  viz.:  Eliza  A.,  Jeremiah,  Mariah.  William, 
Amos,  Peter  S.  The  father  emigrated  from  Pennsylvania  to  New  York 
in  1824,  and  settled  in  Yates  County,  where  he  died  in  1853.  His  wife 
died  six  years  later.  Mr.  Bellis  was  reared  on  a  farm,  receiving  a  com- 
mon school  education  in  the  Barrington  district  schools.  He  married 
in  1845  Emeline  Shaw,  daughter  of  John  Shaw,  of  Barrington.  She 
was  born  January  23,  1823.  Their  si.x  children  are  William,  Deloss, 
Frank.  Albert,  Martin  and  Omer.  Mr.  Bellis  has  held  the  ofifices  of 
constable,  notary  public  and  assessor  of  t!\e  town  of  Barrington.  He 
owns  a  farm  of  108  acres. 

Bullock,  Herman,  of  Barrington,  a  prominent  fruit  grower,  was  born 
in  Yates  County,  N.  Y.,  March  25,  1848,  a  son  of  Cahin  and  Lucinda 
(Simpson)  Bullock.  His  father  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  the 
county,  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  had  a  family  of  nine  children,  six 
of  whom  survive.  He  died  in  the  county  in  1867,  and  his  wife  in  1882. 
Both  were  members  of  the  Baptist  Church.  Mr,  Bullock  married,  in 
1 87 1,  Drusilla  Fiiiton,  a  native  of  this  county,  born  in  185  i.  By  this 
marriage  five  children  have  been  born,  viz  :  Joseph,  William,  h^dgar, 
Edith  and  Horner.  In  1880  Mr.  Bullock  engaged  in  tlie  saw- mill  and 
basket  business,  employing  some  thirty-five  hands.  He  has  cut  mate- 
rial for  about  900,000  baskets  this  year  up  to  date,  and  will  cut  about 
5,000  more  this  fall.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Baptist 
Church. 

Cornell,  David  B.,  a  farmer  and  native  of  Barrington,  born  March  4, 
1848,  is  a  son  of  Hiram  and  Mary  (Bishop)  Cornell.  His  parents  were 
both  natives  of  New  York,  and  were  married  in  Barrington,  where  were 
born  to  them  five  children:  Samuel,  David  B.,  Isaac  C,  Edward  J-5  ,  and 
Jane.  Three  now  living,  Samuel,  Edward  and  David.  Samuel  is  a 
teacher  in  Truckee,  Cal.;  has  been  there  a  number  of  years;  Edward  B. 
is  a  Baptist  preacher,  and  is  now  preaching  at  Wellsburg,  Pa.;  Isaac  C. 
was  one  of  the  editors  of  the  Yates  County  Chronicle,  firm  of  Cleveland 
so 


634  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

&  Cornell,  at  his  death  ;  Jenne,  was  the  wife  of  H.  H.  Hewitt.  The 
father  and  mother  were  school  teachers  in  the  early  part  of  their  lives, 
and  in  1845  nioved  to  Barrington,  where  he  bought  land  and  lived 
a  farmer  until  1878,  when  he  moved  to  Dundee,  and  resided  there  until 
his  death  which  occurred  in  1876.  The  mother  now  resides  in  Dundee, 
and  is  in  her  seventy-third  year,  having  been  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church  for  over  fifty  years  Mr.  D.  B.  Cornell  was  educated  in  the 
Dundee  Academy,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty  he  commenced  teaching  in 
the  Dundee  public  schools,  and  taught  in  other  parts  of  the  country  for 
six  or  seven  years.  He  was  married  in  1873  to  Lovisa,  daughter  of 
Edward  Jackson,  born  in  Schuyler  County,  in  1855.  Mr  Cornell  en- 
gaged in  the  mercantile  business  for  one  year  at  W'inchester,  Va.,  then 
sold  his  stock  of  goods  and  bought  a  farm  of  sixty-four  acres  in  Bar- 
rington, N.  Y.,  where  he  now  lives.  He  has  sixteen  acres  of  orchard, 
and  ten  acres  of  raspberries.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cornell  have  four  children, 
viz  :  Edith,  Maud,  Eva  and  Claud,  They  are  both  members  of  the 
Dundee  Baptist  Church. 

Coolbaugh,  Squire  L  ,  a  farmer  of  Barrington,  where  he  was  born 
June  17,  1829,  is  a  son  of  Benjamin  and  Amelia  (Loomis)  Coolbaugh. 
The  father  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  born  in  1789,  and  the  mother 
was  born  in  1780,  their  children  numbering  six,  five  of  whom  sur\ive. 
He  was  a  farmer,  and  came  to  New  York  with  his  parents  in  1806. 
He  died  in  1S66  and  his  wife  in  1850.  Squire  L  was  educated  in  the 
district  schools  of  Barrington,  and  was  married  in  1854  to  Fannie  Grey, 
horn  in  1839.  Mr.  Coolbaugh  served  one  term  as  assessor  of  the  town 
of  Barrington.      He  owns  I  14  acres  of  fine  land. 

Coons,  John  P.,  a  prominent  farmer,  and  native  of  Barrington,  Yates 
County,  born  May  3,  1852,  is  a  son  of  Peter  and  Jane  (Miller)  Coons. 
The  father  was  born  in  Columbia  County,  N.  Y.,  in  1821,  a  farmer,  and 
married  in  Yates  County,  where  he  had  four  children:  Prances,  wife  ol 
Newton  Powlison  ;  Almina,  wife  of  Oliver  Swarts  ;  Gertrude,  uife  of 
P'rank  Kendall;  and  John  P.  Coons.  Peter  Coons  died  in  this  county  in 
1882,  and  his  wife  in  July,  I  89 1.  She  was  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 
John  Coons  was  educated  at  the  public  schools,  at  Starkey  Seminary, 
and    Dundee    Academy.      He    married,    December    24,     1872,   Emma 


FAMIL  V  SKETCHES.  635 

Koon,  a  native  of  New  Vork,  bom  in  Steuben  County,  November  12, 
1852,  and  a  daughter  of  John  and  Lucy  A.  (Allerton)  Koon,  natives  of 
Steuben  and  Greene  Counties,  N.  Y.  The  father  was  born  in  1801,  and 
died  in  1S70.  The  mother,  born  in  1807,  died  in  1889.  They  were  the 
parents  of  eight  children,  five  now  Hving,  viz.:  Mary,  wife  of  Thomas 
Ringrose ;  Emma,  Charlotte,  Martin  and  Edward  G.  Mrs.  Coons's 
father  was  a  farmer.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Coons  have  been  the  parents  of 
three  children,  two  of  whom  survive,  Jennie  A.  and  Jessie  A.  Mr. 
Coons  is  justice  of  the  peace  for  the  town  of  Barrington,  has  a  farm  of 
ninety  acres,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

Crosby,  Peter  H.,  the  father  of  Joseph  F.,  was  one  of  tlie  most  sub- 
stantial citizens  of  Barrington.  He  married  Catharine,  daughter  of  Jo- 
seph Fenton,  and  their  children  were  Emillia,  Alanson,  Joseph  F.,  Se- 
lah,  Druzilla  and  Isaac.  Peter  H.  was  a  leading  member  of  tiie  Baptist 
Church  at  Barrington.  He  held  numerous  town  offices,  and  as  com- 
missioner of  highways,  laid  out  many  of  the  roads  of  the  town.  His 
second  wife  was  Widow  Hair,  daughter  of  Andrew  Raplee.  Of  his  chil- 
dren, Emillia  married  John  McDowell ;  Alanson  married  Catharine, 
daughter  of  William  McDowell;  Selah,  married  Elsie,  another  daughter 
of  William  McDowell ;  Druzilla  married  John  Ovensliirc;  Isaac  married 
Druzilla  Eddy;  Joseph  F.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Barrington,  December  15,  1825,  and  was  educated  at  the  com- 
mon schools  of  that  town.  He  has  been  a  farmer  all  his  life.  He  was 
the  first  man  to  plant  a  vineyard  on  the  east  side  of  Lake  Keuka.  Jo- 
seph F.  Crosby  was  instrumental  in  getting  a  post-office  and  landing 
located  on  his  farm  and  they  are  known  as  Crosby's  Landing  and 
Crosby  post-office.  In  politics  he  has  been  an  ardent  supporter  of  the 
Republican  party  since  1856.  Up  to  that  time  he  was  a  Democrat,  as 
his  father  had  been  before  him.  Mr.  Crosby  has  always  been  very  ac- 
tive in  the  affairs  of  Yates  County,  having  held  many  of  the  offices  of 
the  town  of  Barrington.  He  was  elected  sheriff' of  this  county  in  1864, 
clerk  of  the  county  in  1873,  and  served  one  term  and  was  re-elected  in 
1888.  He  married,  first,  Amanda,  daughter  of  Joseph  Ketchum,  of 
Barrington,  in  1846.  She  died  in  1850,  and  for  his  second  wife,  he 
married  Lois,  daughter  of  Caleb  Swarthout,  of  Wajne,  Steuben  County, 
N.  Y.,  in  185  I,  and  by  this  union  there  were  two  sons.      Edmund,  who 


636  HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUNTY. 

married  Jane,  daughter  of  Joseph  Gutlirie,  and  Fred,  who  married  Mary, 
daughter  of  George  Fenton. 

Eggleston,  Jamej  \V.,  a  farmer  and  fruit  grower  of  Barrington,  and  a 
native  of  Yates  County,  N.  Y.,  was  born  May  19,  1861,  a  son  of  Steplien 
and  Margaret  (Jayne)  Eggleston.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Steuben 
County,  a  farmer,  and  was  twice  married,  first  to  Dyantha  Depew, 
October  4,  1839,  by  whom  he  had  seven  children,  as  follows:  Odei, 
Nathan,  Sarah,  Flora,  Samuel,  Martin  and  Benjamin  ;  Sarah  is  now 
married  to  Jacob  West,  and  Flora  to  William  Spink.  He  married 
second,  September  11,  1859,  Margaret  Jayne,  who  bore  him  five  chil- 
dren, as  fi)llo\vs:  James  W.,  Timothy  J.,  Linda,  Mary  and  Ella;  Mary 
is  now  married  to  Elmer  Washburn.  He  settled  in  Yates  Count)-  in 
1857,  where  he  lived  until  his  death  in  1887.  His  wife,  a  native  of 
Yates  County  and  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  died  in  1889.  James 
VV.  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  received  a  common  school  education  at 
the  district  schools  of  Barrington.  He  married  October  27,  1885, 
Lizzie  Henderson,  who  was  born  December  10,  1865,  and  by  \vhom 
he  has  one  son,  Howard  E.  Mrs.  Eggleston  was  the  daughter  of 
Witsell  M.  and  Martha  (Gilmore)  Henderson,  who  were  earlj'  settlers 
of  Yates  County,  her  father  having  been  a  school  teacher.  He  died  in 
1883,  and  her  mother  in  1876.  Mr.  Eggleston  and  brother  have  a  fine 
grape  vineyard  of  fifty  acres  and  wiLl  ship  this  year  (1891)  one  hundred 
tons.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eggleston  are  members  of  the  Farmers'  Alliance, 
his  wife  being  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 

Ellis,  William  S.,  a  farmer  and  native  of  Yates  County,  N.  Y.,  was 
born  in  Milo,  December  8,  1818.  He  was  a  son  of  Amos  and  Marj' 
(Smith)  Ellis,  both  natives  of  New  York.  The  father,  a  prominent 
farmer,  was  the  parent  of  seven  children,  three  of  whom  survive,  Miriam, 
wife  of  J.  Baker  ;  Maria,  widow  of  James  Sutton,  and  William  S. 
Both  parents  died  in  this  county.  Mr.  Ellis  was  educated  in  Penn  Yan, 
and  has  been  three  times  married.  His  first  wife  was  a  daughter  of 
Orange  and  Penelope  HoUister,  of  Starkey ;  his  second,  a  daughter  of 
Gilbert  Baker,  of  Milo  ;  his  present  wife  is  a  daughter  of  Hon.  O.  Ben- 
jamin, a  prominent  lawyer,  and  for  twelve  years  surrogate  of  Ontario 
County.  He  is  the  father  of  five  children,  two  survive,  \'iz  :  Helen  and 
Llewellyn.      Mr.    Ellis   was  six   years   assessor  of  Barrington,  and    one 


FAMIL  V  SKETCHES.  637 

year  supervisor,  and  several  times  declined  renomination.  Me  owns  a 
farm  of  ninety  acres  and  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Churcii,  his  wife 
being  an   Episcopalian. 

Florence,  Cass,  a  liveryman  of  Dundee,  is  a  native  of  this  county, 
born  May  20,  1854,  and  is  a  son  of  Floyd  and  Elizabeth  (Swarts) 
F"lorence,  both  natives  of  New  York  and  married  in  this  county.  Five 
children  were  born  of  this  union,  viz.:  Cass,  the  oldest  son  ;  Lucy,  wife 
of  James  Moor;  Lydia,  wife  of  Eugene  Miller;  Emma,  wife  of  Loyd 
Wheeler  ;  and  William.  Mr.  Florence  was  a  farmer,  and  Cass  was 
reared  on  a  farm.  He  married,  March  6,  1881,  Flora  Williamson,  a 
native  of  this  county,  born  in  1859.  Mr.  Florence  farmed  with  his 
father  until  the  fall  of  1872,  when  he  commenced  braking  on  the 
L.  S.  &  M.  S.  R.  R.,  where  he  remained  until  1877,  when  he  served 
on  the  Michigan  Central  for  one  year,  then  returned  to  Dundee  and 
engaged  in  farming  until  1887,  when  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Amos 
Houck  in  the  livery  business  at  Dundee,  in  which  he  has  been  engaged 
ever  since.  They  have  thirteen  head  of  good  horses,  and  receive  their 
share  of  patronage. 

Freemont,  B.  F.,  a  farmer  of  Barrington,  is  a  native  of  Yates  County, 
N.  Y.  He  was  born  June  2,  1826,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Lydia 
(Briggs)  Freemont,  who  were  natives  of  New  Jersey.  B.  F"  Freemont's 
father  came  to  New  York  with  his  parents  when  a  boy,  there  were  tiien 
but  three  log  houses  in  the  village  of  Penn  Yan.  He  was  one  of  eleven 
children,  eight  of  whom  are  now  living,  viz.:  Oliver.  Mary  E.,  John, 
Caroline,  Helen,  Henry,  William  and  B.  F.  The  father  was  a  farmer. 
B.  V.  Freemont's  parents  are  both  dead.  Mr.  Freemont  was  reared  on 
a  farm,  receiving  a  common  school  education.  He  was  married  in  1S47, 
to  Ester  Mclntire,  by  whom  he  has  had  two  children,  John  and  Archi- 
bal.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Freemont  are  members  of  the  Barrington  M.  E. 
Church.  Mr  Freemont  has  been  Sunday-school  superintendent,  trustee 
of  the  church,  and  class  leader  for  a  number  of  years. 

Horton,  Daniel  L.,  a  farmer  in  Barrington,  and  a  native  of  Schuyler 
County,  N.  Y.,  was  born  March  i  i,  1827,  and  is  a  son  of  Thomas  P. 
and  Phebia  A.  Horton,  both  natives  of  Dutchess  County  and  the  parents 
of  fourteen  children.     Thomas  P.  Horton  died  in  1878,  being  a  farmer 


638  HISTORY  UF  YATES  COUNTY. 

by  occupation.  His  wife,  Phebia,  died  in  1879.  Daniel  L.  Horton 
married  in  this  county,  in  1849,  Miss  Ella  Myron,  a  native  of  Tompkins 
County,  N.  Y.,  who  was  born  March  23,  1826.  One  son  was  born  of 
this  union,  Aldren.  Mr.  Horton  came  to  this  country  in  1836,  and 
bought  the  farm  on  which  he  now  resides,  consisting  of  218  1-2  acres, 
three  miles  west  of  Dundee. 

Jayne,  George  M.,  a  prominent  farmer  and  fruit  grower  of  Barrington, 
is  a  native  of  this  town,  born  March  22,  18 18,  and  a  son  of  Nathan  and 
Margaret  (Marrian)  Jayne,  both  natives  of  Sussex  County,  N.  J.,  the 
father  having  been  born  in  1792,  and  the  mother  in  1795.  Nathan  was 
reared  on  a  farm  and  when  a  boy  came  with  his  parents  to  New  York 
where  he  died  ;  his  wife  is  still  living  on  the  homestead  at  the  age 
of  97  years.  George  M.  was  the  second  in  a  family  of  ten  children.  He 
married,  February  3,  1846,  Hester  M.  VVoodrufT,  a  native  of  thiscounty, 
born  March  30,  1824.  By  this  union  four  children  have  been  born,  one 
surviving,  Frank  B.  Mr.  Jayne  owns  a  farm  on  the  lake  consisting  of 
135  acres,  with  27  acres  of  grape  vineyard.  George  M.  Jayne  died 
October  7,  1891. 

Lewis,  Dennis,  born  in  Yates  County,  N.  Y.,  February  11,  1841,  is 
a  son  of  Merrit  C.  and  Sarah  (Coykendall)  Lewis;  his  father  came  with 
his  parents  in  1820,  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Starkey,  where  he  lived 
until  his  death  in  1883.  His  widow  resides  in  Reading,  aged  83  years. 
Dennis,  the  youngest  of  a  family  of  five  children,  has  followed  farming. 
He  married  in  1867,  Amelia  Coykendall,  by  whom  he  had  one  son, 
Firman,  born  in  1872.  Mr.  Lewis  enlisted  in  the  late  war  in  1862,  in 
Co.  L  148th  Infantry,  under  Capt.  M.  S.  Hicks, and  served  on  the  Union 
side  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  in  eighteen  regular  battles,  and 
in  a  number  of  skirmishes.  Mr.  Lewis  is  the  owner  of  a  farm  of  ninety- 
three  acres  in  Barrington. 

Loomis,  Morris,  born  April  22,  1831,  is  a  son  of  Gideon  and  Lydia 
(Barnes)  Loomis,  and  grandson  of  Thomas  Loomis,  who  settled  in  this 
county  in  18 14.  The  father  of  Morris  was  born  in  Hillsdale,  this  State, 
February  20,  iSoo.  A  farmer  by  occupation,  he  married  in  1820, 
Lydia  Barnes,  and  they  had  eight  children,  six  sons  and  two  daughters, 
four  surviving.      The   father   died    in    1854,   and    the   mother   in    1848. 


FA  MIL  y  SKETCHES.  639 

They  were  members  of  the  Baptist  Church.  Morris  Loomis  was  reared 
on  a  farm  in  Barrington.  He  married  July  16,  1854,  Candice,  daughter 
of  Samuel  Vance,  a  pioneer  settler  of  Yates  County.  Nine  children 
have  been  born  of  this  union,  seven  sons  and  two  daughters,  six  of 
whom  survive,  viz.:  Samuel,  Dorcilla,  wife  of  B.  S.  Pulner;  Melvin, 
Marilia,  wife  of  S.  B.  Miller;  Huldah,  and  Luella.  Mr.  Loomis  was 
assessor  of  Barrington  one  term,  served  as  overseer  of  the  poor  two 
terms.  He  has  a  farm  of  132  acres,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Farmers' 
Alliance. 

Lord,  Benjamin  M.,  eldest  son  of  Ebenezer  and  Mary  Lord,  was  born 
in  Ballston  in  1801  and  came  with  his  parents  to  Barrington  in  1825, 
where  he  engaged  in  teaching  and  farming.  In  1827  he  married  Eliza- 
beth Fleming,  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  by  whom  he  had  si-v  children  : 
Rachel,  who  married  Horace  Kenyon  ;  Mary,  wife  of  Albert  Ovenshire; 
Elizabeth,  widow  of  Theron  Wheeler  (all  of  Barrington);  Kate,  wife  of 
Emmett  Shepard.  of  Saratoga  County,  died  in  1859;  Charles  B.  died 
in  Starkey  in  1891  ;  and  George  P.  resides  in  Dundee.  Benjamin  I\I 
Lord  died  in  1858,  and  his  wife  in  1873. 

Lord,  Ebenezer,  wife  and  eight  children,  removed  to  Barrington  from 
Saratoga  County  about  1825,  where  he  purchased  a  large  farm  and  set- 
tled his  children  about  him.  For  many  years  he  and  his  sons  were 
actively  identified  with  the  development  and  improvement  of  the  town, 
but  removals  and  death  have  wrought  their  changes  until  not  one  of  the 
name  remains  in  the  place. 

Losey,  Henry  S.,  is  a  farmer  of  Starkey  and  a  native  of  New  Jersey, 
was  born  April  16,  1835.  He  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Smith) 
Losey,  farmers  and  both  natives  of  New  Jersey,  from  which  State  Mr. 
Losey  came  with  his  parents  to  New  York,  when  a  small  boy.  Both 
parents  are  now  deceased.  Henry  S.  is  the  third  son  of  a  family  of 
seven  children,  four  of  whom  are  surviving.  He  married,  March  14, 
1853,  Sarah  J.  Putman,  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  born  April  4,  1835. 
By  that  marriage  three  children  were  born,  viz  :  Charles  V\'.,  Amelia, 
wife  of  Elie  W.  Parker,  and  Edv\ard.  Mr.  Losey 's  wife  died  October 
14,  1873,  and  he  married  second.  Miss  Lois  E.  Price,  of  Schuyler 
County,  October  22,  1881,  born  March  8,  1848.     Mr.  Losey  served  one 


640  HIS  TOR  Y  OF  YA  TES  COUNTY 

term  as  assessor  of  Starkey,  in  1877  as  overseer  of  the  poor,  and  three 
years  as  commissioner.  He  has  a  farm  of  eighty-three  acres  located 
four  miles  southwest  of  Dundee. 

Mclntire,  Archibald,  a  farmer  of  Barrington,  and  native  of  Yates 
County,  was  born  July  21,  1831,  a  son  of  Archibald  and  Esther  (Thomp- 
son) Mclntire,  who  were  both  born  in  Columbia  County,  N.  Y.,  and 
were  the  parents  of  seven  children,  two  of  whom  survive,  our  subject 
and  a  sister,  Mrs.  Esther  Freeman.  The  father  was  a  farmer  and  moved 
from  Columbia  County  to  Yates  County,  in  18 16,  where  he  lived  until 
his  death,  in  1859.  The  mother  died  in  1863.  Mr  Mclntire  was 
reared  on  a  farm,  and  was  married  in  i866,  to  Satie  Bain.  Three  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  them.  Bell,  John  L.  and  Sarah  A.  Mr.  Mcln- 
tire owns  a  farm  consisting  of  I  lO  acres,  with  six  acres  of  grape  vine- 
yard. 

Meeks,  Joseph  D.,  a  farmer  of  Barrington,  was  born  in  Tompkins 
County,  February  4,  1841,  and  is  a  son  of  Elias  and  Elizabeth  (Wake- 
man)  Meeks  (natives  of  Tompkins  and  Steuben  Counties),  and  of  their 
four  children  two  are  now  living,  Abigail  and  Joseph,  The  father  was 
a  farmer  and  was  overseer  of  the  poor  in  Barrington  one  term.  His 
wife  died  in  1844,  and  he  married  second,  Mary  Bassett,  by  whom  he 
had  three  children,  Neoma,  Martha  and  Viola.  They  reside  in  Barring- 
ton. Joseph  D.  Meeks  married  in  1863,  Levica,  daughter  of  Samuel 
and  Mehetibel  Williams,  and  they  have  six  children,  viz.:  Elmer,  Hattie, 
wife  of  Myron  Clark;  Laura,  wife  of  Charles  Allen;  Frank,  Anna,  and 
Gracie.  Mr.  Meeks  came  with  his  parents  from  Tompkins  County  to 
Yates  County  in  1856.  He  has  been  tax  collector  of  Barrington  four 
t6rms.  He  owns  a  farm  of  ninety-six  acres,  with  ten  acres  of  vineyard 
land.  Will  ship  fifteen  tons  of  grapes  this  year.  Both  he  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

Miller,  John  B.,  a  prominent  farmer  of  Barrington,  is  a  native  of  Yates 
County,  and  was  born  May  3,  1821,  a  son  of  Daniel  (born  in  Seneca 
County,  N.  Y.,)  and  Su.san  (born  in  Tpmpkins  County,  N.  Y  ,)  Miller, 
who  were  the  parents  of  nine  children,  four  of  whom  are  now  living. 
Daniel  Miller  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  which  he  followed  in  the 
early  part  of  his  life.      He  moved  from  Seneca  County  to  Yates  County 


FAMILY  SKETCHES.  641 

in  1817,  and  turned  his  attention  to  farming,  which  he  followed  until 
his  death  in  1871.  His  wife  died  in  1876.  Both  were  members  of  the 
Baptist  Church.  John  B.  was  educated  in  the  district  schools  of  Bar- 
rington,  and  married,  in  1850,  Cynthia,  daughter  of  Gilbert  Baker,  by 
whom  he  had  seven  children,  six  surviving,  viz  :  Ida,  wife  of  Dr.  Horton  ; 
Byron  E.,  Willie  L.,  Minnie  M.,  wife  of  Ur.  Coltrell ;  Elmer  S.  and 
Glenn  VV.  He  owns  two  farms  in  Barrington,  one  of  150  acres  and  one 
of  180  acres,  and  lives  two  miles  west  of  Dundee.  Mr.  Miller  was  towr» 
assessor  for  three  terms. 

i'owlison,  Newton,  of  Barrington,  a  native  of  Troy,  Pa.,  was  born 
June  7,  1842,  a  son  of  Edward  and  Fluma  (Merritt)  Powlison,  the  former 
of  New  Jersey,  the  latter  of  Pennsylvania.  Edward  Powlison  was  a 
wagonmaker  by  trade.  He  was  married  in  Pennsylvania  and  had  one 
son,  Newton.  He  moved  from  Pennsylvania  to  New  York  in  1851  and 
settled  in  Dundee,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade  until  his  death  in  1863. 
His  widow  still  survives  iiim  and  is  living  with  her  son.  Newton  Powli- 
son married,  in  1862,  Frankie  Coons,  born  in  June,  1844.  He  owns  a 
farm  of  ninety-si.x  acres,  at  Barrington,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

Rapalec,  Daniel,  a  farmer  of  Barrington,  was  born  there  March  25, 
1843,  and  is  a  son  of  Joshua  and  Elizabeth  (Walker)  Rapalee.  Mr. 
Rapalee  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Dundee.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  this  county  in  1866,  to  Frances  Snooks,  by  whom  he  had  three 
children,  two  of  whom  survive,  viz  :  Dora  O.,  and  Edith  L.  Mr.  Rap- 
alee owns  a  good  farm  of  1 1  5  acres. 

Rapalee,  George  VV.,  a  farmer  and  native  of  Barrington,  born  July  24, 
1845,  is  a  son  of  Joshua  and  Betsey  J.  (Welker)  Rapalee.  The  father 
was  born  in  1806,  and  moved  with  his  parents  to  Seneca,  when  a  boy. 
He  was  four  times  married,  and  was  the  father  of  eleven  children,  being 
also  a  successful  farmer  and  stock  dealer.  He  died  August  31,  1888. 
His  wife,  Betsey,  died  about  1854.  George  W.  was  reared  on  a  farm, 
received  a  common  business  education  in  Barrington  district  schools, 
and  was  married  January  19,  1869,  to  Lydia  D.  Pulver,  a  native  of 
Luzerne  County,  Pa.,  born  February  28,  1852.  They  had  four  chil- 
dren, three  of  whom   are    now   living,   viz.:    Milton    L.,  Homer  D.    antl 

SI 


642  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

Ross  R.      Mr.  Rapalee  is  the  owner  of  i8o  acres  of  farm  land,  where  lie 
now  lives,  five  miles  northwest  of  Dundee. 

Rajxilee,  Mrs  Lucinda,  widow  of  the  late  Clinton  Rapalee  who  was 
killed  May  13,  1 890,  is  a  daughter  of  Peter  I.  and  Elizabeth  (Snyder) 
Millis,  who  moved  from  Columbia,  Dutchess  County,  to  Yates  County, 
N.  Y  ,  in  1815.  Their  children  were  Morris,  born  in  18 10  ;  Alvin,  born 
in  181 1  ;  Cornelia,  born  in  1817;  Hiram,  born  in  1819;  Andrew,  born 
in  1820;  Henry,  born  in  1821  :  Eliza  A.,  born  in  1823  ;  Sarah  J  ,  born 
in  1825;  Lucinda,  born  in  1827;  Almira,  born  in  1829;  Hawley,  born 
in  1833  ;  and  Horace,  who  died  in  infancy.  The  parents  of  these  chil- 
dren came  to  Yates  Count)'  when  there  were  but  few  settlers  in  the 
place,  buying  a  farm  in  Harrington,  adjoining  Milo,  which  they  cleared, 
and  where  Mr.  Snyder  remained  until  his  death,  F"ebruary  25,  1870. 
He  was  born  February  15,  1785.  Elizabeth  Snyder,  his  wife,  remained 
with  her  children  and  died  at  the  residence  of  her  daughter,  Mrs  Ben- 
jamin Hunt,  in  Michigan,  aged  ninety-four  years.  Lucinda  Snyder, 
married  Clinton  Rapalee,  February  19,  1850,  and  had  six  children; 
Morris,  born  February  16,  1851  ;  Daniel  P.,  born  No^'ember  11,  1852; 
Elmer  D.,  born  October  6,  1854;  Hugh  M  ,  born  September  5,  1S58  ; 
lohn  C  ,  born  February  22,  1862  ;  and  Libbie  D.,  born  August  4,  1869. 
The  second  son,  Daniel,  was  killed  almost  instantly,  December  13,  1862, 
by  being  thrown  from  a  horse,  his  foot  hanging  in  the  stirrup,  and  the 
horse  crushing  his  skull  with  his  foot. 

Snook,  Oliver,  of  Barrington,  was  born  in  Sussex  County,  N.  J  ,  No- 
vember 21,  1824.  a  son  of  William  and  Mary  (Lontz)  Snook,  and  came 
with  his  parents  to  New  York  in  1837.  William  Snook  died  Septem- 
ber 30,  1840,  aged  fifty-five  years  ;  and  his  wife  died  October  30,  1849. 
He  was  one  of  a  family  of  eight  children,  of  whom  four  survive.  The 
father  was  a  farmer  and  slock  dealer  in  his  later  years,  and  a  hotel 
keeper  in  early  life,  at  Sussex  County,  N.  J.  Oliver  was  reared  on  a 
farm,  receiving  a  common  school  education.  He  married  in  ]->ai  ring- 
ton,  September  18,  1844,  Miss  Mary  A.  Disbrow,  by  whom  he  had  five 
children,  viz.:  Lorenzo  D.,  Lyman  W.,  Alanson,  Watson  J.,  and  Will- 
iam O.  Mr.  Snook  owns  a  farm  of  124  acres,  with  some  three  acies  of 
raspberries.      His  wife  died  June  26,  1891. 


FAMIL  V  SKETCHES.  643 


Town  of  Potter. 

Andrews,  Samuel,  son  ot  Tliomasand  Hannah  (Williamson)  Andrews, 
was  born  August  5,  1837,  in  Spafford,  N.  Y.,  and  came  to  this  town 
with  his  parents  when  one  year  old.  He  has  been  a  farmer  and  dealer 
in  agricultural  implements  nearly  all  his  life.  He  was  educated  at  the 
district  schools.  In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat.  He  is  a  member  of 
Keuka  Lodge  No.  149,  of  Penn  Yan,  N.  Y.,  I.  O.  O.  F.  He  married, 
July  3,  1857,  Mary  Ann.  daughter  of  Steward  Wilcox,  of  Jerusalem,  and 
their  children  are:  Flora  A.,  who  married  Luther  Turner,  and  Steward 
J.  Andrews. 

Barber,  Jonathan  S.,  is  a  descendant  of  Valentine  Barber,  who  came 
from  England  before  the  Revolution,  and  settled  in  Greene  Count)', 
N.  Y.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  and  his  son,  Jere- 
miah, came  to  Ovid,  Seneca  County,  N.  Y.,  where-he  became  a  captain 
in  the  New  York  State  Militia,  before  the  War  of  18 12.  Jeremiah,  jr., 
his  son,  was  born  April  21,  1795,  and  was  drafted  in  the  latter  war. 
He  was  at  the  battle  of  Fort  Niagara  under  General  Scott.  After  the 
close  of  the  war  he  came  back  to  Ovid  and  married  Anna,  daughter  of 
Nicholas  Van  Zandt,  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  in  18 13,  and  came  to  Mid- 
dlesex, now  Potter,  in  181 5,  occupying  himself  with  farming  for  the 
balance  of  his  life.  He  was  justice  of  the  peace  for  twelve  years,  as- 
sessor for  three  terms,  and  was  very  much  respected  as  a  citizen.  He 
died  September  16,  i860.  Jonathan  S.  was  born  June  29,  1826,  in 
Potter,  N.  Y.,  and  educated  at  the  common  schools  of  that  time.  He 
has  been  a  farmer  and  mechanic  all  his  life.  In  politics  he  has  been  a 
Republican  ever  since  the  organization  of  that  party.  He  was  collector 
for  the  town  in  1850,  and  assessor  for  about  fifteen  years.  He  and  his 
family  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Potter  Cen- 
ter, N.  Y.  Mr.  Barber  married  Sarah  A.,  daughter  of  John  Price,  of 
Livonia,  Livingston  County,  N.  Y.,  October  4,  1848,  and  they  had  four 
children:  Adaline,  who  married  James  C.  Smith  ;  Carrie,  who  married 
Michael  Bragan  ;  Florella,  who  married  William  Yaxley  ;  and  Cora 
Barber.  Mr.  Barber  still  lives  on  the  old  homestead,  which  is  in  a  fine 
state  of  cultivation. 


644  HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUNTY. 

Carson,  W.  A.,  M.D.,  of  Rusliville,  N.  Y.,  son  of  William  A.  and  Mar- 
garet (Disbro)  Carson,  was  born  at  Seneca,  Ontario  County,  N.  Y.,  No- 
vember II,  1841.  He  was  educated  at  Canandaigua  Academy  (1858), 
Genesee  Seminary  and  College  (1859-61),  and  Albany  Medical  College 
(1862-63).  He  was  formerly  a  farmer,  and  is  now  a  practicing  physi- 
cian and  druggist.  He  was  resident  physician  of  the  Albany  Hospital 
in  1864,  chairman  of  the  Board  of  Education  of  Rushville  Union  School 
for  nine  years,  and  president  of  the  Yates  County  Medical  Society'  in 
1888.  Dr.  Carson  cast  his  first  vote  for  President  Lincoln  in  1864,  and 
has  since  been  a  steadfast  Republican.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  Supervisors  from  the  town  of  Potter  two  terms,  being  chairman  one 
year,  president  of  the  village  of  Rushville  three  terms,  and  was  elected 
to  the  Assembly  of  New  York  State  by  a  plurality  of  1,033,  '"s  oppo- 
nents being  Henry  M.  Huntington  (Democrat),  and  John  Kline  (Prohi- 
bitionist). The  Republican  plurality  in  1887  was  370.  In  the  towns  of 
Potter  and  Middlesex  Mr.  Carson  received  the  largest  vote  ever  given 
to  any  candidate  for  member  of  Assembly  since  the  formation  of  the 
towns.  He  is  a  member  of  Rushville  Lodge,  Y .  A.  M  He  married, 
February  i,  1865,  Elizabeth  A.,  daughter  C.  W.  Newman,  of  Gorliam, 
N.  Y.,  and  they  have  two  children,  Harriet  N.  and  William  A.  Carson,  jr. 

Cole,  Warner,  P.,  son  of  Warner  and  Mary  Ann  (Ferguson)  Cole,  was 
born  August  12,  1835,  in  Gorham,  N,  Y  ,  and  one  year  later  his  parents 
came  to  this  town,  where  he  was  educated  in  the  district  school.s,  and 
has  been  a  successful  farmer.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican.  Decem- 
ber 25,  1859,  Mr.  Cole  married  Jane,  daughter  of  Hon.  John  Souther- 
land,  of  this  town,  and  they  have  four  children:  John  S.,  who  married 
Mary  Chesbro  ;  Mary  Ann  (deceased)  ;  Elmira  M.,  married  John  S. 
Stokoe,  and  Martha  F. 

Covert,  Harry  L.,  son  of  John  and  Susan  (Spicer)  Covert,  anil  the 
fifth  of  eight  children,  was  born  July  5,  18 18.  He  was  educated  at 
the  district  schools,  and  is  a  farmer.  He  owns  a  fine  farm  mar  Potter 
Center.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  but  has  never  aspired  to  office. 
October  i  l,  1843,  he  married  Martha,  daughter  of  Peter  Basconi,  of  this 
town.  They  have  no  children,  but  have  adopted  nine  into  their  home 
and  have  lived  to  see  them  become  useful  men  and  women  in  the  com- 
munity. 


FAMIL  V  SKETCHES.  645 

Dinehart,  James)  son  of  Peter  J.  and  Eliza  (Covert)  Dinehart,  was  born 
October  1,  1836,  in  this  town.  His  father,  Peter,  was  born  December 
1 1,  1802,  in  Columbia  County,  N.  Y.,  came  to  this  country  in  i  826,  and 
died  October  15,  1891  ;  mother  died  November  4,  1891.  James  was 
educated  at  the  district  schools  of  the  town,  and  also  at  Penn  Yan,  and 
has  been  a  farmer  all  his  life.  He  represents  some  of  the  largest  insu- 
rance companies  in  the  country.  In  politics  a  Republican,  he  has  been 
commissioner  of  highways  for  seven  years,  which  office  he  holds  at  the 
present  time.  December  24,  1856,  Mr.  Dinehart  married  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  T.  Jefferson  Andrews,  of  this  town,  and  they  have  one 
daughter,  Clara  E. 

Dinturff,  Peter  L.,  son  of  Jacob  and  Rachel  (Leddick)  Dinturfif,  was 
born  August  28,  1828,  in  this  town.  His  father  was  born  near  Harris- 
burgh,  Pa.,  in  1794,  and  came  to  Potter  in  1803,  where  he  married 
Rachel,  daughter  of  Philip  Leddick,  of  Fayette,  Seneca  County,  N.  Y. 
Peter  was  educated  at  the  common  schools  of  this  town  and  has  been  a 
successful  farmer.  In  politics  he  has  been  a  Republican,  and  has  always 
taken  an  active  interest  in  the  welfare  of  his  native  town.  He  has 
served  on  the  Board  of  Supervisors  for  two  terms,  1 870-7 1,  and  has 
been  assessor  of  the  town  of  Potter  for  the  last  five  years,  and  holds 
that  ofifice  at  the  present  time.  He  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Rusli\ille,  N.  Y.  Mr.  Dinturff  married 
Emcline,  daughter  of  Ira  Hubbard,  of  Alvin,  N.  Y,  November  13, 
1849,  ^"*^  their  children  are  Ella,  who  married  Charles  Chapin,  of  Gor- 
ham,  N.  Y.;  Nettie,  who  married  Thomas  M.  Chadwick,  of  Eddytown, 
N.  Y.,  and  Nora  B.  Dinturff. 

Gardner,  John  R.,  son  of  Peleg  and  Nancy  (Havens)  Gardner,  was 
born  December  28,  1852,  in  this  town,  and  received  his  education  at 
the  district  schools  and  Penn  Yan  Academy,  since  which  time  he  has 
occupied  himself  with  farming.  He  has  also  taken  an  active  part  in  the 
affairs  of  his  native  town,  and  has  held  the  office  of  supervisor  two  terms, 
and  was  a  delegate  to  Saratoga,  N.  \".,  at  the  time  of  the  nomination  of 
Mr.  Davenport  for  governor.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  Penn  Yan.  He  married  Lillie,  daughter  of 
Robert  Edmond,  of  Benton,  N.  Y  ,  and  they  have  three  children,  Rob- 
ert E.,  Irving  Scott  and  Hiram  Albert  Gardner. 


646  HISTORY  UF  YATES  COUNTY. 

Goodrich,  George  S.,  son  of  Darius  and  Cynthia  (Taylor)  Goodrich, 
was  born  October  17,  1855,  in  Hume,  Allegany  County,  N.  Y.,  and  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools,  Canandaigua  Academy  and  Williams 
University  at  Rochester,  N.  Y.  He  came  to  Potter,  N.  Y.,  in  1877,  and 
is  a  successful  farmer.  A  Republican  in  politics,  he  has  taken  an  act- 
ive part  in  the  affairs  of  his  adopted  town,  of  which  Mr.  Goodrich  is 
now  serving  his  second  term  as  supervisor.  He  married  Mary  A., 
daughter  of  Oliver  Underwood  (August  15,  1877),  who  was  a  very  suc- 
cessful farmer  of  this  town.  They  have  two  children,  Oliver  D.  and 
Emily  M. 

Hall,  Charles,  son  of  John  and  Nancy  (Payne)  Hall,  was  born  De- 
cember 27,  1831,  in  this  town,  and  was  educated  at  the  common  school. 
He  has  always  lived  in  this  town  with  the  exception  of  about  three 
years  spent  in  California.  In  politics  a  Republican,  he  has  been  asses- 
sor of  this  town  for  the  last  twenty  years.  He  owns  a  fine  farm  near 
the  center  of  Potter.  March  16,  1859,  he  married  Hannah,  daughter 
of  Hamilton  and  Mary  Briggs  (descendants  of  Peleg  and  Nicholas 
Briggs,  who  were  among  the  first  settlers  of  the  countj').  Their  chil- 
dren are  Willett  B.,  who  married  Alice  L.  Conley ;  Stella  M.,  Flora, 
John  B  ,  Lora  and  Clara  M. 

Hobart,  Frank  C,  son  of  John  F.  and  Ann  Eliza  (Thomas)  Hobart, 
was  born  January  16,  1837,  in  Pott-er,  N.  Y,,  and  was  educated  at 
Franklin  Academy  at  Prattsburg,  N.  Y.,  and  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.  After 
finishing  his  education  he  taught  school  during  the  winters  and  worked 
on  a  farm  during  the  summer  months,  for  a  number  of  years,  after 
which  he  went  to  Jackson,  Mich.,  where  he  remained  about  two  years. 
He  then  returned  to  Potter  and  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  at 
Potter  Center,  for  about  fifteen  years,  when  after  a  long  and  successful 
business  he  retired.  He  is  a  Republican  and  has  been  justice  of  the  peace 
for  twelve  years.  Mr.  Hobart  married  first,  Harriet  R.,  daughter  of 
George  G.  Wyman,  on  October  14,  1861.  She  died  January  2,  1889, 
and  he  married  second,  Delia  A.,  daughter  of  Orville  H.  Myers,  of 
Jackson,  Mich.,  on  January  21,  1891.  Tliey  are  members  of  the  M.  E. 
Church,  at  Potter. 

Hobart,  Melville  W.,  son  of  Joseph  L.  and  Eleanor  (Boulunga) 
Hobart,  was  born  June  1 1,  1834,  and  is  still  living  on  the  old  homestead. 


FAMIL  V  SKETCHES.  647 

He  receiveii  his  education  at  Staikcy  Seminary  ami  Fenn  Yaii  Acad- 
emy, and  has  been  a  farmer  all  his  life.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican. 
Mr.  Hobart  is  a  member  of  Mile  Lodge,  No.  108  of  Penn  Yan,  N.  Y. 
He  married  Helen  M.,  daughter  of  John  H.  Gleason,  of  this  town,  by 
whom  he  had  seven  daughters  :  Harriet,  who  married  Seward  Robinson, 
of  this  town  ;  Lulu  (deceased),  who  married  Daniel  Sutton  ;  May, 
Eleanor  M.,  Maud,  Clara  Louise  (deceased),  and  Bessie  Hobart. 

Ingram,  Alfred,  son  of  George  and  Jane  (Horner)  Ingram,  was  born 
July  18,  1826,  in  Scawby,  Lincolnshire,  Eng.,  and  was  educated  at  the 
common  schools  of  that  country.  He  landed  at  New  York  city,  Janu- 
ary 19,  185  I,  and  came  to  Benton,  Yates  County,  where  he  remained 
for  about  two  years.  He  then  removed  to  Italy  N.  Y.,  remaining  for 
about  five  years,  and  from  there  he  went  to  Prattsburg,  N.  Y.,  and  came 
from  there  to  Potter  in  1864,  where  he  bought  a  farm,  and  has  been  a 
successful  farmer.  Mr.  Ingram  is  a  Republican  and  has  been  assessor 
for  this  town  for  three  years.  He  married  first,  Sarah,  daughter  of 
Robert  Howlatt,  of  Messingham,  Lincolnshire,  Eng.,  May  22,  1850,  and 
they  had  two  ciiildren,  George  R.,  who  married  Emily  E  Underwood  • 
and  Martha  Jane,  who  married  John  D.  Little,  and  resides  at  Morley, 
Mich.  Mrs.  Ingram  died  October  10,  1850.  Mr.  Ingram  married  sec- 
ond, Catharine  E.,  daughter  of  Peter  Bascom,  May  5,  1859. 

Ingram,  George  R.,  son  of  Alfred  and  Sarah  (Hullett)  Ingram,  was 
born  December  15,  1852,  in  Benton,  N.  Y.,  and  was  educated  at  the 
district  schools  and  Penn  Yan  Academy.  He  came  to  Potter  in  1865, 
and  is  a  successful  farmer.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and  is  justice 
of  the  peace  of  this  town.  He  married  Emma  A.,  daugliter  of  William 
H.  Underwood,  of  this  town,  March  24,  1874,  and  bj-  this  union  the 
following  children  have  been  born  :  Clarence  Ward  (deceased),  Will- 
iam H.,  Oliver,  and  George  Ingram. 

Lane,  Leander  W.,  son  of  Isaac  and  Priscilla  (Wilson)  Lane,  was  born 
August  22,  1827,  on  the  farm  that  was  settled  by  his  grandfather,  Abra- 
ham Lane,  in  1787,  and  this  farm  has  been  owned  by  the  family  ever 
since.  Mr.  Lane  was  educated  at  Lima  and  Cazenovia,  N.  Y  ,  and  has 
been  a  farmer  all  his  life  In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat.  He  has  been 
commissioner  of  highways   three  years,  and   justice  of  the  peace  four 


648  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY 

years,  in  this  town  He  married  Elmira  L.,  daughter  of  William 
Hobart,  of  this  town,  on  February  18,  1851.  Their  children  are  as  fol- 
lows: William  I.  (deceased);  Carrie  L.,  who  married  Dr.  O.  E.  New- 
man of  this  town  ;  and  Jennie  E.  (deceased). 

McMasters,  David  M.,  son  of  David  J.  and  Laura  McMasters,  was 
born  August  27,  1839,  in  Potter,  N.  Y.  He  was  educated  at  the  com- 
mon schools  and  has  always  lived  upon  the  farm.  In  politics  a  Repub- 
lican, Mr.  McMasters  has  taken  an  active  interest  in  the  affairs  of  this 
town.  He  has  been  supervisor  for  two  terms  and  is  a  member  of  Lodge 
of  F.  and  A.  M.,  of  Rushville.  November  16,  1865,  he  married  Emma, 
daughter  of  Charles  Bordwell,  of  this  town,  by  whom  he  had  three 
children,  Nellie  F.,  who  married  Charles  Silvernail  ;  Carrie  L  ,  and 
Charles  S. 

Roberson,  Joel  B.,  son  of  Thomas  and  Hannah  (Lane)  Roberson,  was 
born  June  t2,  1822,  in  this  town.  He  was  educated  at  the  district 
schools  and  worked  on  the  farm  until  1852,  when  he  traveled  to  Califor- 
nia, remaining  there  until  i860.  He  then  returned  to  his  native  town, 
where  he  has  since  been  engaged  in  farming.  In  politics  he  is  a  Demo- 
crat. Mr.  Roberson  married,  November  20,  1863,  Eliza,  daughter  of 
Henry  Cool  of  this  town.      His  wife  died  January  6,  1889. 

Thomas,  Charles  H.,  son  of  Peleg  and  Lucrecia  (Sutherland)  Thomas, 
was  born  December  i,  1845,  •"  t^his  town.  He  was  educated  at  the 
common  schools  and  has  always  followed  farming.  He  is  a  Democrat 
and  has  served  as  commissioner  of  highways  four  terms.  He  married 
Ella,  daughter  of  James  and  Emeline  (Pulver)  Ketchum,  by  whom  he 
has  two  daughters,  Anna  Belle,  and  Louisa  Ray.  Mr.  Thomas  owns  a 
farm  in  the  northern  part  of  the  town,  which  is  in  a  fine  state  of 
cultivation. 

Underwood,  George,  son  of  John  S.  and  Abbie  (Harrington)  Under- 
wood, was  born  October  9,  1829,  in  Jerusalem,  N.  Y.  He  came  to  this 
town  in  1837,  and  was  educated  at  the  common  schools  of  the  town, 
and  has  all  his  life  been  a  farmer.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican.  He 
married  Sarah  Ann,  daughter  of  Warner  Cole,  of  this  town,  on  March 
12,  1 86 1,  and  their  children  are  Nora  May,  born  March  i,  1862,  died 
January  28,  1871  ;  and  Charles  C.  Underwood,  born  September  25, 
1866. 


FAMILY  SKETCHES.  649 

Voak,  John  and  Rachel  Dyer  his  wife,  came  to  this  phice  in  1796, 
from  the  town  of  Hardwick,  Sussex  County,  N.  J.  A  brother,  Abra- 
ham, had  previously  settled  iti  this  vicinity.  John  "Vought"(as  the 
name  was  then  spelled)  made  his  first  purchase  of  land  of  Arnold 
Potter  and  wife,  being  forty  acres,  which  is  now  the  southeast  cor- 
ner of  lot  9,  east  range  of  lots  in  the  town  of  Potter,  the  deed  bear- 
ing date  May  12,  1801,  consideration  $150.  It  was  on  this  lot  he 
built  his  first  cabin,  which  had  a  bark  roof  and  a  ground  floor,  and  that 
was  their  first  home  in  the  wilderness,  where  bears,  wolves,  deer 
and  Indians  were  numerous,  and  the  cause  of  much  fear  and  discomfort 
to  the  mother  and  children  while  the  father  was  at  a  distance  from 
home  at  work  to  support  his  family  and  pay  for  more  land.  Some  time 
after  the  first  cabin  was  constructed  Mr.  Voak  built  a  log  house  on  the 
site  where  he  subsequently  built  the  house  that  is  at  present  the  home 
of  his  grandson,  John  Voak,  and  his  sons  and  his  grandchildren.  A 
portion  of  a  log  barn  is  still  standing.  Mr.  Voak  added  to  his  first  forty 
acres  by  purchase  until  he  had  about  700  acres,  on  which  he  settled  his- 
sons  and  daughters,  and  which  is  now  conceded  to  be  of  quality  unsur- 
passed in  Western  New  York  for  general  farming  and  fruit  growing. 
The  children  of  the  first  John  and  Rachel  Voak  were  Lydia,  born  April 
30,  1789,  died  April  5,  1877;  James,  born  January  16,  1 791,  died  Feb- 
ruary 27,  1874;  Abraham,  born  May  12,  1793,  died  February  20, 
1877  ;  Isaac,  born  May  22,  1795,  died  June  8,  1834;  Sarah,  born  Sep- 
tember 16,  1797,  died  May  14,  1874;  Samuel,  born  September  6,  1799, 
living;  Joseph,  born  December  10,  iSoi,  died  February  11,  18S4; 
Mary,  born  May  17,  1804,  died  March  12,  1813  ;  John,  born  October 
4,  1806,  died  January  30,  1812;  Josiah,  born  January  i,  1809,  living. 
Only  two  bf  the  above-named  are  now  living — Samuel,  in  Benton,  Lake 
County,  111.,  with  his  daughter,  in  the  ninety-third  year  of  his  age;  and 
Josiah,  in  his  eighty  third  year,  in  Benton,  Yates  County,  N.  \".,  with 
his  son,  W.  B.  Voak.  James  Voak,  the  oldest  son,  was  born  in  New 
Jersey  and  was  one  of  the  four  children  that  came  from  New  Jersey  with 
their  parents  to  this  country,  that  was  then  a  wilderness,  and  had  much 
to  do  in  clearing  the  land  of  the  forest  and  making  it  to  "  bud  and  blos- 
som as  the  rose."  In  1817  he  married  Rebecca  Hall,  who  was  born  in 
the  same  locality,  March  15,  1800.  They  settled  and  lived  on  the  farm 
82 


650  ,        HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUNTY. 

wliere  Josiah  Voak  now  resides.  They  remained  there  uutil  their 
youngest  son,  John,  was  three  years  old,  then  making  a  change  with  his 
youngest  brother,  Josiah,  they  moved  to  and  resided  on  the  homestead 
farm  the  remainder  of  their  Uves.  James  and  Reb'ecca  Voak  had  four 
children:  Ellen,  who  was  born  May  21,  1819,  married  Herman  Stiles, 
and  now  resides  in  Kansas;  Huldah  U.,b()rn  August  10,  1  820,  married 
Hiram  U.  Reynolds,  and  resides  in  Illinois;  Isaac  D.,  born  September 
9,  1822,  now  resides  in  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  married  Margaret  N.  Scott;  she 
died  leaving  three  children — Lorin,  the  oldest,  only  survives  and  now 
resides  in  Chicago,  111.  At  the  age  of  twenty  James  Voak,  with  others 
of  his  brothers  and  sisters,  joined  tiie  Methodist  Church,  and  lived 
thereafter  a  consistent  Christian,  honoring  his  profession  by  an  upright, 
pious  and  good  life.  He  was  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  M.  E.  Church 
at  the  time  it  was  built  in  1844,  and  contributed  liberally  to  its  con- 
struction and  support  while  he  lived.  All  of  his  brothers  and  sisters,  as 
well  as  their  parents,  were  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  Meetings 
were  held  at  their  home  for  many  years  previous  to  the  building  of  the 
church,  and  the  homestead  was  the  stopping  place  of  the  early  itinerant 
preachers.  John  Voak,  youngest  son  of  James,  was  born  in  Benton, 
N.  Y.,  July  13,  1827,  and  was  educated  at  the  common  schools  and 
G.  W.  Seminary  at  Lima,  N.  Y.  He  has  been  a  farmer  all  his  life  and 
stills  owns  the  homestead.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and  is  justice 
of  the  peace,  which  position  he  has  held  for  a  number  of  years.  He 
married  Rachel  Schoon  Scott,  daughter  of  William  Scott;  she  died 
October  2,  1885.  They  liad  three  children:  Marj'  R.,  Horace  G.  and 
Dexter  J.  Mary  R  died  January  7,  1878,  aged  twenty-si.\  years; 
Hoiace  G.  married  Helen,  daughter  of  Wesley  Taylor,  of  Prattsburgh, 
N  Y;  she  died  in  1887;  and  De.xter  J.  who  married  Oneida  C,  daugh- 
ter of  David  Wells,  of  I'otter,  N.  Y.  Mr  Voak  has  li\-ed  on  the  home- 
stead farm  since  about  three  years  old.  For  a  number  of  years  he  was 
engaged  largely  in  introducing  agricultural  implements  and  machines, 
having  sold  the  first  successful  combination  reaper  and  mower,  the  first 
self  raking  reaper,  the  first  horsefork,  the  first  glass  fruit  jar  or  can,  and 
various  other  inventions.  He  kept  the  "  Voak  Post-office  "  as  deputy 
the  first  five  years  of  its  existence.  Peregrine  Hollett  being  postmaster 
at  that  time. 


FA  MIL  Y  SKE  TCHES.  6  5 1 

Wheeler,  Horace  B.,  son  of  ICphraim  and  Fannie  (Brown)  Wheeler, 
was  born  June  20,  1826,  in  this  town,  and  was  educated  at  the  district 
schools.  He  has  been  a  very  successful  farmer,  owning  at  the  present 
time  400  acres  of  land,  one  of  the  finest  farms  in  \'ates  County.  He 
has  always  been  a  Republican,  but  has  taken  no  very  active  part  in  town 
affairs,  devoting  his  time  and  energy  to  the  cultivation  of  his  farm  and 
the  raising  of  stock.  Mr.  Wheeler  married,  in  October,  1855,  Betsey  P., 
daughter  of  Silas  Lacey,  of  Warren,  Pa.,  and  their  children  are  Glenri 
Lincoln,  who  married  Lelia  C,  daughter  of  Adam  Hunt  of  Milo,  N.  Y., 
and  Brad.  H.  Wheeler,  who  died  aged  eighteen 

Wyman,  George  G.,  son  of  Samuel  and  Betsey  R.  (Walterman)  Wy- 
man,  a  descendant  of  the  eighth  generation  from  Roger  Williams  of 
Rhode  Island,  was  born  in  Potter,  August  9,  1806.  He  was  educated 
at  the  common  schools  of  the  day,  and  he  still  owns  the  farm  upon 
vviiich  he  was  born.  In  politics  he  has  always  been  a  Republican,  and 
has  taken  an  active  interest  in  the  affairs  of  his  native  town.  He  has 
been  supervisor  four  years  and  assessor  twelve  years.  He  is  a  member 
of  Milo  Lodge  at  Penn  Yan,  V.  and  A.  M.,  and  he  and  his  family  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  October  20,  1831,  Mr. 
Wyman  married  Caroline,  daughter  of  Samuel  Ross,  of  Mansfield,  Conn., 
and  they  had  twelve  children  :  Adelia  S.,  who  married  Edwin  J.  Hermans, 
of  Potter,  N.  Y.;  Benjamin  W.,  who  married  Rachel  Crawford  of  Penn 
Yan,  N.  Y.;  Harriet  R.  (deceased),  married  E.  C.  Hobart  of  Potter, 
N.  Y.;  Elizabeth  R.,  married  Frank  Tilford,  of  Ontario  County,  N.  Y.; 
Sarah  G.  (deceased) ;  l^mily  L.,  an  artist  who  teaches  at  Wilbraliam, 
Mass.;  Alice  A.  (deceased);  Ella  E.,  married  J.  B.  Tracj*,  of  Schuyler 
County,  N.  Y.;  Edward  S.  (deceased),  who  married  Lizzie  Bordwell,  of 
Potter,  N.  Y.;  Susan  C,  who  married  John  Voorhees,  of  Potter,  N.  Y.; 
Flora  A.,  who  married  Martin  Foster,  of  this  town  ;  and  Henry  B.,  who 
married  Mary  Anderson,  of  Milo,  N.  Y.,  and  resides  on  the  honustcad. 

Town  of  Middlesex. 

Adams,  Alden  A.,  son  of  Lovell  and  Susanna  P.  (Curtis)  Adams,  was 
born  December  23,  1848,  a  native  of  this  town,  and  was  educated  at  the 
district  schools  and   Naples  Academy.      Mr.   Adams  has  been  a  farmer 


652  HISTORY  OF  YATES  COUNTY. 

nearly  all  his  life,  but  has  been  in  the  mercantile  business  for  the  last 
few  years.  He  was  engaged  in  the  hardware  trade  for  about  three 
years,  under  the  firm  name  of  Williams  &  Adams,  but  they  sold  out  and 
since  that  time  he  has  been  in  the  general  merchandise  business,  and  is 
the  postmaster  at  Middlesex.  In  politics  he  has  always  been  a  Repub- 
lican and  has  been  supervisor  of  this  town  two  terms,  1887—88.  He  is 
a  charter  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.,  of  this  place.  Mr.  Adams  mar- 
ried Lodenia  E  ,  daughter  of  Robert  Rackham,  of  this  town,  March  26, 
1870,  and  their  children  are  Alta  B.,  Lovell  L,  and  Lura  B. 

Conley,  J.  Arden,  M.D  ,  of  Middlese.x,  son  of  Oscar  and  Alvira 
(Pulver)  Conley,  was  born  October  30,  1865,  in  Jerusalem,  N.  Y.,  edu- 
cated at  the  district  school  and  Penn  Yan  Academ)-,  and  after  leaving 
there  went  to  the  New  York  Eclectic  Medical  College,  where  he  gradu- 
ated with  honors  in  1888,  receiving  98  per  cent,  out  of  a  possible  100. 
After  receiving  his  diploma  he  began  the  practice  of  medicine  at  Italy 
Hill,  and  remained  there  for  about  two  years  and  then  came  to  this 
town,  where  he  now  has  a  large  practice.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Yates 
County  Medical  Society,  Royal  Templars  of  Temperance,  and  the  New- 
York  State  Eclectic  Medical  Society.  He  married  Olivia,  daughter  of 
Leman  Corey,  of  Jerusalem,  N.  Y.,  and  they  are  members  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church  of  this  place. 

Darling,  Lemuel  T.,  son  of  Alden  and  Asenith  (Truesdell)  Darling, 
was  born  March  5,  1838,  in  Phelps,  Ontario  County,  N.  Y.,  and  came 
to  this  town  with  his  parents,  when  a  child.  He  was  educated  at  the 
common  schools  and  has  been  a  farmer  all  his  life.  In  politics  an  active 
Republican,  he  has  been  assessor  three  years,  and  at  the  present  time 
he  is  supervisor  of  Middlesex,  N.  Y.,  liax'ing  been  re-elected  in  1892. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  M  E.  Church  and  also  a  member  of  the 
A.  O.  U.  W.  Society,  of  that  place.  December  31,  1891,  Mr.  Darling 
married  Axcelia,  daughter  of  William  L.  and  Angeline  (Parsons)  Phelps, 
of  Italy,  N.  Y.  She  was  born  August  15,  1847,  in  Italy,  Yates  Count)', 
N.  Y. 

Loomis,  Allen,  son  of  Nathaniel  and  Mariah  (Fitch)  Loomis,  was  born 
August  15,  1839,  in  Middlesex,  and  was  educated  in  the  district  schools 
and  Rusliville  Academj'.  He  has  been  a  farmer  all  his  life  In  politics 
a  Republican,  he  has  taken  an  active  interest  in  the  aftairs  of  liis  nati\e 


FAMILY  SKETCHES.  653 

town.  He  has  been  assessor  two  terms  and  supervisor  two  years, 
1889-90.  Both  he  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church  at 
Riishville,  N.  Y.  February  14,  1871,  he  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of 
Harold  Ellerington,  of  this  town,  and  their  children  are  Nellie  M.,  born 
December  2,  1871  ;  Anna  M.,born  May  19,  1877;  and  Carrie  E.,  born 
February  18,  1881. 

Smith,  James  E.,  son  of  Simon  and  Martha  (Bush)  Smith,  was  born 
January  21,  1857,  in  Naples,  N.  Y.,  was  educated  at  Naples  Academy 
and  Lima,  N.  Y.  Mr.  Smith  has  been  a  farmer  all  his  life.  He  came 
to  this  town  in  July,  1883,  and  purchased  a  fine  farm  in  the  valley  be- 
tween Rushville  and  Middlesex  village.  Mr.  Smith  is  one  of  the  rail- 
road commissioners  of  this  town.  In  politics  he  is  a  Prohibitionist. 
He  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church  of  this  town.  He 
married  Catherine,  daughter  of  Casemer  Bliss  of  Ovvego,  N.  \'  ,  Janu 
ary  23,  1868. 

Tyler,  Harvey  W.,  son  of  Roswell  R.  and  Sarah  (Wood)  Tyler,  was 
born  March  25,  1844,  in  this  town,  and  educated  at  the  district  schools, 
Naples  Academy  and  the  State  Normal  School  at  Albany,  N.  Y.  He 
taught  school  for  about  four  years,  since  which  time  he  has  been  a 
farmer.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican  and  has  held  the  office  of  justice 
of  the  peace  for  about  twelve  years.  Mr.  Tyler  and  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Middlesex.  He  is  also  a  member  of 
A.  O.  U.  W.,  of  this  place.  September  26,  1871,  he  married  Amanda, 
daughter  of  John  L.  Dintruff,  of  this  town,  and  their  children  are 
Carrie  B  ,  John  D.  and  Frank  R. 

Williams,  Lewis  Cass,  son  of  Oliver  S.  Williams,  was  born  July  27, 
1858,  in  this  this  town,  was  educated  at  the  district  schools  and  Penn 
Yan  Academy  and  has  been  a  farmer  nearlj-  all  his  life.  He  entered 
upon  the  hardware  business  under  the  firm  name  of  Williams  &  Adams, 
but  gave  up  the  business  after  three  years.  He  was  postmaster  under 
President  Cleveland.  In  politics  always  a  Democrat,  he  was  supervisor 
of  Middlesex  in  1885-86,  and  both  he  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
M.  E.  Church  at  Middlesex.  He  married  Carrie,  daughter  of  William 
Foster,  of  the  town  of  Middlesex,  and  their  children  are  Marion  C.  and 
Marie  William.s. 


654  HIS  TOR  Y  OF  YA  TES  CO  UN  T  Y 

Williams,  Oliver  S.,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Middlesex,  May  1 1,  1823, 
and  has  been  a  continuous  resident  of  the  town  since  that  date,  his 
principal  occupation  being  farming;  has  been  engaged  at  different  times 
in  the  mercantile  business,  and  has  dealt  in  real  estate,  sheep  and  cat- 
tle to  some  extent ;  has  held  several  town  offices  of  minor  importance  ; 
was  elected  supervisor  of  the  town  in  1854  on  a  ticket  representing  a 
party  largely  in  the  minority  ;  was  elected  member  of  Assembly  on  the 
People's  ticket  in  1867.  Married  Marion  B.  Foote,  daughter  of  Eli 
Foote,  February  18,  1857.  Five  children  have  been  born  to  them,  three 
only  surviving  :  Joel  F.,  killed  by  accident  November  7,  1866,  aged  five 
years  ;  Lucy  P.,  died  March  20,  1891,  aged  nearly  twenty-four  years; 
Lewis  C,  oldest  son,  resides  in  the  town,  and  is  a  progressive  farmer 
and  breeder  of  American  Merino  sheep  ;  was  elected  supervisor  of  the 
town  on  minority  ticket  in  1886,  and  re  elected  by  an  increased  majority 
in  1887.  The  daughter,  Carlotta,  is  a  graduate  of  Brockport  Normal 
School  (Class  '91),  and  is  engaged  in  teaching  as  principal  of  the  graded 
school  at  Middlesex  Center;  John  E.,  youngest  son,  is  a  student  at 
Brockport  Normal  School.  Many  radical  changes  have  taken  place  in 
the  township  within  the  memory  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  The  sol- 
itary log  cabin  of  our  pioneer  settlers  near  the  center  of  the  town  has 
given  place  to  a  flourishing  little  village — Middlesex  Center — contain- 
ing a  population  of  several  hundred.  Four  fine  churches  of  different 
denominations  have  been  substituted  for  as  many  "Inns"  or  "Tav- 
erns "  of  "  ye  olden  time,"  all  of  the  same  denomination.  No  licenses 
for  the  sale  of  liquor  have  been  granted  in  the  town  for  the  past  twenty- 
five  years,  and  no  taxes  levied   for  the  town  poor  the  last  fifteen  years. 

Town  of   Italy. 

Clark,  Harvey  M.,  son  of  Joel  M.  and  Lucelia  (Fosgate)  Clark,  was 
born  June  8,  1850,  in  this  town,  and  was  educated  at  the  district  schools. 
He  learned  the  cabinet-maker's  trade  and  carried  on  that  business  for 
about  twelve  years,  and  followed  the  carpenter's  trade  several  years, 
since  which  time  he  has  been  a  farmer.  Mr.  Clark  has  been  prominent 
in  the  affairs  of  this  town,  has  served  as  town  clerk  for  three  years,  and 
supervisor  for  two  terms.      In  politics  he  is  a  staunch  Republican.      He 


FAMIL  Y  SKETCHES.  655 

nuuricd  Hattie  R.,  daughter  of  Albert  Durham,  of  Jerusalem,  N.  Y.,  and 
the\-  have  three  children  :   Mary  A.,  Cora  E.  and  Ward  L.  Clark. 

Fox,  James,  was  born  in  Vermont  and  married  Jane  Dean,  and  set- 
tled in  this  town  in  18 13.  He  was  the  first  militia  captain  in  the  town, 
and  was  always  known  as  Captain  Fox.  He  was  a  school  teacher,  and 
held  various  town  offices.  He  died  in  1868,  aged  eighty-two.  His  wife 
died  in  1852.  They  had  nine  sons,  Thomas  J.,  James  L.,  Amos  D., 
William  H,  Ira  S.,  Lewis  M.,  Alden  D.,  Charles  H.  and  Jeremiah  F. 
Alden  D.  Fox  married  Amy  Robson,  and  they  had  two  children,  Anna 
and  Elmer.  Mr.  Fox  was  educated  at  the  district  schools,  com- 
menced life  as  school  teacher,  taught  thirteen  terms;  attended  school 
at  Franklin  Academy  two  terms,  and  two  terms  at  other  graded  schools. 
He  has  been  a  farmer  all  his  life.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  and 
has  taken  an  active  interest  in  the  affairs  of  his  town  and  county.  He 
has  held  many  offices  in  his  town,  including  that  of  town  clerk  for  a 
number  of  years,  town  superintendent  of  schools  for  two  terms,  county 
clerk  one  term  (1868-70),  supervisor  nine  terms,  and  has  iield  by  ap- 
pointment the  office  of  postmaster  for  a  number  of  years.  He  was  also 
enrolling  officer  through  the  late  war. 

Kennedy,  David,  son  of  John  and  Jane  (Carson)  Kennedy,  was  born 
October  12,  1839,  at  Guelph,  Canada,  and  came  with  his  parents  to  this 
town  in  1841.  He  was  educated  at  the  common  schools  and  has  been 
a  farmer  all  his  life.  In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat.  Mr.  Kennedy  has 
always  taken  an  active  interest  in  the  affairs  of  the  town,  and  has  been 
supervisor  two  terms.  He  enlisted  September  2,  1864,  in  Company  C, 
One  Hundred  and  Eighty-eighth  Regiment  New  York  Infantry,  and 
was  in  the  battles  of  Hatcher's  Run,  Five  Forks,  Petersburg,  Va.,  and 
was  at  Appomattox  at  the  time  of  Gen  Lee's  surrender.  He  was  mus- 
tered out  July  I,  1865.  He  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Alexander 
McMichael,  of  Prattsburg,  N.  Y.  They  have  six  children,  viz.:  George 
M.,  Jennie  Grace,  Mary  B.,  Jessie  A.,  Arthur  and  Walter,  all  living.  Mr. 
Kennedj'  is  one  of  the  loan  commissioners  of  the  county. 

Kennedy,  William  A.,  son  of  John  and  Jane  (Carson)  Kennedy,  was 
born  in  Italy,  N.  Y.,  April  2,  1851.  He  was  educated  at  the  common 
schools  of  this  town  and   Scottsville,  N.  Y.      iVIr.  Kerniedy  has  been  a 


656  HISTORY  UF  YATES  COUNTY. 

manufacturer  nearly  ever  since  he  left  school,  and  he  is  carrying  on  at 
the  present  time  the  manufacture  of  fruit  baskets  at  Italy  Hill,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Kennedy  &  Pulver,  and  they  also  do  custom  milling  busi- 
ness at  the  same  place.  In  politics  Mr.  Kennedy  is  a  Prohibitionist, 
and  is  a  member  of  Royal  Templars  of  Temperance.  He  and  his  family, 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  this  place.  He 
married  Ella,  daughter  of  Jerome  and  Mary  (Netif)  Doubleday,  of  Star- 
key,  N.  Y.,  November  7,  1872,  and  by  this  union  there  are  two  children, 
Jerome  D.  and  Livonia  A.  Kennedy. 

Preston,  George  L.,  was  born  at  Canisteo,  Steuben  County,  N.  Y., 
April  18,  1 86 1.  He  was  the  only  son  of  Elisha  W.  and  Martha  J.  Pres- 
ton, who  still  reside  at  Canisteo.  He  received  his  early  training  from 
the  district  schools  and  Canisteo  Academy,  and  began  the  study  of 
medicine  in  1879,  attending  college  in  Buffalo  during  the  winter  of 
1880-81,  and  completing  his  study  at  the  Eclectic  Medical  College  of 
the  city  of  New  York,  where  he  graduated  in  the  spring  of  1882.  He 
commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  West  Almond,  remaining 
there  but  a  few  months,  when  he  came  to  Italy  in  November,  1882, 
where  he  has  since  resided  with  the  exception  of  the  winter  of  1885-86, 
which  was  spent  at  the  Post  Graduate  Medical  School  of  New  York. 
He  married  Carrie  A.,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Rosina  Jamison,  March 
7,  18S8.  Mrs.  Preston  was  born  at  Canisteo,  on  June  15,  1862,  and  re- 
ceived her  education  in  the  Canisteo  Academy.  They  have  one  son, 
J.  Louis  Preston,  born,  February  5,  1889.  Mr.  Preston's  political  views 
have  always  been  Republican,  and  he  was  honored  by  his  party  with 
the  office  of  coroner  November  3,  1891. 

Pulver,  George,  son  of  Peter  and  Lavina  (Conklin)  Pulver,  was  born 
July  2,  1826,  in  Jerusalem.  He  was  educated  at  the  common  schools 
and  has  been  a  successful  farmer.  In  politics  he  is  a  Prohibitionist. 
He  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at 
Italy  Ilill,  and  he  is  also  trustee  of  the  same  church.  Mr.  Pulver  mar- 
ried, first,  Eliza  E.,  daughter  of  William  Crosby,  of  Benton,  N.  Y.,  by 
whom  he  had  two  children,  Frank  and  Crosby,  both  deceased.  Mrs. 
Pulver  died  in  1862,  and  he  married,  second,  Nancy,  daughter  of  Will- 
iam Griswold,  of  this  town,  and  they  have  six  children  ;  Willard  W., 
Morris  E.,  John  M.,  Peter  D.,  Alice  M.  and  Cornelia.      All  living. 


FAMILY  SKETCHES.  657 

Robson,  A.  Flag,  was  born  in  Italy,  N.  Y.,  February  8,  1857.  His 
father,  Thomas  S.  Robson,  was  born  in  Italy,  N.  Y.,  February  2,  18 12, 
where  he  lived  until  his  death,  November  13,  1S78,  his  father,  Andrew 
Robson,  being  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  in  town.  Thomas  S.  married 
Abigail  P.  Hodge,  who  was  born  February  9,  181 8,  and  died  April  11, 
1881.  A.  Flag  Robson  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  at  East- 
man's National  Business  College  at  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  where  he 
graduated  in  the  spring  of  1874.  He  was  town  clerk  several  years 
prior  to  1885,  and  supervisor  of  the  town  of  Italy  during  the  years  1885 
and  1886,  and  has  been  postmaster  at  the  Italy  post-office  continuously 
since  February  13,  1879,  to  the  present  (January  1892).  Mr.  Robson 
married,  November  22,  1881,  Mary  P.  Negus,  daughter  of  Rev.  C.  R. 
and  Mary  A.  Negus,  who  was  born  at  Taberg,  Oneida  County,  N.  Y., 
January  i,  1858.  He  has  been  in  the  mercantile  business  at  Italy, 
N.  Y.,  since  1874.      In  politics  Mr.  Robson  is  a  Republican. 

White,  Josiah,  was  born  in  Saratoga  County,  N.  Y.,  in  1810,  and 
came  to  Branchport  in  1835,  and  engaged  in  lumbering  on  what  is 
knownas  the  Beddoe  tract,  and  later  moved  to  the  west  part  of  Jerusa- 
lem, where  he  now  resides.  Mr.  White  has  held  many  offices  of  public 
trust,  among  them  being  town  supervisor.  He  married  Miss  Sally 
Loomis,  in  1837,  and  they  had  two  sons,  of  whom  Ezra,  who  resides  in 
Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  was  president  of  Eastman's  College  for  many 
years.  He  also  had  many  city  offices.  Ransom  resides  in  San  Fran- 
cisco, Cal.,  and  is  interested  in  the  insurance  business.  After  the  death' 
of  his  first  wife,  Mr.  White  married,  in  185  i,  I\Iiss  Elizabeth  Loomis,  by 
whom  he  had  two  children.  Otto  L.  and  Jennie.  Otto  L.  resides  on  the 
farm;  Jennie  married  George  McKay,  and  resides  in  Jerusalem  on  the 
place  known  as  the  Loomis  farm. 

Wixom,  Bradford  S.,  son  of  Shubal  and  Charlotte  (DeKay)  Wixom, 
was  born  August  19,  1832,  in  Prattsburgh,  Steuben  County,  N.  Y.,  and 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  Franklin  Academy,  of  his  na- 
tive town.  He  began  his  career  as  school  teacher  in  1850.  In  185S  he 
married  Helen  E.,  daughter  of  the  late  Samuel  Graham,  and  in  1864 
moved  to  Italy,  Yates  County,  and  engaged  in  farming.  He  was  su- 
pervisor of  the  town  in  1868-69-70,  the  last  year  serving  as  chairman 
of  the  board  of  supervisors;  was  under-sheriflfof  the  count}'  in  1872, 
83 


658  HISTORY  OF   YATES  COUNTY. 

having  been  appointed  to  that  position  by  John  L.  Dinturff,  then  sher- 
iff. He  was  school  commissioner  of  the  county  during  the  years  1873— 
74  and  1875,  since  which  time  he  has  been  justice  of  the  peace,  having 
been  re-elected  each  succeeding  four  years.  He  also  served  two  years 
as  justice  of  sessions.  Politically  he  has  been  identified  with  the  Re- 
publican party,  having  cast  his  first  vote  for  the  electors  of  John  C.  Fre- 
mont. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wixom  have  two  sons  and  one  daughter — Charles 
F.,  of  Buffalo,  N.  Y.;  Jessie  H.,  now  of  Rochester,  N.  Y.;  and  Claude  H., 
now  on  the  farm  in  Italy. 


INDEX. 


Abolition  party,  the,  in  Dundee,  390 
Academy  and    Female    Seminary,  Yates 
County.  317 
Dundee,  232 
Penn  Yan,  217,  316-19 
alumni  of,  223 
preceptreses  of,  219 
principals  of,  218 
teachers  in,  219 
Yates,  227 
Adams,  Rodney  L.,  209,  210 
Agricultural  advantages,  247 
production,  increase  in,  248 
Society,  113 

olficers  of  the,  114  et  seq. 
Agriculture  iu  Middlesex,  475 

possibilities  in,  249 
Albany  County,  the  first  organized  juris- 
diction embracing  Yates,  18 
Algonqvnn  or  Huron  Indian.s,  28 
Altitudes,  comparative,  20 
Anderson,  Alexander,  419 
Andrews,  Benajah,  278,  42  > 
John  T.,  4i0 
J.  T.,  biograpliy  of,  501 

portrait  of,  facing  410 
John  T.  2d,  188 
Anti-Masonic  tidal  wave,  253 
Appeals.  Court  of,  lUo 
Ark,  the,  291 
Armstrong.  John,  281 
Arnold,    Israel   H.,  computations  of  alti- 
tudes by,  20 
Aspell,  William  W.,  275 
Ayres,  DeWitt  C,  209 
Steven  B.,  209 

Babcock,  Charles,  281 
Baker,  Charles  S.,  182 
Baldwin,  Philemon  357 

tragedy,  the,  371 
Balev,  George  E.,  187 
Bank.  Baldwin's,  333 
Bankers,  private,  332 
Banking  houses  of  Penn  Yan,  330 


Bank,  J.  T.  Raplee's,  332 

of  Bainbridge,  332 

of  Penn  Yan,  First  National,  333 

Yates  County,  331 

Yates  County  National,  334 
Banks  in  Dundee,  381 
Barden,  Otis,  S.lo 
Bare  Hill,  legend  of.  471 
Barnes  Fruit  Line,  the,  244 
Barrington,  first  settlers  of,  445 

first  town  meeting  in,  448 

formation  and  organization  of,  443 

organization  of,  lilO 

settlers  of  East  Hill  in,  447 

supervisors  of,  448 

topography  of,  444 
Barton    Maj.  Benjamin,  354. 

Michael  II.,  ill 
Basket  factorie.s,  243 
Bassett,  William.  4G0 
Bates,  George.  4.59 
Baxter,  Thomas,  281 
Bavard,  Aaron.  277 
Beddoe,  Capt.  John,  2(i7,  422 

Tract,  the.  422 
Beekman,  Benjamin  B..  409 
Bellis,  Delos  A.,  190 
Bellona.  365 
Bench  and  Bar.  Members  of,  170  et  seq. 

Andrews,  John  T.  2d.  188 

Baker,  Charles  S.,  182 

Balev,  George  E.,  187 

Baskin,  Lvman  J..  193 

Bellis,  Delos  A.,  190 

Briggs.  William  S.,  183 

Brown,  Morris.  17'i 

Butler.  John  H.,  185 

Carmodv.  Thomas,  192 

D\velle."WiIliam  D.,  193 

Fiero,  William  H.,  190 

Franklin.  Benedict  W.,  174 

Glover,  Justice  3.,  173 

Gridley,  Abraham,  192 

Harpending,  A.  V.,  175 

Harpending,  Henry  C,  192 


66o 


INDEX. 


Bench  and  Bar,  Memlier  of,  Harwick,  An- 
drew C,  189 

Hixson,  Foster  A.,  193 

Hoyt,  Benjamin  L.,  185 

Huson,  Calvin  J.,  191 

Johnson.  John  H.,  192 

Jones,  Henry  V.  L.,  188 

Judd,  Charles  G.,  178 

Kinue,  Silas,  186 

Knox,  John  T.,  189 

Leary,  Michael  A.,  187 

Lewis,  John  L.,  178 

Morris,  Daniel,  176 

Morris,  William  T.,  190 

Morrison,  Roderick  N.,  172 

Ofrden,  Darius  A„  189. 

Oliver,  Andrew,  179 

Oliver,  William  M.,  170 

Prosser,  David  B.,  177 

Seeley,  James  L.,  173 

Spicer,  James,  18.5 

Stewart,  Henry  M.,  180 

Strnble,  Hantord,  184 

Sunderlin,  Delazon  J.,  174 

Sunderlin  Martm  J.,   184 

Taylor,  James,  173 

Van  Allen,  James  V.,  175 

Van  Buren,  Everet,  172 

Welles,  Henry,  172 

Welles,  Samuel  H.,   178 

Wilkin,  Lewis  J.,  193 

Wisner,  Henry  A.,  182 

Woloott,  Hiland  G.,  187 

Wolcott,  John  D.,  181 
Bennett,  Abraham  H.,  207 

Thomas,  278. 
Benton,  Center,  305 

changes  in  territory  of,  352 

churches  of,  3G6 

formation  of,  98 

formation  of  town  of,  350 

justice.s  of  the  peace  of,  304 

later  settlers  of,  362 

Le\  i,  354 

pioneers  of,  353-61. 

supervisors  of,  364 

topography  of,  352 
"Big  elm  tree,"  in  Italy,  480 
Big  stream.  372 
Biography  of  Andrews,  J.  T.,  501 

Bitlev,  Peter  H.,  490 

Briggs,  William  S.,  496 

Casner,  Ezekiel,  519 

Cornwell,  George  S.,  492 

Earl,  Jephthah,  498 


Biography  of  Ellsworth,  Samuel  S.,  505 

Ellsworth,  Samuels.,  jr.,  508 

Hartshorn,  Isaac  W.,  512 

Lupham,  George  H..  516 
■-  Lapham,  Ludlow  E..  514 

Merritt,  LaFayette,  487 

Purdy,  Stephen.  499 

Scheetz,  John  C,  495 

Sheldon,  Eli,  488 

Sheppard,  Charles  C,  524 

Sheppard,  Morris  F.,   521 

Smith,  Franklin  E.,  520 

Southerland,  John,  491 

Spicer,  James,  510 

Struhle,  Hanford,  503 

L^nderwood,  Oliver,  491 

Van  Alen,  James  V.,  513 
Birdsell,  Lewis,  275 
Bitley,  Peter  H.,  421 

biography  of,  490 
portrait  of,  facing  420 
Blair,  John,  473 
Bluir  Point,  21 
Board  of  Education,  218 
Booth,  Gifford  J.,  210 
Bordwell,  Consider,  460 
Botstord,  Elnathan,  416 

Elnatlian,  jr.,  and  Benjamin,  370 

Jonathan,  385 
Botsfords,  the,  432 
Boyce,  John,  447 
Boyd,  Robert  M.,  419 
B_ranchport,  424 

Braijt,  Joseph  (Thayendenaga),  53 
Brifk-vards,  308 
Bridgman,  G.  D.  A.,  208,  210 
Brown,  Benjamin,  jr.,  45S 
Briggs  Brothers,  the,  459 

Francis,  459 

John  and  Peleg.  274 

William  S.,  183 

biography  of,  496 
portrait  of,  facing  182 
"Brook  Kedron,"  86 
Brown,  Daniel,  and  family,  415 

Jesse  and  Joshua,  4.59 

Morris,  176 
Bruen.  Amzi.  279 
Buel,  Samuel,  356 
Bush,  Dr.  Wynans,  421 
Business     and     professional    interests    of 

Penn  Van  in  1832,  305 
Butler,  John  H.,  186,  211,  245 
Buxton,  John,  278 


INDEX. 


66i 


Canal  appraiser,  111 
Commissioner,  111 
Croolced  Lalte,  267 
Canandaigua  lake,  19 
Capell,  .Tohn.  280 
Card,  Joli, -160 

Stephen,  277 
Carmody.  Thomas,  192 
Carriage,  the  Fiiend's,  89 

works,  343 
Cartier,  Jaciiues,  39 
Cascade  iiills.  295 
Casner,  Ezekiel.  biography  of,  519 

portrait  of,  facing  340 
Castner,  Samuel,  279 
Cemetery,  City  Hill,  43G 
Chadwick,  Prof.  Edmund,  229 
Champlain  and  the   Colonj'  of   the   Com- 
pany of  a  Hundred  Partners,  41 
and  the  Iroquois,  42 
liis  voyage  of  discovery,  40 
Samuel  de,  39 
Chapiii,  Gen.  Israel,  67 
Chidsey,  Augustus,  280 
Chissom,  Robert  and  Moses,  357 
"Chronicle,  Yates  County,"  the,  209 
Church,  Baptist,  in  Benton,  367 
in  Dundee,  '.'tih 
in  Jerusalem,  427 
in  Penn  Yan,  324 
in  Torre}-,  441 
Brancliport  Presbyterian,  428 

Universalist,  429 
Catholic,  in  Dundee.  407 

in  Penn  Yan,  327 
Christian,  in  Dundee,  400 
Episcopal,  in  Penn  Yan,  325 
First   Methodist   Episcopal,  of  Dres- 
den, 441 
Methodist  Episcopal  of  Benton,  366 
Episcopal  in  Penn  Yan,  322 
in   Dundee,  394 
in  Jerusalem,  427 
in  Torre}',  441 
Presbyterian  in  Benton,  368 
in  Dresden,  442 
in  Dundee.  395 
in  Penn  Yan,  320 
St.  John's,  in  Dresden,  442 
St.  Luke's,  at  Branchport,  429 
Churches  of  Italy,  485 
in  Middlese-\,  476 
City  Hill,  436 
Clan  system  among  the  Indians,  33  et  seq. 


Clark,  Samuel,  418 

■U'illiam,  481 
Cleveland,  Libbeu.s,  280 

S.  C,  209,  214 
Clinton,  Gen.  James,  54 

Governor,   council  of    Indians    called 
at  Fort  Schuyler  by,  58 

protection  of  Indian  rights  by,  05 
Coats,  Sanford,  418 
Cole,  Asa,  302 

Asa  and  Smith,  356 
Erastus,  418 
Ezra,  355 
Coleman,  John,  358 
College,  Keuka,  see  Keuka  College 
Colonies,  activity  in  planting,  41 

rival,  48 
Colony  of  the  Plymouth  Company,  41 
Colonization  schemes,  review  of,  48,  etseq 
Columbus,  Christopher,  39 
Commission,    .arbitration,     to   settle    land 

claims  of  Massachusetts,  64 
Commissioners,  School,  216 
Committee,   visit    of  the  Friend's,  to  the 

Genesee  country,  79 
Companies,  the  lessee,  adjustment  of  dif- 
ficulties between,  68 
Company,    Commercial  Iron    AVorks,  342 
Crooked  Lake  Navigation,  268 

Steamboat,  267 
Hammondsport  Vintage,  345 
Keuka  Navigation,  268 

Steamboat,  268 
Lake  Keuka  Navigation,  269 

Steam  Navigation,  268 
New  York  Genesee,  64 
Niagara  Genesee,  64 
Parks  Manufacturing,  343 
Penn  Yan  &  New  York  R.  R.  292 
Strulile  Kidney  and  Liver  Cure,  344 
Comstock,  Achilles,"370,  417 
Confederacy,  the  Iroquoii!,  30  et  seq. 
Congregational   church  of  Rusliville,  465 
Constitution,  amendments  to.  and  changes 

in,  affecting  the  courts,  166  et  seq. 
Controvei.sy     over   lands    between    New 
York  and  Massachusetts,  62 
the  New  Hampshire  Grants,  65 
Cornplanter   at  the   council  at  Fort  Stan- 

wix,  59 
Cornwell.  George  R.,  address  of,  221 
biography  of.  492 
portrait  of.  facing  212 
Dr.  William,  284 


662 


INDEX. 


County  clerk  and  surrogate's  building,  110 
clerks,  112 
Courts,  168 

Judges  and  Surrogates,  112 
officers,  112 
Court  house  and  jail,  erection  of  first,  109 
first,  destroyed  by  fire,  109 
the  new.  109 
Courts,  County,  168 

development  of  the  responsibility  of, 

165 
General      Terms,      Circuit,      Special 
Terms,  and  Oyer  and  Termmer,  157 
Justices',  170 
organization  of,  107  - 
present  power    and  arrangement  of, 

165 
Special  Session,  170 
Surrogate's,  169 
Cowing,  Albert  R.,  423 
"Cressap's  war,"  51 
Crooked  Lake,  19 
Canal,  267 

building  of,  292 
Crosby,  John  F.,  240 

Nathan,  447 
Culver,  Franklin,  241 

David,  Thomas,  420 
Davis,  Jonathan,  416 

Samuel,  41 6 
Dayton,  Abraham,  85 

visit  of,  as  one  of  a  committee, 
to  the  Genesee  country,  79 
"Democratic  Organ,"  the,  210 
"Democratic  Whig,"    the  208,  209 
"Democrat,"  the  Penn  Yan,  208 
DeNonville  and  the  Senecas,  43 
Devil's  Hole,  tragedy  of,  50 
Disbrow,  Lodowick,  447 
Discovery,  claims  by  right  of,  49 
District  Attorneys,  113 
Districts,  formation  of,  98 
Dresden  village,  439 
Dundee,  churclies  of,  394 

early  condition  of,  375 

fires  in,  380 

former  business  firms  of.  382 

impetus  to  building  in,  391 

naming  of,  379 

present  business  firms  of,  383 

schools,  231 

teachers  in,  232 

village  of,  374 
Duulap,  Anson,  241 


Durham,  Benjamin,  417 

Dutch  East  India    Co.,    establishment  \ai 
trading  posts  by  the,  41 

exclusion  of,  by  the  English,  48 
tlie,  on  the  Hudson  river,  48 
Western  New  York  a  terra  incognita 
to  the,  18 

Dwelle,  William  D.,  193 

Dye,  John,  354 

Dyer,  Dr.  Jared,  460 

Earl,  Jephtha.  sr.,  355 

biography  of,  498 
portrait  of,  facing  354 
Early  customs  in  Dundee,  379 

settlers  of  Italy,  482  et  seq. 
Educational  institutions  of  Penn  Yan,  311 
Eddy  town,  370 

early  merchants  of,  374 
Eddy,  William,  370 
Eighty-fifth      Regiment,    enlistments    in 

from  Yates,  162 
Electric  Light  and  Power  Co.,  Penn  Yan, 

336 
Ellicott,  Andrew,  Joseph  and    Benjamin, 

73 
Elizabethtown,  303 

Ellsworth,  Samuel  S.,  biography  of,  505 
portrait  of,  facing  106 
Samuel  S.,  jr.,  biography  of,  508 
portrait  of,  facing  508 
Encampment  of  Patriarchs.  337 
English  bounty  for  scalps,  56 

claims  to  the  territory    of  the     Five 

Nations,  45 
expedition  to  Chesapeake  Bay.  41 
final  victory  of,  in  1759,  47 
influence  with  the  Indians,  52 
Eries,  destruction  of,  by  the  Five  Nations, 

30 
Esperanza,  424 

Evidences  of  prehistoric  occupation,  23 
"Express."  Penn  Yan,  the,  210 

"Faithful  Sisterhood,  the."  94 

Farmers'  Bank  of  Penn  Yan,  the,  332 

Fenton,  Geo.  W.,  243 

Ferguson's  Corners,  365 

Fiero,  William  H.,  190 

Fiftieth  Regiment  New   York  Engineers, 

enlistments  in  from  Yates,  161 
Finch,  John  and  Solomon,  279 
Finton,  Joseph,  446 
Fire  department  of  Penn  Yan,  327-30 
Fires  in  Dundee,  380 


INDEX. 


663 


First  United  States  Sharpshooters,  enlist- 
ment in  from  Yates,  162 
Fitzwater,  George,  276 
Five  Nations,  destruction   of  other  trilies 
by,  30 

strength  of  in  1U77,  42 
Flint  Creek,  479 
Fortification  early,  290 
Fortifications,     evidences    of    Indian,    in 
Yates,  29 

the  Indians  as  builders  of,  29 
Fort  Niagara,  a  harbor  for  the  Indians,  55 

council  at,  50 
Fort  Schuyler,  council  of  Indians   called 

at,  58 
Fort  Stanwix,  treaty  of,  59 
Foster,  William,  473 
Fox's  Corners,  424 
Franklin,  Benedict  W.,  174 
Fraud  in  survey  of  Phelps  and    Gorham 

tract  discovered  by  Robert  Morris,  72 
Fredenburg,  Jacol),  279 
Fredenburgh,  William  J.,  74 
"  Frederickstown,'    100 
Freemasonry,  251.  et  seq. 
French,  activity  of  the.  in  establishing  set- 
tlements, 41 

and  English  war,  44 
of  1 756,  46 
claims  in  the  Genesee  country,  40 
dominion,  end  of  in  America,  47 
influence  with  the  Senecas,  results  of, 

45 
Jabez,  459 

merchants  secure  a  charter,  40 
power  augmented   by  the  Jesuits,  42 
success  of.  in  1756,  47 
the,  and  the  Iroquois,  in  1088,  44 
the,  in  the  Genesee  country,  44 
Friend,  arrival  of  the,  81 
death  of  the,  S7 

6rst  and  second  houses  of  the,  87 
last  will  of  the,  90 
method  of  traveling  of  the,  88 
per.tecution  of  the,  by    seceders  from 

her  society,  89 
preacliiug  to  the  Indians  by  the,  82 
removal  of  the,  to  Jerusalem,  85 
sermon  by  the,  l>efore  the  court,  90 
Friends,    buried   in   City  Hall  Cemetery, 
437 
Society,  decline  and  disintegration  of, 
92 

dissensions  in  the,  84 
female  celibates  in  the,  93 


Friends,  first  settlement  of  the,  79 
hardships  of  the,  80 
immunity   of   the,    from    Indian 

annoyance,  82 
lands  held  in  cominonalty  by  the, 

84 
means    by   which    the,    became 

possessed  of  lands,  81 
of,  in  Jerusalem,  426 
seceders    from    the,     and    their 

enmity,  89 
the,  partial    list  of   names  of  the 

memliers  of,  93 
the,  seek   confirmation   of    land 

titles  from  Williamson,  83 
the,  witliout  a  leader,  91 
Friend's,  the,  carriage,  89 

dwelling  and  meeting-house,  81 
in  Milo,  272 
Friend,  the,  432 

and  her  followers,  the  first  settlers  in 

Jerusalem,  414 
Pul)lic  Universal,  77 
removes  to  ''Brook  Kedron,"  86 
seeks  a  home  in  Canada,  85 
Frontenac,  Count  de,  invasion  of  the  Iro- 
quois territory  liy,  44 

Gage,  Moses.  358 

Gardner,  Mary,  276 

G.  A,  R,,  J.  B.  Sloan  post,  337 

Gaslight  Company,  Penn  Yan,  335 

Geology,  1 19  et  seq. 

Gilbert,  Ellas,  460 

Glenora,  407 

Glover,  Justice  S.,  173 

Gorham,  Nathaniel,  67 

preparations  for  survey  by,  69 
"Gore,  the,''  75 
Goundry,  George,  278 
Grape  basket  factory,  344 

introduction  of,  243 
culture,  beginning  of,  238 
changes  in,  246 
climatic  conditions  necessary  for, 

237 
previous  to  1865,  241 
diseases,  245 
pruning,  244 
the  Isabella,  239 
Grapes,  first  sales  of.  238 
Green  family  of  settlers,  the,  421 

George,  400 
Greenhalgh,   Weiilworth,   visit  of,  to  the 
Five  Nations,  42 


664 


INDEX. 


Green  Tract,  the,  421 
Gresg,  John,  267 
Gridley,  Abrahana,  192 

Hackett.  Jacob,  404 
Hall,  William,  45U 
Hamlin,  Myron,  389 

William  J.,  392 
Hardships  of  the  Friend's  Society,  80 
Harpending,  Anthony  C,  393 

A.  v.,  175 

Henry  C,  192 

Samuel,  376 
Harpending's  Corners,  375 

and  Eddytown,  377 
Hartshorn,  Isaac  W.,  biography  of,  512 
portrait  of,  facing  512 

Sanuiel,  419 
Hartwell,  Samuel,  417 
Harwick,  Andrew  C,  189 

lodge,  A.  O.  U.  W.,  339 
Hathaway,  Thomas.  416,  432 

and  Benedict  Robinson,  purchase 

of  lands  by,  85 
visit  of,  as  one  ot  a  committee, 
to  the  Genesee  country,  79 
Hatmaker,  Dr.  John,  histortical  report  ot. 

435 
Henderson,  Richard,  275 
"  Herald,"  the  Penn  Yan,  207,  304 
Himrod's  and  Uimrod's  Corners,  286 
Historical  Society,  organization  of,  116 

work  of,  118 
Hobart,  Rev,  William,  464 
"  Home  Advocate,"  the,  210 
"  Home  Record."  the,  385 
Honey,  Calvin,  387 
Hooper,  Adam,  72 
Hotels,  345 

in  Penn  Yan,  306 
Houghtaling,  family,  the,  375 
Hoyt,  Benjamin  L.,  185 
Hub  and  Spoke  Works.  345 
Hud.<on.  Henry,  41 
Hull,  Eliphalet,  350 
Hunt,  Adam,  275 
Hurd,  Abner,  and  sons,  370 
Hurons  and  Iroquois,  enmity  between,  30 
Huson,  Calvin,  jr.,  191 

Ice  company,  Lake  Keuka,  335 
Incorporation  of  Penn  Yan.  309-10 
Indians  as  builders  of  fortifications,  29 
clan  system  of  the,  32 
concession  of  territory  by,  61 
condition  of  the,  at  the  close  of  the 


Indians,  Revolution.  57 

council  of,  called  at  Fort  Schuyler,  58 

destruction  of  other  tribes  of,  by  the 
Five  Nations.  30  et  seq. 

English  influence  with  the,  52 

enmity  between  certain  trilies  of,  30 

kind  remembrance  of  the,  for  the 
French,  49 

occupation,  24,  26 

respect  of,  for  the  Friend's  society,]82 

rights  of,  to  certain  territory  con- 
ceded, 58 

Six  Nations  of,  34 

Sullivan's  expedition  against  the,  53 

the  Algonquin  or  Huron   tribe  of,   28 

the  Five  Nations  of,  28 

the  Neuter  Nation  of,  27 

the,  under  Guy  Johnson  and  Butler,57 

traditions  of  the,  26 

treatment  of,  by  the  United  States 
and  State  of  New  York,  58 

treaty  with,  at  Fort  Stanwix,  59 

Turner's  comment  concerning  the 
elements  of  the  destruction  of  the, 
40 

village  of  Kashong,  28 

who  occupied  Yates  county,  28 
Inspector  of  State  Prisons,  111 
Iroquois  and  Hurons,  enmity  between,  30 

clans  of  the,  33 

concerning  the  name,  32 

confederacy,  the,  30  et  seq, 

doom  ot  the.  43 

league,  characteristics  of  the,  32 
founding  of,  33 

neutrality  of.  during  Queen  Anne's 
war,  45 

peculiarities  of  the  clan  system  of,  34 
et  seq. 

power  of,  37 

sale  of  lands  by  the,  to  the  Massa- 
chusetts Company,  38 

the,  26  et  seq. 

the,  and  the  French,  in  1688,  44 
Italy,  churches  of,  485 

early  settlement  of,  481 

Hollow,  480 

justices  of  the  peace  of,  485 

location  of,  479 

of  early  settlers  of,  482  et  seq. 

original  formation  of,  99 

Summit,  480 

supervisors  of,  484 

table  of  altitudes  in,l  21 

water  courses  of,  470 


INDEX. 


665 


Jacob's  Brook,  290 

Jail,  burning  of  the  second,  109 

erection  of  the  third,  109 
Jamestown,   founding   of   the   settlement 

at,  41 
Jayne,  Samuel,  358 

Jerusalem,  as  constituted  at  present,  99 
and  the  Universal  Friend,  412 
church  history  of,  -f26  et  seq. 
district  of,  98 
early  settlement  in,  414 
error  in  local   history  concerning,    97 
justices  of  the  peace  of,  430 
mother  of  towns  in  Yates,  410 
subdivision  of,  98 
supervisors  of,  430 
topography  of,  411 
Jesuits,  the,  27 

their  influence,  42 
Johnson,  Col.  Guy,  52 
John  H.,  192 
Sir  John,  52 
Sir  William,  47 

influence  of,  upon  the  Indians  at 
the  opening  of  the  Revolution, 
52 
sketch  of,  51 
Joncaire,  Chabert,  influence  of,  among  the 

Senecas,  4<i 
Jones,  Henry  V.  L.,  188 

Josiah,  27'i 
Judd,  Charles  G.,  178,  204 
Judges  of  Common  Pleas,  112 
Judicial  and  political  elements,  separation 
of,  164 
power,  the  governor  deprived  of,  1G4 
system  of  New  York,  163 
Justices'  Courts,  170 

of  the  peace  of  Benton,  364 
of  Italy,  485 
of  Jerusalem,  430 
of  Middlesex,  478 
of  Milo,  297 
of  Potter,  468 

Kahquahs,  the,  30 
Kashong.  353 

Indian  village  of,  28 

Stone's  account  of  the  destruction  of, 
55 
Keuka  College,  233 

Council,  R.  T.  of  T.,  339 

Lake,  19 

lodge,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  336 

mills,  the,  294 

64 


Kinne,  Silas,  18ii 
Kinney's  Corners,  424 
Kinney,  Klixabeth.  417 
Knapp,  James,  279 
Matthew.  440 
Knights  Templar,  203 
,,-^nox,  John  T.,  189 

Lake,  Canandaigua,  19 
Crooked.  19 
Keuka,  19 

name  of,  20G 
navigation  on,  267 
Land,  availability  of,  22 

grants  by  English  kings,  62 
Lands,  acquisition  of,  by  New  York  State, 
62 

highest  in  the  county,  21 
level,  21 

tracts  of,    compensation    claimed    by 
Charles  Williamson  for,  74 
Laphani,  George  II.,  biography  of,  516 
portrait  of,  lacing  334 
Ludlow  E.,  biography  of,  514 
portrait  of,  facing  514 
Larzelere,  Henry.  417 
La  Salle,  adventures  of,  43 
Lawrence,  John,  275 
Leary,  Michael  A.,  187 
Lee,  David,  280 
Thoma.5,  275 

Thomas,  jr..   house  of,   used   for  first 
Masonic  lodge,  252 
Lenni  Lenapes,  the,  26  et  seq. 
Lewis,  Capt.  Joe.  267 

Hon.  John  L.,  r8,  2.58 
Leon  and  Harriet,  211 
Lodge,  Vernon  Masonic,  252 
"  Long  Hou.se,  people  of  the,"  32 
Loomis,  Nathan,  460 

Macomb,  J.  N.,  jr.,  261 
Malin,  Elijah,  81 

Enoch  and  Eliza,  86 

Margaret  and  Rachel,  death  of,  92 

executors    of   the    Friend's 
last  will,  91 
Maltsters,  343 

Manufacturing  at  the  Outlet,  Milo,  291 
Manufacturers  of  Peiin  Yan,  340—15 
Masonic  brethren,   disputes  between,  255 
HhII,  destroyed  by  fiie,  259 
early,  in  Penn  Yan,  253 
lodge,  Dundee,  259 
first,  252 


666 


INDEX. 


Masonic,  Seneca  Lake,  257,  259 
Milo,  257 
Peiin  Yan,  257 
Rushville,  260 
Masons,  Royal  Arch,  Penii   Van   Chapter, 

2IJ0 
Massachusetts,    claim  of,    to    New    York 
lands,  63 

Company,  sale  of  lands  to,  by  the  Iro- 
quois, 38 
lands,  sale  of,  67 
Maxwell,  Col.  Hugh,  69 
Mead,  John,  239 

Medical   science,   development  of,  19-1   et 
seq. 

Society,  form  of  license  adopted  by 
200 

members  of  the,  201 
members  of  the,  in  1870,  202 
members  of  the,  in  1891,  204 
ofticers  of,  203 
organization  of  the,  199 
original  members  of  the,  201 
partial  reorganization  of,  202 
the,  199  et  seq. 
societies,  unusual  powers  of,  200 
Members  of  Assembly,  112 

Congress,  111 
Mercantile  interests  of  Penn  Yan,  346 
Merchants,  early,  of  Dundee,  385 
Merritt,  John,  418 

LaFayette,  biography  of,  487 
portrait  of,  facing  418 
Mettiwissa  Tribe  I.  O.  of  R.  M.,  339 
Methodist  church  of  Potter,  Second,  466 

Rushville,  405 
Methodists  in  Middlesex,  47<i 
Middlesex  Center,  476 

civil  history  of,  477 
early  settlement  of,  472 
early  settlers  of,  473  et  seq. 
•"first  events"  in,  474 
formation  of,  99 
justices  of  the  peace  of,  478 
location  and  territory  of.  469 
supervisors  of,  477 
topography  of,  470 
water  courses  of,  472 
Milo,  boundaries  of,  271 
Center,  288 
chief  roads  in,  273 
erection  of,  99 
erection  of,  272 
first  settlers  in.  273 
first  town  meeting  in,  285 


Milo,  importance  of  the  town  of,  270 

justices  of  the  peace  of,  297 

location  of,  270 

Mills,  the,  295 

records  of  early  families  in,  274 

settlement, of,  273 

supervisors  of.  296 
Miller,  Cvrus,  391 

Saiiuiel  V.  C,  280 
Mill,  St.  John's,  341 

the  Armstrong,  342 
Mills,  the  Penn  Yan,  340 

in  Starkey,  372 
Minnesota  Lodge,  K.  of  P.,  338 
Miscellaneous    regiments,    enlistments    in 

from  Yates,  102 
"Miscellany,"  the.  209 
Mix,  Malcolm  D.,  209 
Moore,  John,  420 
Morgridge,  Rev.  Charles,  229 
Morris,  Daniel,  176 

Robert,  sale  of  lands  to,  72 

William  T.,  190 
Morrison,  Roderick  N,,  172 
Mower,  John,  481 
Murdock,  Newell  F.,  391 
"Mystery.  Penn  Yan,"  the,  211 

Nations  Six,  34 

Navigation    Company,  Crooked  Lake,  268 
Keuka,  268 
Lake  Keuka,  269 
of  Lake  Keuka,  267  et  seq. 
'  Neuter  Nation,  destruction  of  by  the  Five 
Nations,  30 

of  Indians,  the,  28 
New  France,  40 
New  Hampshire  Grants,  the,  65 
New  Jerusalem,  78,  88 
Newspaper,  its  purposes,  211^ 

the  first,  207 
New  York  Genesee  Company,  64 

Genesee    Company,    extinguish- 
ment of  title  of,  68 
Niagara  Genesee  Company,  64 
Nichols   Corners,  288 

Isaac,  277 
Norris,  Eliphalet,  276 

"Observer,"  the,  210 

Occupation,     prehistoric,     doubtful.  |evi- 

dences  of,  23 
Ogden,  Darius  A.,  189,  261 
Ohver.  Dr.  Andrew,  179,  101 
William  M.,  170 


INDEX 


667 


One    Hundred    and   Eighty-eighth  Regi- 
ment, enhstmeiits  in  from  Yates,  160 
One    Hundred    und    forty-eighth    Regi- 
ment, the,  at  tlie  front,  147 

muster-in  roll  of,  150  et  seq. 
olTicersof,  at  muster-out,  150 
organization  of,  146 
varied  service  of,  147  et  seq. 
One   Hundred    and    Ninety-fourth    Regi- 
ment, enlistments  in  from  Yates,  161 
One    Hundred  and    Seventy-ninth    Regi- 
ment at  the  front,  153  et  seq. 

muster-in    roll   of  Company 

F  in  the,  160 
muster-out  loU  of  officers  of, 

159 
organization  of,    153 
One  Hundred  and  Twenty-sixth  Regiment 
at  Gettysburg.  141 

at  the  front.  140 

from  Gettysburg  to  the  close 

of  the  war,  142 
muster-in     and     muster-out 

rolls  of  the.  144 
officers  of,  139 
organization  of,  139 
Ontario  county  created,  18 

extent  of  when  formed,  97 
Opera  House  Company,  Penn  Yan,  335 

Parker,  .fames,  withdrawal   of,  from    the 

Friend's  Society.  84 
Peckins,  David,  361 
Penn  Yau  Aoademy,  217,  316 

banks  and  banking  houses  of,  330 

churches  of,  320-27 

early  roads  and  streets  in,  303 
prominent  men,  306 
schools  of,  224 

educational  in.stitutions  of,  311 

fire  department  of,  320-30 

first  religious  services  in,  320 

founding  of,  298 

hotels  of,  345 

incorporation  of,  309 

interests  of,  in  1832,  305 

local  improvement  companies  of,  335 

manufacturers  of,  340 

mercantile  interests  of,  347 

naming  of,  302 

population  of,  in  1832,  307 

rapid  advancement  of,  304 

selected  as  site  for  public  buildings,  108 

site  of,  297 

societies  and  orders  of,  336 


Penn  Yan,  topography  of,  in  1832,  307 
unsanitary  condition  of,  198 
Union  School,  217 

Perry,  Rows,  459 

Petition  of  residents   tor  organization  of 
Benton,  351 

Phelps,     Oliver,  securing    of    settlement 
with  lessee  companies  by,  68 

Phelps  and  Gorham,   financial  embarrass- 
ment of,  71 

purchase,  the,  67 
sale  of  lands  by.  to  Robert  Mor- 
ris, 72 
survey,  fraud  in.  70 

Physicians,  registered,  205 

Pierce,  Michael.  472 

Pioneer  settlements  in  Milo,  285 

Pioneers  of  Benton,  353 

Planing  mill,  the  Penn  Yan,  342 

Pleasant  Valley  Wine  Company,  244 

Plymouth  Co-npany,  the,  41 

Plympton,  John,  277 

Pontiae,  49 

Poor-house,  County,  1 10 

Portrait  of  Andrews,  J.  T.,  facing  410 
Bitley,  Peter  H.,  facing  420 
Briggs,  William  3.,  facing  182 
Casner,  Ezekiel,  facing  340 
Cornwell,  George  R.,  facing  212 
Earl,  Jeptha,  facing  354 
Ellsworth,  S.  S.,  facing  106 
Ellsworth,  S.  S..  jr.,  facing  508 
Hartshorn,  I.  W.,  facing  512 
Lapham.  Geo.  L.,  facing  334 
Lapham,  Ludlow  E.,  facing  514 
Merritt,  La  Fayette,  facing  418 
Purdy.  Stephen,  facing  498 
Scheetz,  .John  C,  facing  494 
Sheldon,  Eh,  facing  488 
Sheppard,  Chas.  C,  facing  302 
Sheppard,  M.  F.,  facing  300 
Smith,  F.  E.,  facing  520 
Southerland,  John,  facing  490 
Spicer,  .James  S.,  facing  382 
Struble,  H.,  facing  l.'*4 
L'nderwood.  Oliver,  facing  462 
Van  Alen,  .James  B.,  facing  174 

Post-odices,  in  Starkev,  .573 

Potter,  Arnold,  458 
Center,  4()6 

churches  of,  466  et  seq. 
early  settlers  in,  461  et  seq. 
family,  the,  432 
justices  of  tlie  peace  of,  468 
Kinne  &  Kendall,  lumber,  342 


668 


INDEX. 


Potter,  location,  the,  433 
organization  of,  456 
origin  and  nomenclatiire  of,  100 
"  Potterstown,"  supervisors  of,  4C8 
water  courses  of,  457 
William,    withdrawal     of,    from     the 
Friend's  Society,  84. 
I'oudre,  Joseph,  74 
Powers,  unusual,  of  early  medical  society, 

200 
Pre-emption  line,  difticulties  arising  from, 
272 

difticulties  regarding  the,  82 
fraud  in  survey  of,  70 
Morris's  re-survey  of,  73 
fraud  in  and  the  Friends,  434 
tract  the,  67 
Prehistoric  occupation,  claims  concerning, 
23 

Dr.  Samuel  H.    Wright's   conclusions 
regarding  25, 
Prentiss.  J.  W.,  first   grape  culturist,  238 
Presideutal  Electors,  111 
Prison  Labor  Commissioner,  ill 
Pritchard,  Rutli,  224 
Profser,  David  B.,  177 
Public  buildings  commissioners  t<D  erect,  108 
committee  to  select  sites  for,  107 
strife  for  possession  of,  107 
Universal  Friend,  the,  78 
Purchase,  the  Phelps  and  Gorham,  07 
Purdy,  John,  418 

Stephen,  biography  of,  409 
portrait  of,  facing  498 

Race,  John,  416 

Randolph,  Jeptha  F.,  278 

Raplee.  Nehemiah,  379 

"Reading,"  100 

"Record,  Dundee,"  384 

Records  of  early  families  in  Milo,  274 

"Record,"  the,  210 

Red  Jacket,  liirlhplace  of,  (il 

at  the  council  at  Fort  Stanwix,  59 

birthplace  of,  412 

derivation  of  the  name  of,  60,  01 

personal  sketch  of,  59 
Reeil,  Seth.  74 
Rt-mer,  Aaron,  106,  359 
"Republican,  Yates  County,"  208 
Richards,  Sarah,  first  arrival  of,  80 

death  of.  86 
]-;iohelieu    and     his    Company    of    New 

France.  40 
Riggs.  Philip.  357 


Roads  and  streets,  early,  in  Penn  Tan,  303 

chief,  in  Milo,  273 
Robert   Morris,  discovery  of  fraud  in  sur- 
vey by,  72 

sale  of  lands  by,  73 
Roberts,  Charle.s,  282 
Robinson  Benedict,  435 

and  Thomas  Hathawaj-,  purchase 
of  lands  by,  85 
Roch  Stream,  408 
Rose,  Henry,  240 
John  N.,  420 
Robert  S.,  420 
Royal  and  Select  Masters,  Ontario  Coun- 
cil, 261 
Royce,  Mathew,  Simeon  and  Reuben,  370 
Rushville  Union  School,  235 

village  of,  464 
.  Ryckman,  Peter,  74 

Sabintown,  424 

Scheetz.  John  C,  biography  of,  495 

portrait  of,  facing  494 
School   and  teachers,  early,  in  Penn  Yan, 

312-19 
School  Commissioners,  113,  216 

districts,  216 

bouse,  the  first,  in  Penn  Yan,  224 

Penn  Yan  Union,  217 

teachers  in,  220 

Rushville  Union,  235 

statistics,  214 

system,  rise  and  progress  of,  212 

system,  the  common,  214 
Schools,  common,  215 

Dundee,  231 

early,  of  Penn  Yan,  224 

minor,  236 

Penn  Yan,  217  et  seq. 

primar}',  of  Penn  Yan,  226 
Scolield,  Reuben  A.,  210 
Scottish  Rite,  Ancient  and  Accepted,  265 
Second  Milo,  289 
Seeley.  James  L.,  173 
Seminary,  Starkey,  228 
Senona  Lake  Wine  Company,  241 

Mills,  the,  295 
Seneca,  atrocities,  of  50 

e.xicnt  of  the    territory  of  ilie,  30 

grants  made  by  the,  to  Sir  Willliam 
Johnson,  50 

the,  crushed  bv  General  Sullivan,  38 

the.  during  the"  War  of  1812,  KM 

tradition  of,  concerning  the  destruc- 
tion of  tlie  Eries,  ;iO  el  seq. 


INDEX. 


669 


Senecas,  treaty  of  peace  between  the,  and 

Sir  William  Johnson.  50 
Settler,  first,  of  Starkey,  370 
Settlers,  early,  in  Barrington,  447 
early,  in  Jerusalem,  414  et  seq. 
early,  in  Milo,  as  established  by  His- 
torical Society,  273 
first,  of  Barrington,  445 
first,  of  Dimdee,  374 
first  ,  in  Milo,  273 
from  New  Jersey  in  Starkey,  370 
later,  in  Benton,  362 
on  the  Green  Tract,  421 
Settlement,  early,  and  methods,  247 
first,  of  the  Friend's  society,  79 
efforts  at,  96  et  seq. 
of  Milo,  273 
of  Friends  in  Torrey,  433 
of  Penn  Yan,  299 
of  Torrey  1iy  the  Friends,  431 
Settlements,  review  of.  48  et  seq. 
Shearman,  Ezekiel,  415  • 
Shearman's  Hollow,  411 
Sheldon,  Eli,  biosrraphy  of,  488 

portrait  of,  facing  4S8 
Sbeppard,  Charles  Clement,  284 
biography  of,  524 
portrait  of,  facing  302 
farailv,  the,  284 
Morris  F.,  301 
biography  of,  .521 
portrait  of,  facing  300 
Sherer,  Gilbert,.  463 
Sherifts,  113 
Sherland,  W.  W.,  239 
Sherman,    Ezekiel.    first    visit   of,   to    the 
Genesee  country,  76 

reason     for    unfavorable    report 
of,  81 
Simmons,  Alonzo,  388 
Sisson,  Jonathan,  419 
Six  Nation.s,  34 

lease  of.  to  the  New  York  Gen- 
esee Company,  64  et  seq. 
the.  in  the  French   and  English 
War  of  1744,  46 
Sloan,  Major  J,  B.,  154 
Smith,  Franklin  E.,  biography  of,  520 
portrait  of,  facing  520 
Ira,  420 
James,  361 

Richard,  visit  of,  as  one  of  a  commit- 
tee, to  the  Genesee  country,  79 
'•  Snell,"  district  of,  98 
Snow,  George  C,  243 


Soil  and  oroductions  of  Starkey,  373 
Southerland,  John,  biography  of,  491 

portrait  of,  facing  490 
Special  Sessions  Courts,  170 
Spencer,  Truman,  358 
Spicer,  James,  185  * 

biography  of,  510  / 

portrait  of.  facing  382   ' 
Spink,  Silas,  276 
Spooner  family,  the,  281 
Stark,  Isaac,  375 
Starkey,  attempt  to  settle,  369 
Corners,  378 

first  town  meeting  in,  373 
John,  386 

location  and  component  lands  of,  100 
organization  of,  369 
rapid  settlement  of,  371 
reminiscences  of,  408 
Seminary,  228 
teachers  in,  230 

trustees  of,  229 
water  courses  of,  372 
State  Senators,  111 

Steamboats  on  Lake  Keuka,  207  et  seq. 
Stever.  Eli  R..  242 
James  W.,  243 
/  Peter  D.,  423 

/  Stewart,  Henry  M.,  180 
l—        William  Henry,  418 
Stone,  Andrew,  282 
Struble,  Adam,  279 

Hanford,  biography  of,  503 
portrait  of,  facing  184 
Sturtevant.  H.  P.,  &  Co.,  242 
Sullivan's  expedition  against  the    Indians, 
53 

results  of,  56 

Washington's  official  account  of. 
55 
Sunderlin,  Davi  i,  446 
Delazon  J.,  174 
Martin  J..   184 
Supervisors  of  Harrington,  448 
Benton,  364 
Italy,  484 
Jerusalem,  430 
Middlesex,  477 
Milo,  468 
Torrey,  438 
Supplee,  John,  276 
Supreme  Court,  166 
Surrogates,  112 
Courts,  169 
Survey,  fraud  in  the  Phelps  and  Gorbam,'70 


670 


INDEX. 


Survey,  frainiulent,  results  of,  73 

into  townships,  70 

Benjamin  Ellicott,  73 

Piielps  and  ftorham  purchase,  69 

Yates  in  1788-9,  97 

Phelps  and  Gorham,  in  Yates,  70 

the   fraudulent,    disadvantage  to  the 
State  of,  73 
Sutherland,  Sarah,  277 
Sutton,  Thomas,  419 
Swarthout,  George  F.,  281 

Tariffs  and  agriculture,  247  et  seq. 
Taylor,  James,  173,  361,  423 
Teachers'  Institute,  216 
Teeples,  Jacob,  445 
"•Telegraph,"  the,  210 
"Temperance  store,"  389 
Terry,  Owen,  281 
Thayer,  Simeon,  280 

Thirty-third    Regiment,    Company    I    in 
the,  130 

at  Malvern  Hill,  135 
•  in  active  service,  133 

musteied  into  service,  132 
muster  roll  of  Co.  I  in  the, 

137 
return  of,  136 
Thomas,  Abial,  460 
Topography  of  Yates  county,  19 
Torrey,  composition   and   organization  of, 
101 

first  tax-roll  of,  433 
-  formation  of,  438 
church  history  of,  440 
settlement  of,  431 
'        supervisors  of,  438 
Towns,  growth  of,  preceding  War  of  1812, 
101 

many   of  the,    organized   before    the 
erection  of  county,  101 
Townsend,  Elijah,  419 

Capt.  Lawrence,  359 
Township  number  seven,  purchase  of,  by 
Hathaway  and  Robinson,  85 
survey  of,  70 
Trade,  early,  in  Dundee,  376 
Treasurers,  County,  112 
Treaty  of  Aix-la-Chapelle,  46 
Fort  Stanwix,  59 
Ryswick,  45 
1763,  47 
.--Truesdell,  Burgess,  383 

Underwood,  Oliver,  biography'of,  491 
portrait  of,  facing  462 


Universal  Friend,  the  Public,  77 

Valentine,  James,  241 
Van  Alen,  James  V.,    175 
biography  of,  5 1,) 
portrait  of,  facing  174 
Van  Buren,  Evert,  172 
Van  Tuyl,  William  F.,  240 
"Vernon,"  district  of,  98 

Masonic  lodge,  252 

doings  of,  254  et  seq. 
Village  of  Branchport,  425 
Vineyard,  David  Wagener's,  239 

Eli  R,  Stever's,  242 

Henry  Rose's,  240 
"  Vineyardist,"  the,  186,  211,  245 
Vineyard,  John  F.  Crosby's,  240 

John  Mead's,  239 

Seneca    Lake   Wine  Company's,  241 

W,  W.  Shirland's,  239 
Vineyards,  acreage  of,  in  1872,  242 

early,  242 

the  Esperanza,  243 

on  Bluff  Point,  230 
Vine  Valley,  474 
Voak,  John.  462 
Vreeland,  Eugene,  210 

Wagener,  Abraham,  108,  284,  299-301 
'Anna,  81,  432 
David,  239,  283,  298 
Waite,  Benjamin,  420 
Walford,  John,  472 
Ward,  Elisha,  471 

War,  French  and    English,  in  1688-07,  44 
French  and  English,  of  1744,  46 
French  and  English,  of  1756,  46 
of    1812,    action    of     the    Universal 

Friends  during,  102 
1812,  chief  events  of,  105 
1812,  declared,  103 
1812,  events  which  led  to  the,  103 
1812,  political  differences,  during,  104 
1812,  the     patriotic    element  during 

the,  102 
the  Rebellion,  causes  of  the,  128 

One  Hundred  and  Forty-eighth 

Regiment  in  the,  140  et  seq. 
One  Hundred  and  Seventy-ninth 

Regiment  in  the,  152  et  seq. 
patriotism  of  Yates  in  the,   129 
sacrifices  made  in,   129 
the,  128  etseq. 

the  Thirty-third  Regiment  in  the, 
130 


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